Tag: virtual

Lions announce ‘Training Camp Live’, a virtual experience for fans

With fans unable to attend 2020 training camps, the Detroit Lions announced “Training Camp Live”, as a virtual experience for fans.

With NFL fans unable to attend training camps in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Detroit Lions have found a unique and fun way to keep their fans involved.

Today, the team announced “Lions Training Camp Live”, as a virtual experience for fans that will include player and coaches interviews, analysis of events, and live practice footage via Detroitlions.com and the Lions’ mobile app.

“Bringing football to our fans during this unprecedented time has been an ongoing priority,” Lions’ Team President Rod Wood said in a press release. “While we will miss seeing them at Allen Park and the energy they bring to practice, we are excited to partner with Rocket Mortgage to provide a training camp viewing experience Lions fans have never had before.”

Also in the press release, the Lions mentioned that this event is “tentatively scheduled to debut August 12 when the team takes the practice field for the first time”. According to the NFL schedule — which will vary slightly by team –, this would mean this fan experience would take place during the ramp-up period and potentially carry over to non-padded practices around the 14th, and padded practice which could take place around the 17th.

As the schedule is finalized and more details on the virtual experience are released, we at Lions Wire will keep you up to date on all the innovative changes happening in Allen Park.

Watch: Lions release best of the 2020 virtual offseason video

The Detroit Lions released a video montage of some of the best virtual interactions from the offseason.

Over the past two offseasons, the Detroit Lions media department has produced several incredibly entertaining videos like “Whats’s in the box?” and “Teammate Mashup” over the summer months. But with limited access to players this offseason those video’s all but disappeared — until now!

Today, the Lions media team released a video montage of some of the best virtual interactions from the 2020 offseason.

The video opens with one of the more ridiculous moments of the offseason. During Taylor’s Decker’s video conference with Lions media, one reporter left his mic open while also being logged onto another video press conference with Red Wings Dylan Larkin. In the middle of Decker answering a question, Larkin’s presser began and was broadcast on the Lions Zoom feed — comedy ensues.

Next up was quarterback coach Sean Ryan’s birthday, and the Lions staff sang him was one of, and I’m not exaggerating here, the worst renditions of Happy Birthday ever heard.

That was followed by a series of quick observations, including Darrell Bevell’s offseason beard growth, Christian Jones grilling while answering questions, the T.J. Lang and Matthew Stafford math genius practical joke, a Top-30 virtual visit with Logan Stenberg and his dog, Stafford poking fun at Danny Amendola doing “yoga in his underwear”, and coach Matt Patricia picking up the ukelele as a hobby.

The final minute of the video shifted to kids and singing. General Manager Bob Quinn and Patricia talked about their children getting involved with them during the NFL Draft, while veteran Marvin Jones nailed “Lean on me” and rookie punter Aaron Siposs closed the show with a song about his native land of Australia, singing Men at Work’s “Down Under”.

You can watch the entire video in the Lions Tweet below:

Friday Big 12 morning rush: Headlines from around the conference

Longhorns Wire brings you the latest news from the Big 12 Conference. Thursday morning’s headlines are from the Herald-Banner and 247Sports.

Each morning Longhorns Wire brings you the latest news from around the Big 12 Conference. Thursday morning’s headlines are courtesy of the Herald-Banner and 247Sports.

Continue reading “Friday Big 12 morning rush: Headlines from around the conference”

4 things I learned about the Lions during the virtual offseason program

On Matt Patricia, Trey Flowers, Jeff Okudah and the respect for Matthew Stafford

The Detroit Lions wrapped up the virtual offseason program last week. It was a modification from the normal series of OTAs and minicamps due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The team did a good job keeping the media looped in via frequent Zoom teleconferences. With everyone working remotely, it was difficult to coordinate bringing everyone together.

Here are a few things I picked up about the team from the virtual offseason program.

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T.J. Hockenson is ‘running routes’ but not ‘100% yet’

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell updated the media on tight end T.J. Hockenson’s health and noted he is “running routes” but not “100% yet”.

It was an up and down rookie season for Detroit Lions 2019 1st round draft pick T.J. Hockenson, and while it started with a record-setting bang in week one, it ended with a gruesome ankle injury on Thanksgiving day.

Hockenson left Ford Field that day on crutches and was seen later on in the season relying on a scooter to get around, but over the last seven months, there have been no updates on his recovery until today when offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell virtually met with the media.

“As far as I know right now,” Bevell said, “he’s in his running part of the protocol. He’s on land, he’s running, he’s running routes, doing that thing. You can’t say he’s 100% yet, but I think he’s well on the way to getting there. He’s done a great job with his rehab, he’s always been a good worker that way. I know he’s going to get some time with Matthew (Stafford), throwing and catching. So yeah, I’m comfortable with where he’s at along the rehab part.”

Bevell would go on to say that Hockenson was “emerging as one of the leaders” on the team. Noting that he has the confidence to lead, a willingness to speak up, a desire “to be really good at his position”, and puts in the time to make it all possible.

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While Hockenson is developing into a potentially strong offensive option for the Lions, Bevell acknowledged that there is still work to be done and he needs to find ways “to get him (Hockenson) opportunities to get the ball”.

There are a lot of mouths to feed in Detroit as the Lions are returning their top-4 wide receivers, are converting Jamal Agnew to offense, added D’Andre Swift to a backfield that already featured Kerryon Johnson and Bo Scarbrough, but the Lions didn’t use a Top-10 draft pick on Hockenson for his blocking — he’s going to get the ball.

Nick Williams relying on extra meeting time to learn scheme during virtual offseason

Detroit Lions’ new defensive tackle Nick Williams is leaning on coaches and extra meeting time to try and familiarized himself with the defensive scheme.

Detroit Lions’ new defensive tackle Nick Williams is going into his eighth season in NFL but he only emerged as a defensive presence last season with the Chicago Bears.

Williams is intelligent and a hard worker, so why has it taken him so long to get his footing in the league?

“Sometimes you get lost in the shuffle, that’s just the NFL,” Williams said via a virtual press conference on Wednesday. “You get lost behind guys, you play behind big-name guys your whole career, you don’t get the reps, the opportunity, and once it’s available to you’re either going to succeed or your not. I was given the opportunity last year and I succeeded, and I want to continue to succeed.”

While Williams made a name for himself last year, and definitely earned his payday with the Lions, if he wants to continue his success, he will have a new set of problems to overcome in 2020.

Outside of rookies John Penisini and Jashon Cornell, every other Lions defensive linemen has experience playing in the Lions’ defensive scheme — except Williams.

With facilities being shutdown for Spring mini-camps, Williams is missing out on key opportunities to learn the scheme via first-hand experience. So what is he doing to make up the difference and not get left behind?

“Hopping on more calls with our defensive line coach Bo (Davis), and trying to get as familiar as I can,” Williams said. “Nothing beats being able to actually walk through the defenses, be with defensive players, be able to do OTAs, and go through different checks and calls, nothing beats that. But, the way you can kinda get to that level is more meeting time.

“More meeting time with Bo (Davis), more meeting time with coach Undlin (defensive coordinator), I just have to continue — once the Zoom meeting calls are done — I’m going to still be hopping on calls with them to help walk me through it. Once we are able to report and get rolling, we gotta have everything rolling at a certain tempo, so I don’t want to be left behind, (or get lost) in the shuffle, because I’m lagging in the playroom. I want to be on point, so it’s just more meeting time.”

But Williams can’t, and won’t, stop there. Once he gets to camp in the fall he will have to put what he has learned into practice. One big thing Williams does have working for him is through years of adversity he has learned to never be comfortable where he is at.

“I’ve seen every face of this league, so I am never comfortable. And I think once you get comfortable, you don’t have anything to strive for. I’m not the top defensive tackle but that’s something I want to strive for. I want to bring good football to the Detroit defensive line.”

Kerryon Johnson ‘excited’ to share backfield with D’Andre Swift

Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson virtually spoke to the media on Wednesday and said he is “excited” to share a backfield with second-round rookie D’Andre Swift.

Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson spoke to the media on Wednesday and explained why he is looking forward to sharing a backfield with second-round rookie D’Andre Swift.

“I’m excited, he’s a phenomenal player,” Johnson said. “I remember playing against him in college and I hated seeing him — every time. We played against Nick Chubb and Sony (Michel), and I’m telling you when that kid (Swift) stepped on the field, he’s lightning in a bottle. He’s threatening to go 80-yards, 70-, 60-, every time he touched it.

“So, I’m excited. I can learn from him, he can learn from me, we can all learn from each other and we can all get better and win some games.”

Players can often feel pressure when teams invest in other talents at their position but the Lions deploy their running backs in a rotation, so when Johnson was asked if he felt he was “put on notice” with the Lions drafting another player at his position so high in the draft, Johnson took the opposite approach.

“Look, I knew we were going to draft another running back eventually. I think we got, in my opinion, definitely one of the top two (in this draft class). I love having a running mate, I love winning games, and I think he can help us do that, so I wasn’t tripping at all.”

Johnson would go on to explain why he and Swift would complement each other in the backfield rather than being in direct competition.

“Obviously we are two different people. He’s a lot more elusive — I think everybody would agree to that. But just having multiple running backs that are capable of running the ball at an efficient level, — whether the style is different or the style is the same — it just takes the stress off one another.”

Johnson said he was happy with the depth at the position and noted that outside of the rookies, the other returning backs have all started in the NFL — Bo Scarbrough (5), Ty Johnson (1), and Wes Hill (1) — and he believes they will “all get along just fine.”

Watch: Frank Ragnow shares how teammates have changed his perspective

During a virtual press conference with the Detroit Lions media, offensive lineman Frank Ragnow shared how teammates’ stories of racism and social injustice have changed his perspective.

On Friday, Detroit Lions safety Duron Harmon shared with the media some of the conversations the Lions’ players and coaches have been having during their virtual offseason after putting football on hold to discuss racism and social injustice.

Later in the day, during his own virtual press conference, Lions’ offensive lineman Frank Ragnow shared how those conversations with Harmon and other teammates’ have changed his perspective.

Ragnow discussed how he didn’t realize just how different his life experiences were from his teammates: “Obviously, I was aware that there was a problem in this country, and I knew we are not perfectly united as a country. But I just, I’m sick to my stomach the things that I have heard from some of my teammates and some of my friends and some of my brothers that they have to worry about and they have to deal with.”

Ragnow would touch on several relevant topics but his most impactful statements came near the end of the meeting when he discussed “white privilege” and holding others responsible for their actions.

“I feel like some white people get defensive when people say ‘white privilege,'” Ragnow said. “White privilege doesn’t mean you’ve had a privileged life. It doesn’t mean you’ve had no trouble, no problems, no adversity. It just means your skin color hasn’t caused that problem. And what I’ve been able to learn from a bunch of very smart people, a bunch of people who are being impacted by this, is that I just need to listen.”

Understanding language is vital to any conversation, and when asked what he felt was his responsibility moving forward was, Ragnow responded:

“The challenge my teammates have brought to me, one of the messages I’ve got, it has to be not (just) in the public spotlight … but I have to be holding my friends in a private conversation accountable. I have to be holding my neighbor — who might have said something not acceptable — I have to hold them accountable… Because that’s how we eliminate it. We eliminate it when people think they’re the most comfortable, and we make them uncomfortable, and we make it not ok. ”

You can watch Ragnow’s entire 23-minute press conference via the Lions’ YouTube channel in the video below:

Matt Patricia alters team meetings away from football and towards conversations on racism

The Detroit Lions were supposed to begin Phase 3 of their offseason on Monday but instead pivoted to player-led meetings surrounding racism.

The Detroit Lions were supposed to begin Phase 3 of their offseason on Monday but instead, they pivoted to player-led meetings surrounding racism and the current protests happening across the country.

Late Tuesday night, coach Matt Patricia spoke with MMQB’s Albert Breer and discussed how the team shifted their team meetings away from football in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.

After watching the video of Floyd’s death, Patricia told Breer that “Honestly, I was just disgusted, angry, sad, depressed. The range of emotion, you watch the video, someone being murdered and you’re like … I didn’t even know how to process it. And the range of emotion I know I felt in watching that was only one-tenth of a fraction of a minute percent of what my players must’ve been feeling.”

Patricia discussed how he knew he was out of his depth on this topic and that the best thing he could do for his players was to put football conversations on hold and allow them to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to the current events.

“It was just about listening and making sure we tried to get on and open it up for conversation, real conversation, truthful conversation, honest conversation, heartfelt conversation,” Patricia said. “And really, honestly, credit to my players for leading that. They’re the ones that really were able to get it to where it became so powerful.”

The Lions held both large (120 people) and small (only position groups) meetings, giving players multiple ways to share depending on their comfort level.

After two days of player-led conversations, and an off day on Wednesday, it’s still a bit unclear when the Lions will get back to football but Patricia is confident his players will help him decide when it’s the right time.

“When everyone’s ready to talk and move in that direction of football, we’ll move when the team wants to move,” Patricia said. “I think the one thing to understand there—we won’t move away from the conversation. It’s just, at some point, you’re having the conversation and then you’re also working on what we do, which is football.”

The Lions have not yet made a public statement regarding the events surrounding Floyd’s death or the fallout since, but one is expected to be made soon.

Trey Flowers is ‘very excited’ to work with Lions’ DC Cory Undlin

The Detroit Lions hired Cory Undlin as their new defensive coordinator this offseason and Trey Flowers is “very excited” to work with him.

The Detroit Lions hired Cory Undlin as their new defensive coordinator this offseason and Lions’ prized defensive end Trey Flowers is “very excited” to work with him.

“He’s a fiery guy,” Flowers said about Undlin. “He worked well with coach Patricia at the (New England) Patriots and I can tell that he’s about the same principals, he’s about winning, he’s about getting the job done, and he’s about it being about the players going out there making plays, regardless of the scheme.”

The Lions scheme is expected to go through some minor changes during training camp — we at Lions Wire have theorized the addition of Jamie Collins points to more positional fluidity at linebacker — and general manager Bob Quinn has pointed to Undlin’s “blend of systems” experience as a way of helping the Lions’ “make improvements in their defense”.

For the time being, the Lions are in phase two of their virtual Spring camp and aren’t diving too deep into scheme — only working on the basics per Flowers — but when they do get back out on the field, Flowers is looking forward to working more with Undlin.

“I’m very excited,” Flowers said about working with Undlin, “looking forward to it. I know he’s got high expectations, he sets a high standard, and anytime you got a coach like that — that gets the most out of guys, demands highly if guys — it’s always good to work with (coaches like him).”