Here are some observations from Day 11 of Lions training camp in Allen Park on Tuesday.
In advance of Detroit’s preseason opener, the Lions had a short practice on Tuesday in which players were only wearing shells, which definitely dialed down the intensity that we’re used to seeing.
Rock Ya-Sin and Nick Whiteside have manned the outside cornerback positions since D.J. Reed picked up a groin injury that’s kept him out of several practices. While we’d guess that Ya-Sin has the inside track on the starting job at CB2 opposite Reed, Whiteside is looking like he’s going to push the battle to its limits. The true test will come during the preseason games, but Whiteside has only gotten better with 11 practices down and only eight to go. That development doesn’t bode well for Ennis Rakestraw Jr. as the third-year corner hopes to secure a starting job, but it does bode well for the Lions having a formidable group to take into the regular season.
Ya-Sin and Whiteside were both forces to be reckoned with during one-on-one reps to begin practice, a drill that favors the receiver. Both lost a rep during regular one-on-ones before clamping down in the red-zone portion.
Ya-Sin won both of his red-zone one-on-ones against receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown — he had a pass breakup on one and prevented St. Brown from getting two feet in bounds on the other — and added a pass breakup on a fade route against wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. Whiteside, meanwhile, had a one-handed interception on a fade route to TeSlaa, during which he turned his head around at the last second and snatched the ball out of the area. On his next rep against TeSlaa on a fade, he had another pass breakup and was calling for offensive pass interference after the rep.
Of all the things that have impressed Campbell the most about Whiteside, one of last year’s early camp darlings, it’s that he hasn’t been afraid to go toe-to-toe with some of the team’s best receivers — a situation that can often derail a rising practice star. Campbell affectionately calls Whiteside “Old Ironsides,” a reference to a post-Revolutionary War naval vessel that became famous for its perseverance and toughness — or, in other words, grit.
“Here’s what I love about Ironsides is it is not too big for him. He doesn’t care who’s across from him, he will compete and he’s going to try to use his craft,” Campbell said of Whiteside, an Auburn Hills native and Saginaw Valley State alum. “And he doesn’t go in a shell and he’s defeated before the play is even snapped. I mean, really, I know this sounds crazy, but some guys, man, all of a sudden, man, (Jameson Williams is) across from me or (St. Brown) and I’m already done, and the fear is already there.
“He is not that way. This guy, it doesn’t matter who’s there. He’s going to try to use his craft and compete, and you love that. Special teams, he makes plays every day. And so I like where he’s at right now. We’ll see where this goes.”
New Lions president Richard Haddad made his first known appearance at a Lions camp practice on Tuesday. He was spotted walking the sidelines and speaking to team officials such as owner Sheila Hamp. Haddad has been officially announced in his new role but has yet to speak publicly as he continues to transition from his previous role with the Detroit Pistons and Pistons Sports and Entertainment.
Shortly before practice on Tuesday, Campbell called the receiver competition an “all-out battle” and lofted high praise onto the group, saying, “This is the best receiver room we’ve had since I’ve been here in camp, top to bottom.”
The Lions’ top-four is solidified: St. Brown, Williams, TeSlaa and Greg Dortch. Detroit has only kept six receivers twice during the Campbell era, but this year’s competition could force Detroit to keep six for the second season in a row.
The receivers didn’t let him down during practice, that’s for sure. Cedrick Wilson Jr. made a phenomenal, full-extension grab from newly added quarterback Josh Dobbs. After a false-start penalty on offensive lineman Miles Frazier, Wilson then caught another pass on an out route the next play to set up a goal-line situation during a drive. Wilson, who’s entering Year 8, is near the top of the list of players who’ve consistently made plays throughout camp.
“I’ve gotten back on the JUGS (machine) this offseason to get back to my craft,” Wilson said. “I’ve never been a blazer. I could jump pretty good, but (my best attribute is) catching the ball.”
Many other down-the-roster receivers left their mark on Tuesday’s session. Malik Cunningham made a great catch from quarterback Luke Altmyer that went for about 30 yards against Rakestraw.
During a sequence along the goal line, coaches praised Lucky Jackson for an insert block on a run that was stuffed for no gain, then rewarded him with scheming up a 1-yard touchdown throw to him on an out route.
Even TeSlaa, who’s struggled to be regularly involved during first-team periods, had a number of catches that went for decent chunks of yardage, including one against Whiteside on a post route.
Edge defender Ahmed Hassanein continued his excellent run on Tuesday, making a pair of tackles-for-loss during a situational drill toward the end of practice.
The Lions ran a situational drill near the end of practice that forced the first-team offense to overcome a 10-point deficit with 3:41 to go and all three timeouts.
The first drive was stunted by an early sack from edge defender Aidan Hutchinson, who beat rookie tackle Blake Miller. But the offense recovered with TeSlaa’s catch against Whiteside, which moved them into opposing territory. On third-and-short, Goff had tight end Brock Wright wide-open over the middle for a pass that was just a bit off the mark and couldn’t be hauled in. They settled for a 47-yard field goal from Bates to make it a one-score game.
After three straight run stuffs to get the ball back, safety Avonte Maddox took advantage of a poor snap from center Seth McLaughlin that caused Goff to bobble the ball and blitzed for a sack. Despite a fourth-down throw to Williams being ruled incomplete, Campbell gave the offense another crack at going the length of the field. But two plays later, safety Thomas Harper undercut a throw to TeSlaa for the drill-winning interception.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions training camp observations: CB competition heating up
Reporting by Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
