By Michael Stets
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions closed out their first week of training camp on Sunday afternoon, and are less than a week away from their first preseason game. They will hit the road for a matchup against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, August 13, which will be preceded by back-to-back joint practices with the Colts on Thursday and Friday.
With training camp now in full swing, and seven practices officially in the books, there’s no shortage of topics to discuss as the second week of the training camp begins: Who leads the wide receiver battle? When will the Lions and Matthew Stafford come to terms on a new extension? How is the situation at left tackle in the absence of Taylor Decker? How are the rookies and top draft picks playing?
I will tackle some of these and discuss other storylines in today’s Lions Monday Morning Report, so let’s get to it.
Left tackle: Cyrus Kouandjio or Greg Robinson?
There is an old NFL adage that is usually applied to quarterbacks: If you have two of them, than you don’t have one. And that’s where the Lions are right now at left tackle. After losing Taylor Decker to a shoulder injury during OTAs, they traded a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for Greg Robinson and signed Cyrus Kouandjio, to help fill the void.
The problem so far is that neither one has really stood out since the start of training camp. There is a one-on-one drill during practice, where a defensive lineman goes against an offensive lineman, and has to get to a dummy, which is hanging behind them to represent a quarterback. Both Robinson and Kouandjio have routinely allowed sacks during this drill. And both were beaten for sacks during the team’s annual mock game on Saturday. Perhaps one of them will separate themselves once the preseason games get underway.
After the mock game on Saturday, Lions guard T.J. Lang said, “Both of them kind of bring a little something different to the table. Greg, I think, has a little bit more experience. Cyrus is still learning a lot, but they are both playing pretty good football. They are competing and getting better. Once we get into the games, I think playing against real opponents and what not … hopefully one of them starts to separate themselves a little bit.”
With Decker currently on the PUP list — where he will likely remain heading into the regular season, which means he will miss at least the first six games — someone has to lay claim to the left tackle spot. As of now, it looks like it’s going to take until the end of training camp before a starter is named for the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on September 10.
Is Theo Riddick one of the most underrated players in the NFL?
Earlier in the week, while speaking to Lions running back Ameer Abdullah, the third-year back spoke very highly of his teammate Theo Riddick, whom he called, “one of the most underrated players in the NFL.” On Friday, I asked Riddick, one of the best pass-catching running backs in the league, who reeled in 80 receptions in 2015, about Abdullah’s comments.
“I just play ball,” he said. When pressed for a reaction, he said the same thing, “I just play ball, man.”
Riddick is currently donning the red no-contact jersey due to the double-wrist surgery he underwent in March. He played in only 10 games last season and still finished with 53 catches, which had him on pace for 84 had he played in all 16 games.
On Sunday, I spoke with Abdullah once again, and mentioned how Riddick wouldn’t talk after being informed his teammate said he was one of the most underrated players in the league.
“He’s a humble guy,” Abdullah said. “That’s what he is. He understands he’s deadly out there. When he’s out in space, that’s a win every single time. You can count on it. And that’s a guy who doesn’t get enough notoriety around this league. You hear guys — obviously [LeSean] ‘Shady’ McCoy. Guys that are really good at making guys miss in space — I feel Theo Riddick is right up there, if not better. Once again, he’s going to prove it again this year. He signed an extension last year, but what he’s worth to the team is even more than that.”
Since Abdullah mentioned McCoy, who entered the NFL in 2009 (Riddick 2013), I compared his receiving stats with Riddick’s from 2013 through 2016, and their numbers are nearly identical. McCoy also played in 59 games, while Riddick played in 54.
- Riddick: 171 receptions, 1,410 yards, 8.2 average
- McCoy: 162 receptions, 1,342 yards, 8.3 average
Obviously, as far as rushing numbers, Riddick pales in comparison to McCoy, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards three out of the last four seasons. However, the similarity in receiving stats is certainly interesting.
I also asked head coach Jim Caldwell about Abdullah’s praise for Riddick and if he feels the same way.
“I think everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but I tell you what, he’s one of the most difficult guys to cover in a one-on-one situation, I think in the National Football League,” Caldwell said. “Now, the minute you say that, they’ll double-team him, triple-team him, take him away from you, but we got other guys to get the ball to. But I think he’s proven that he’s a real threat out of the backfield in a number of different ways.”
Rookie Review: Davis and Golladay shine, Tabor struggling
Jarrad Davis
Jarrad Davis, the Lions’ 2017 first-round pick, sure doesn’t look like a rookie. The former Florida Gator has not given even a hint at not being ready for the moment. He’s got a presence about him both on and off the field, and he’s looked fantastic so far during training camp. The way he’s making the calls on defense and getting his teammates aligned and in position, you’d think he was a five-year veteran.
And, of course, there’s his physical style of play. The Lions don’t tackle at practice, but you will see a good thud or two every now and again. On Friday, Davis delivered a big one on wide receiver Marvin Jones, who was rocked backward several steps. The Lions fans in attendance cheered and Davis’ teammates were fired up.
Back in April, during his introductory press conference, Davis spoke about his passion for imposing his will on another player. Obviously, he has to dial that down during practice, but with the first preseason game coming up he will be let loose for the first time as a Lion.
Davis told me how his mindset switches between practice and games.
“The biggest thing is in practice is making sure you are in position,” Davis said. “And in the game it’s almost a different mindset. You kind of get a little taste of it out here, but when you get in the game an get in that violent, that fierce atmosphere, that’s when you really let it loose and you go ahead and take care of business.”
Mark your calendars for Sunday folks. Davis won’t have to let up because he won’t be playing against his teammates. That will be fun to watch.
Teez Tabor
The Lions’ second-round pick has struggled mightily thus far during camp. It’s important to note that he is a rookie and he is young, so there is plenty of time for development. But so far, Tabor has gotten beat by several different receivers on a variety of routes. Tabor isn’t alone in getting beat either. The entire group of defensive backs have pretty much gotten owned every single day of training camp.
On one play earlier in the week, Jarred Abbrederis, who is among those in the race for the fourth wide receiver spot, got past Tabor on a deep route for a touchdown. Tabor was visibly frustrated.
“I’m frustrated every time anybody catches a pass on me,” Tabor told reporters after practice on Friday. “But that’s just how I play and who I am. I get mad when people catch passes. He’s a really good receiver and veteran guy.”
On how he is dealing with the successes and failures as a rookie, Tabor said, “just knowing going in as a young guy there is going to be a transition. There’s going to be ups and downs, but you take them all the same. The ups are the same as the downs and you just come back to work the next day.”
While his play is struggling, Tabor has the right attitude for the position and will be a work in progress as he continues to grow as a player. And he deserves full credit for speaking to the media too, when he easily could’ve avoided talking to anyone. You have to respect that a lot from a young player.
Veteran cornerback Darius Slay was asked about speaking with Tabor about his struggles.
“My group got swag so we don’t lose no confidence,” Slay told reporters on Sunday. “We are very swaggish, so we play the next play. That’s what we do. It’s the game. Everybody is a pro. You are going to give up some plays, but just move on.”
Slay said Tabor “really understands the game” and is “probably the smartest guy in the room” among the cornerbacks. When asked what was the hardest aspect of the game he had to adjust to as a rookie, he said, “The ball comes 10,000 times faster. Do you see how hard Stafford throws?”
Kenny Golladay
The Lions’ third-round draft pick out of Northern Illinois has picked up right where he left off after strong play during rookie mini camp, OTAs and veteran mini camp. He’s been on a roll since the first day of training camp, where he reeled in a nice deep ball much to the delight of the fans in attendance.
“Whenever my number is called I want to make the play,” Golladay told me after the opening practice of training camp. And he’s continued to make big plays all week, using his 6’4” frame to go up and get balls thrown high, and to gain position in order to catch balls that will be contested during tight coverage.
“It goes from the classroom onto the field,” he said.
Golladay closed out the first week of camp with another stellar performance, catching three touchdowns during goal line one-on-one drills (two slants, one fade pattern).
“Yeah, every day he shows you a little something just in terms of his characteristic ability to catch the ball,” said coach Jim Caldwell. “He’s long, obviously. He’s a good target, but he’s also got a real, wide catching radius, so all over the field we can use him. The other thing often times you’ll find guys that are long, that are long striders that don’t get it going pretty quickly. He can run, so he’s learning. Once we get an opportunity to see him working against some folks and actually, when we go to Indy, it’s going to be real good practice for us, the two practices we have. It’ll give him a chance to see some different styles and we’ll just see how he progresses.”
Retired wide receiver Chad Johnson stopped by Lions practice on Friday and was rather impressed by Golladay. Johnson’s daughter Cha’iel was in town for the AAU Junior Olympics at Easter Michigan University, where she won a gold medal in the 800m. Johnson didn’t talk to the media, but he did take to Twitter to rave about Golladay, saying the rookie receiver has the “It factor.”
UDFA to Watch: Noel Thomas
Noel Thomas, an undrafted rookie free agent out of UConn, has really stood out among the receivers. It’s going to be almost impossible for him to make this team, but this kid can really play. He’s caught everything thrown his way. And he’s repeatedly hauled in really difficult catches on contested throws, deep throws, and passes where he’s had to make adjustments and get his feet down in bounds. Yes, he’s usually not going up against the best that the Lions’ defense has to offer, but he’s a natural pass catcher. And the catches he continues to make shows that he possesses a high level of skill for the position.
“Obviously, being one, a rookie, and two, undrafted, opportunities are limited,” Thomas told me after practice on Wednesday. “So I have to take advantage of those opportunities. And I think one of my biggest strengths is my hands, so I want to showcase that as much as I can.”
On that day, Thomas went up top over fifth-round pick Jamal Agnew to snare a pass, but didn’t score because he couldn’t get his second foot down. That play was still fresh in his mind after practice that day. “But there’s always things to work on. I gotta get that second foot down.” What a great attitude he has.
Keshawn Martin on Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford
Martin signed with the Lions this offseason after playing on several different teams since joining the league in 2012, including the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots. Since Martin played with Brady, I asked him what it was like to play with the five-time Superbowl winner. While he didn’t have a specific memory to share, he did elaborate on some details and drew comparisons to Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
“When you play with guys like that, also Stafford, he’s one of the better quarterbacks in our league,” he said. “When you play with guys like that, you always gotta know what they are thinking. They like it when you are in the right spots and they like it when they can trust you. So, that’s just one thing as a receiver that you have to do for your quarterback, especially the great ones like those two guys.
“Those guys gotta have everything exactly the way they like it and just being able to listen to what they say, listen to what they want and just being able to execute.”
Martin will have his work cut out for him with the amount of competition at wide receiver, but he’s played well so far and can also contribute in the return game, which will likely be a factor in who makes the 53-man roster.
Referee Tim McAulay explains new NFL rule changes
Referee Tim McAulay, who’s been working in the NFL since 1998, was on hand to speak to the media on Wednesday about some of the new rule changes in the NFL. It was an interesting an informative discussion and McAulay was candid and open about the new changes and how they affect the players as well as the officials.
I asked McAulay about the change, which now makes it illegal to leap over the offensive line to attempt to block a field goal.
“That one we’ve seen this coming more and more where they try and time it perfectly, jumping over the center and block the field goal. I think maybe it was a Seattle playoff game was the first time we saw it several years ago. It was just becoming more and more common and the fear is always if he gets blocked or if he kicks someone in the head, or whatever, how susceptible to injury will the player be? In the meetings in the offseason between the players and the competition committee, everybody decided that this is just something that shouldn’t be a part of the game.
“Somebody is going to get seriously hurt. So, it’s a really good example of them being proactive. It hasn’t happened yet, but there is certainly a potential as you saw with the players falling over and landing on their head. The potential is there and it’s a great example of the competition committee being proactive and player safety being very important. Like I said, in the past as long as you didn’t land on somebody you’d be fine, but now with that forward leap it’s just a foul. What we believe is going to happen is you are just not going to see it because it’s going to be called.”
Injury Update
Defensive end Ziggy Ansah remains on the PUP list, but no information has been given as to what is ailing him. The feeling around camp is that it is a precautionary move.
Taylor Decker is on the PUP where he is expected to begin the season, which means he will miss at least the first six games. Decker has been at practice every day, tutoring Robinson and Kouandjio, and is not wearing a sling.
Reserve wideout Ryan Spadola has also been out of practice with an undisclosed injury. Cornelius Washington has also been held out of practice after hurting his ankle earlier in the week.
Eric Ebron is still out with the hamstring injury he suffered in the first day of training camp. On a positive note, Ebron along with Armonty Bryant (recently removed from PUP), and Washington were all off to the side running sprints during Sunday’s practice.
Theo Riddick, Don Carey and Tavon Wilson are all wearing red no-contact jerseys. Wilson hurt his arm in Wednesday’s practice during team drills while going up against tight end Darren Fells.
Quotes of the Week
“When I get back in there I’m going to let them know it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been.” — Jarrad Davis joking with media after laying big hit on Marvin Jones.
“They are evaluating every rep. And you are only as good as your last rep. That’s the biggest thing in this league, to just make sure you take advantages of all the chances you get.” — Jarred Abbrederis on the wide receiver competition.
“He slings that thing better anybody out here. Shoo. I mean you are going against one of the best. Shoo. They need to get him right.” — Darius Slay on Matthew Stafford’s contract
“At this point we feel confident we’ll get something done. There’s a long way to go yet, but it’s good on both sides.” — Lions GM Bob Quinn on the progress of contract negotiations with Matthew Stafford
“She said something that kind of made me think a little bit. I haven’t had a lot of time [to think about it]. She was just like, ‘Congratulations. I’m really happy for you. You are signing your third NFL contract. A lot of people don’t sign three NFL contracts.’ And so, when she said that it kind of was just like, ‘Wow,’ you know?
“A little kid like me from a small town in Mississippi–Summit, Mississippi–just to be in the NFL long enough to receive three contracts and to play at a level high enough to be rewarded with three contracts, it feels good. I will probably think more about it tonight or sometime, but I’m just happy right now.” — Glover Quin on what his wife told him after he signed his new two-year contract extension
“I gotta cool you off. You was hot today, boy.” — Golden Tate to Darren Fells while pouring water on him after practice on Monday.
“I got sweet feet!” — Marvin Jones after catching a fade pattern during wide receiver drills on Sunday
The funny side of Jim Caldwell
“The report will come out shortly. Someone told me I should get a shirt that says, ‘Read the report,’ or ‘Check the report,’ and just point to that. It was my daughter actually, but nevertheless, save a little time right?” — Caldwell after being asked about Eric Ebron’s injury on first day of practice.
“I can’t say check the report because you don’t have one yet, but nevertheless, I’m not certain exactly when, but he’s coming along.” — said Caldwell with a smile on Friday after being asked about Ebron again, which drew laughs from the media.
“You are a little bit like Columbo you know. He said one more, Mike [O’Hara] asks the last question and then here comes Columbo. — Caldwell to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein