The defense finished out training camp with a dominant performance. Detroit Lions training camp observations here.
Last week, the Detroit Lions wanted to run a scrimmage, but injuries caused them to shift strategies. To officially close out training camp, the Lions went back to the scrimmage format for what was essentially an entire game. They even left for the locker room to simulate a halftime feel.
Without a doubt, it was an utterly dominant performance from the defense all day. The Lions’ first teamers went up against each other for 11 drives, and here were the results of each one:
- 3 plays, punt
- 5 plays, punt
- 1 play, INT (pick six)
- 6 plays, FG
- 3 plays, punt
- 4 plays, INT
- 7 plays, TD
- 7 plays, FG
- 7 plays, TD
- 13 plays, TD
- 4 plays, turnover on downs
While it was a much better performance for the offense in the second half, most of those drives were either aided by good starting position or drive-extending penalties.
It wasn’t any better for the reserve offenses, either. Their six total drives resulted in one touchdown, one missed field goal, an interception, a turnover on downs, and two punts.
Here’s a breakdown of each first-team drive, combined with some key plays from the reserves.
Drive 1: 3 plays, 6 yards, punt
After a drop from Brock Wright on second down, Jared Goff couldn’t connect with Kalif Raymond on a throw while Ennis Rakestraw was in coverage.
- Personnel note: With no Amik Robertson, Brian Branch dropped down and played nickelback when the personnel required it. Brandon Joseph replaced Branch at safety. In base formations, Branch remained at safety.
- Ennis Rakestraw paired with Carlton Davis as the starting outside corners
Drive 2 (starting on own 30): 5 plays, 24 yards, punt
Aidan Hutchinson, who had a dominant day, knocked down a WR screen at the line to start the drive. But back-to-back throws to Amon-Ra St. Brown picked up 25 total yards.
Unfortunately for the offense, Hutchinson and Alim McNeill (another defensive standout from Wednesday) combined for a tackle for loss on the next play, and Marcus Davenport and Levi Onwuzurike met at the quarterback for a third-down sack.
- Personnel note: Khalil Dorsey rotated with Rakestraw at the outside cornerback position
Drive 3 (starting on own 36): 1 play, 0 yards, INT (pick six)
Carlton Davis jumped a quick pass to David Montgomery after Goff was under pressure from a blitz.
Of note, Jake Bates missed the extra point wide left, but it was a low snap that skipped once from Hogan Hatten.
Drive 4 (starting on own 45): 6 plays, 42 yards, FG
The offense finally got on the board with a short field. On the first play, Goff laid a dime to Raymond for a big 29-yard gain, and followed it up with a 19-yard crosser to St. Brown. But the offense sputtered in the red zone with two consecutive passes batted down by the Lions defensive line. Alim McNeill got one of them.
- Personnel note: The Lions’ top three receivers remained St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond. But in the red zone, Donovan Peoples-Jones got some looks.
Drive 5 (starting on own 40): 3 plays, 7 yards, punt
McNeill and Jack Campbell started off the drive with a run stop for 0 yards, and after a toss to Craig Reynolds in the flat went for 7 yards, the Lions offense faced a third-and-short. Goff dialed up a deep shot to Jameson Williams, but there appeared to be some sort of miscommunication, as the ball sailed toward the sideline, while Williams’ 9-route faded inside.
Drive 6 (starting on own 42): 4 plays, 23 yards, INT
The drive got off to a promising start with a deep post to Williams for 19 yards, but after a tackle for loss by Kindle Vildor on a WR screen, the Lions were faced with a third-and-medium. Facing pressure form McNeill, Goff attempted to hit Williams on a crossing route, but Alex Anzalone tipped the ball to himself and picked it off.
Drive 7 (starting on opponents 44): 7 plays, 44 yards, TD
On a third-and-short, St. Brown caught a crossing route, broke a tackle and cut it upfield for a huge 36-yard gain—setting up the Lions at the 2-yard line.
The defense held strong on a couple of run stuffs—one via Brian Branch. But on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, fullback/tight end Parker Hesse snuck out on a play-action pass to beat linebacker Ben Niemann for the touchdown.
Drive 8 (starting at 50-yard line, 1:11 left in half, 3 timeouts): 7 plays, 43 yards, FG
Craig Reynolds had three early touches in this drive, totaling 25 yards. But after Goff misfired to Shane Zylstra, it forced a third-and-6 in the red zone. The Lions sent Branch on a blitz, forcing Goff to throw it away and settle for a field goal at halftime.
Drive 9 (starting on own 38-yard line): 7 plays, 52 yards, TD
It’s worth noting I may have missed a play or two on this drive, as it was the one Penei Sewell was injured, and that drew most of my attention at the time.
Despite Branch offering a big pressure to start the drive, Goff was able to get the ball out in time to find Wright, who was open and scampered down field for a 22 yard gain.
Eventually, the Lions got back into a fourth-and-goal situation and went for it. This time, Goff bought himself a second and Raymond found the soft spot in the zone between Derrick Barnes and Jack Campbell for a 2-yard touchdown catch.
Drive 10 (starting on own 30-yard line): 13 plays, 70 yards, tD
St. Brown got the drive going with a couple of quick slants that went for about 10 yards each. The defense then appeared to get a stop on third-and-8 after Jameson Williams failed to make a diving catch, but it appears the Lions may have called pass interference on Branch.
After another McNeill tackle for loss, David Montgomery nearly took a draw play to the house for a 30+ yard touchdown, but Brandon Joseph made a shoestring tackle to get him down at the 6-yard line. Two plays later, Goff found Wright in the flats for a 6-yard touchdown.
- Personnel note: Branch took this drive off, so it was Rakestraw in at nickel and Brandon Joseph and Kerby Joseph at safety
Drive 11 (starting on 50-yard line, 1 minute left, 2 timeouts, down 5): 4 plays, 0 yards
The Lions finished practice with an end-of-game scenario that failed miserably for the offense.
Goff tried to hit Jameson Williams on a deep shot, but overthrew him. On second down, Aidan Hutchinson beat Colby Sorsdal—who was filling in for the injured Sewell—for an 8-yard sack. The Lions sent the house on third-and-long—with Branch, Anzalone, and Levi Onwuzurike all breaking through—forcing an incompletion. And a final attempt on fourth-and-18 to St. Brown came up extremely short for a final win for the defense.
Other notes from practice
- Another inconsistent day from Bates. He went 4-of-5 on extra points, made 25 and 31-yard field goals, but missed a 48 yarder.
- After a strong day on Tuesday, it was another tough one for Donovan Peoples-Jones. He had a third-down drop that ended a drive with the twos, although he did make up for it later with a nice 18-yard grab on a back-shoulder throw from Nate Sudfeld on third down.
- Safety Chelen Garnes picked off Hendon Hooker after the second-year quarterback tried to fit a ball in a tight window. Steven Gilmore got the pass breakup, and Garnes made in impressive diving grab.
- During a four-down series for Hooker, he failed to grasp the snap twice from Michael Niese. The second of which came on a fourth-and-1, causing a failed conversion. Later in the practice, Hooker fumbled while scrambling.