The Detroit Lions coordinators spoke to the media on Thursday. Several questions were devoted to the coaches expectations for the rookies. How do they view the rookies impact?
How Detroit Lions’ Coordinators See Rookies Making An Impact
Rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa was one of the preseason standouts with eight receptions for 146 yards and three touchdowns. His strong start prompted the Lions to trade wide receiver Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Offensive Coordinator John Morton On Isaac TeSlaa
Offensive Coordinator John Morton was asked about TeSlaa’s role and his development in the preseason. Morton agreed, “Yeah, I think TeSlaa did a great job in training camp, here in practice, and he made plays. He got better every single day, carried over to the game, we thought he did an unbelievable job. He’s a smart kid, he’s tough, there are some good things that he can do that’s going to help us this year. He took advantage of the opportunity when Tim (Patrick) was out.”
Special Teams Coordinator Dave Fipp On Isaac TeSlaa
Special Teams Coordinator Dave Fipp was also asked about TeSlaa. Did he see the rookie wide receiver contributing on special teams? Fipp responded with enthusiasm. “Yeah, he’s a good body type, he’s got some size and some length, he’s got some speed, so that’s huge. I mean, for us on special teams, sometimes there’s just nothing you can do if a guy can just flat run, and a guy just can’t run, it’s hard for the guy who can’t run to match the guy who can run. And he can run, so that gives him a chance to play some of these positions on the outside, gunner, hold-up guy, and some of that stuff. And then I would say competitive spirit, like he’s not afraid of contact, he likes using his hands, he likes being physical – we saw that with the block there during training camp, blocking on offense. So definitely a guy that obviously we’d like to get involved.”
Although TeSlaa remained out of practice earlier this week, coach Dan Campbell was quick to reassure the media that TeSlaa wasn’t injured and has been dealing with “a little bug. ” The expectation is that he will be active for Sunday’s game.
Special Teams Coordinator Dave Fipp On Dominic Lovett
Another rookie Fipp is excited about is Dominic Lovett , the Lions’ seventh-round draft pick. Lovett impressed Fipp with his heads-up play in the Miami Dolphins preseason game. He recovered a muffed punt return that led to a 33-yard field goal by Jake Bates .
Lovett’s Speed Makes Him A Special Teams Asset
Transferring to Georgia from Missouri for his final two years of eligibility, the 5’10” 187 lb. Lovett had 59 receptions for 607 yards with six touchdowns. But his combine speed of 4.40 caught Brad Holmes’ attention.
Fipp was asked if he saw both TeSlaa and Lovett contributing on special teams. Fipp declared, “Yeah, so Lovett’s the same type of thing. I mean, he’s got speed, he was a gunner at Georgia all last year, really – his last year in college, played well for them as a gunner. Anyway, he’s got speed, he can run, he can find the ball in coverage, make tackles. He’s a little bit smaller body type, a little bit different than TeSlaa.”
Describing TeSlaa, he continued, “…a little bit bigger, little more physical, so maybe he plays more perimeter positions, not quite as far inside in the return game, hold-up game. He’s got return value as a punt returner and a kick returner, obviously, so he brings a lot to the table. It’ll end up being, kind of like it comes down to every year is here’s the whatever, 48 guys you get to work with on game day and then how can you make the best group out of those 48, managing their volume on offense and defense and making sure you’re not wearing anyone out.”
Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard On Play Calling
Much has been said about the fact that the Lions have two new coordinators. However, Kelvin Sheppard doesn’t feel like a first-time DC. Working closely with Aaron Glenn, the past few seasons, Sheppard is very confident in his ability to call the plays. “Absolutely, because I know the big question is that this is my first game calling it. But, that’s not how I’m thinking or preparing for this.” Sheppard went on to explain how he’d been preparing for the role. He’d practiced calling plays in his head in case he suddenly had to step in for Glenn.
Sheppard explained, “I know the D’s and D’s (downs and distance), I know the plan, I know what we’ve said we’re going to do here. I know what we’ve said we’re going to do there, and not deviate from it, no matter what. It’s the same thing we do in call-it periods in practice. I go against one of the most high prolific offenses every single day for the last six weeks, and I’ve had that task at hand. Dan (Campbell) has put me in in-game situations already, and that’s just a credit to him.”
Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard On Tyleik Williams
The Lions have high expectations for their rookie defensive lineman, first-round draft pick Tyleik Williams. The 6’3” 334 lbs. Williams possesses explosive speed and bulldozing strength. In his youth, he was the fastest kid on the field as an oversized running back. Surrounded by elite talent on Ohio State’s number one college defense, Williams recorded 136 tackles (27 TFLs for 97 yards), 11.5 quarterback sacks, 10 pass break-ups, and four quarterback pressures. Praising Williams’ power, bend, and agility, Holmes stated, “I do think he’s got a lot of versatility in his game. He has the physical skillset…The thing about it is he’s incredibly instinctive as well.” Regarded as a “big-bodied bruiser with a talent for pushing interior linemen back,” Williams was seen as a player who can make an immediate impact.
Sheppard didn’t mince words when it came to his expectations of Williams. “I’m expecting to see a violent, physical, big man striking and knocking people back. We know his playmaking ability, but I just keep reminding him, D-tackles don’t necessarily make plays that show up on the stat sheet. And you have to remind him of that, because he was a dominant player at Ohio State, and he’s used to racking up stats on the stat sheet. Just understanding what we need from him, and that’s to be who he is within our system and what we’re asking him to do. But first and foremost, if you play on our defensive line, we expect you to knock people back violently, be able to sit down against double teams, hold in there thick and firm. And he’s shown that all camp, I’m very excited for that player and to see him out there in Lambeau.”
Will Lions Rookies Play Week 1?
Although not specifically mentioned, rookie OL Tate Ratledge earned the starting right guard assignment. The Lions will also play Williams. TeSlaa is also likely to play on Sunday as well. We may have to wait to see Lovett play on offense. However, with his special teams ability, he may play Week 1. With so many rookies who can make an immediate impact, it’s further proof of Holmes’ genius at spotting talent in the draft.
Main Image: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
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