Blogs > Lions Lowdown

One thing you can count on with the Detroit Lions is that they are never, ever boring. Follow the latest news including injuries, roster moves and more here daily from Oakland Press beat writer Paula Pasche. Plus you'll find regular commentary about the team.

8/06/2012

It's early but rookies look good at Lions training camp so far

Just a little over a week into Lions training camp, here’s a look at the rookies, a few who have been stand-outs.

Some were drafted, others were signed as free agents. Positions like offensive tackle are a little tougher to judge until the preseason games. We’ll get our first look on Friday night at Ford Field against Cleveland.

The creation of a champion begins each April and while it’s early, it looks like Martin Mayhew made some quality choices.

— T Riley Reiff (first round, Iowa): At June’s minicamp offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said this guy will play early and often. He just didn’t say where. Through the start of camp, he’s taken reps at left and right tackle along with Jason Fox and Corey Hilliard. Teammates like him and his approach to the game. He’s got some great veterans like Jeff Backus to learn from. Bring on the preseason.

— WR Ryan Broyles (second round, Oklahoma): He’s making remarkable strides after coming off ACL surgery more than six months ago. As long as he stays healthy, look for him to contribute right away. While three receivers are ahead of him on the depth chart, Linehan likes to mix it up and rotate guys on and off the field. He’s not going to let a talent like Broyles wither away on the bench. Like the other rookies, the preseason games will be huge for Broyles.

— CB Bill Bentley (third round, Louisiana-Lafayette): He’s been one of the standouts of the rookie class so far. It’s not like he has an occasional good day at camp, for Bentley every day is a good day and he continues to improve. Perhaps a secret to his success, is when he gets beat by a receiver on a one-on-one drill, he’ll immediately ask the guy how he beat him. Speedy and athletic, he’s in the running to get the start at right cornerback. If not, he should be first in at nickelback. He’s played both positions with the starters every day in camp.

— DE Ronnell Lewis (fourth round, Oklahoma): The pass-rushing specialist had a slow start to camp with a tight back. Known as “The Hammer” in college, Lewis is best known for his special teams play. That’s probably the only way he’ll make the 53-man roster this year. He has competition in Lawrence Jackson and Willie Young for the backup defensive end roles. Both of them young but are more experienced and continue to improve.

— LB Tahir Whitehead (fifth round, Temple): So teammate Justin Durant said this guy is the “strongest dude he’s ever seen.” That should tell you something. There’s a four-way battle for a projected three backup spots at linebacker and it looks like Whitehead is making a strong case for one of them.

— CB Chris Greenwood (fifth round, Albion): We can only give him an incomplete. Greenwood underwent abdominal surgery after getting injured in Organized Team Activities and he hasn’t been cleared to participate in camp. They like this athlete and I don’t expect they have given up on him. He’s just getting off to a slow start due to the injury.

— CB Jonte Green (sixth round, New Mexico State): This corner hasn’t made an impact quite like Bentley. It is early in the process though.

— LB Travis Lewis (seventh round, Oklahoma) — Another Sooner, another good camp so far. Lewis, who led Oklahoma in tackles for four seasons, has had a solid camp. He’s in the mix for one of the three backup linebacker positions.

— WR Patrick Edwards (undrafted): He’s been one of the biggest surprises in camp, routinely makes quality catches. It’s going to be tough for him to make the 53-man roster because really there’s just one roster opening and several fighting for it including Mo Stovall, Dominique Curry, Lance Long, Nate Hughes and Terrence Tolliver — all who have experience. Edwards qualifies for the practice squad, but he may be too good for it.

— QB Kellen Moore (undrafted, Boise State): He doesn’t have the arm strength, but he’s got football smarts and during camp he seems to make the most of his limited chances, often moving the ball downfield. He’s gained a big fan in offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. He’s a coach’s son which is usually a great line to put on the resume. There’s a chance the Lions won’t keep three quarterbacks (remember Drew Stanton didn’t dress for a game all last year), but if they do it will be Moore. R.J. Archer, who plays arena ball, is strictly a camp quarterback.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Get Lions news delivered directly to your phone by texting the keyword "Lions" to 22700. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.)

Labels: , , , ,

7/05/2012

Three rookies to keep an eye on at Lions training camp

Not only did the Lions draft seven players, but they’ve signed an assortment of undrafted rookies.

Here are three rookies to keep an eye on:

1. Offensive lineman Riley Reiff has been impressive as expected. Trouble is, the offensive line from last year returns. Reiff will undoubtedly be a starter in years to come at left tackle after Jeff Backus is done, but what about this year. Even though he’d only practiced at tackle (both sides) through OTAs and the minicamp, general manager Martin Mayhew thinks he could play guard too. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

2. Wide receiver Ryan Broyles is seven months out from ACL surgery and has said he’ll be ready for training camp. He’s working hard, but there is no guarantee that will happen. If he’s not ready to go he could start the season on the physically unable to perform list which would keep him out of the first six games. They’ve got plenty of wide receivers so there is no reason to push him before he’s ready. Again, he bears watching during training camp.

3. Albion’s Chris Greenwood was a fifth-round pick and despite his small college background seemed to fit in during the offseason. The 6-foot-1 cornerback is more than a project. He’s not going to start — that will be Chris Houston and Aaron Berry — but he could find a role on special teams and work himself onto the roster.

(Until the start of training camp, the Lowdown lists will appear daily, Monday through Friday. Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Email her at Paula.Pasche@oakpress.com.)

Labels: , , , , ,

6/05/2012

Lions rookie OT Riley Reiff on track to play 'really early'

With first-round draft pick Riley Reiff, an offensive tackle, there are two questions: Where will he line up and when will that happen?

The where is still up in the air, but sooner rather than later seems to be the answer for when.

“Riley is on track to play a lot of football for us really early,’’ offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. “He’s an exceptional talent, he’s a great kid, he’s going to really help us on the offensive line.

“Where he ends up this year hasn’t been determined yet, but we’re just happy with what we’ve seen so far. We think he’s going to be a heck of a player,’’ Linehan added.

Reiff has lined up at left and right tackle during rookie camp and the organized team activities.

When Reiff was drafted, it was assumed that he would eventually take over the left tackle position for Jeff Backus who is 34.

But Backus is having a good offseason coming back from biceps surgery.

“He never, from the end of the season until now, he never left this building. He was in here rehabbing and getting himself back out there,’’ Linehan said. “... He’s been out there doing pretty much everything.’’

Like Linehan pointed out the offensive line is entering its fourth season together with the exception of left guard Rob Sims who will return for his third season.

“With that added depth and competition, we’re just going to be a better football team because we’ve added some good young players and getting (Jason) Fox back healthy and obviously we drafted Riley,’’ Linehan said. “I really feel good about that group. The way the group has progressed and played in our three years, going on four now.’’

One thing is for sure, all eyes will be on the offensive line during training camp.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Get Lions news delivered directly to your phone by texting the keyword "Lions" to 22700. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.)

Labels: , , , ,

5/13/2012

Top 5 impressions from Detroit Lions rookie minicamp

ALLEN PARK — We came, we saw pretty much what we expected and then we left.

The Lions wrapped up their three-day rookie minicamp around noon on Sunday.

Coach Jim Schwartz wouldn’t say too much about the players except that he saw what he expected to see from the drafted players and some of the undrafted free agents who had been signed.

Here are my top five impressions from camp:

1. Tackle Riley Reiff is quite agile for a 6-foot-6, 313-pound guy. It showed in position drills and in the final gassers. He lined up at left tackle the first two days and right tackle on Sunday. This means nothing. He will do both throughout camp.

2. Kellen Moore shows signs that he could be a capable No. 3 quarterback. His throws on the first two days were not pretty and that’s being kind. But remember he hadn’t played in months and he was unfamiliar with the receivers and vice-versa. On Sunday, he was getting more comfortable and even connected deep a few times. It’s early but there’s a reason the Lions jumped on the chance to sign the undrafted quarterback from Boise State.

3. Defensive end Ronnell Lewis has unbelievable speed and power. He practically flies in his effort to get to the quarterback. Remember, no hitting during minicamp but he was close enough that he could have.

4. Seventh-round pick Travis Lewis, who played middle linebacker, is a take-control guy on the field. He was a four-year starter at Oklahoma and it showed. He doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder, it’s more like a boulder. Again, it’s early but he already looks like a steal.

5. Cornerback Chris Greenwood, the fifth-round pick, definitely looks like he belongs. He had an interception on Saturday and a nice pass break-up on Sunday. Sure he went to a small school (Albion) but early signs are that he can play with the big boys.

Labels: , , , , ,