Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations from Sunday’s Detroit Lions training camp practice.
► Let’s start today’s observations with the end of practice. Instead of a traditional huddle and message from coach Matt Patricia, or a conditioning segment, the Lions capped the day with an entertaining competition between the team’s punters.
Patricia quickly divided the roster, with half being represented by Jack Fox and the other half by rookie Arryn Sippos. The two were pitted against each other in a best-of-three competition, with the loser’s side having to run a lap around the two fields.
Needless to say, the players were highly engaged, with Fox’s side chanting, “USA! USA!” like an old-school professional wrestling crowd (Sippos is Australian). The first two boots were directional kicks, focusing on hang time and distance. Both players showed good leg strength, with Fox winning the first rep and Sippos taking the second.
The deciding kick had the punters taking a snap from midfield and trying to pin the ball as close to the goal line without going over. Fox went first and his ball hit before the goal line, but shot through the back of the end zone. Sippos had more back spin, and while his likely would have bounced across, as well, defensive tackle Danny Shelton had crept down to the field like an over-sized gunner and attempted to bat it down.
Typical big man, trying to avoid extra running.
Regardless of Shelton’s extracurricular efforts, Sippos was declared the winner and Fox’s side had to close the hot, humid day with a long lap.
► Looking back at the start of practice, there was a heavy emphasis on red zone work, starting with the tight ends and running backs matching up against the safeties and linebackers in a half-team drill.
T.J. Hockenson made a fabulous catch in the back of the end zone, tip-toeing the back line. Isaac Nauta also added a score, while Michigan State’s Matt Sokol, an underrated name in a roster battle for the third tight end job, found paydirt twice.
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► On the second field, Detroit’s receivers went two on three against defensive backs in a half-field, red-zone drill from inside the 5-yard line. The offense absolutely dominated, frustrating defensive coordinator Cory Undlin, who was pleading for his guys to win a rep.
The receivers scored touchdowns on seven snaps, with Marvin Jones catching two. The defense finally got on the board when cornerback Tony McRae broke up a pass intended for Tom Kennedy.
► McRae had himself quite an afternoon. He broke up a second pass to end the half-field drill and added two more pass breakups in full-team work. He also forced another incompletion with tight coverage.
Signed primarily for his ability on special teams, McRae looks locked into the backup nickel corner job.
► Danny Amendola continued his fantastic camp, torturing cornerback Justin Coleman on a couple of one-on-one reps. It’s impressive how well the slot receiver moves in and out of his breaks at 34 years old. He looks like he could play until he’s 40, if he wanted.
► Rookie cornerback Jeff Okudah broke up a pass in those one-on-ones, but might have drawn a flag for his physical coverage on Marvin Hall across the middle. Okudah wasn’t so lucky covering Marvin Jones. The receiver, exhibiting unbelievable body control, made a twisting, one-handed grab on a deep ball.
► Quintez Cephus continues to make plays, largely due to his superb route running. But the rookie receiver made a blunder he’ll want to get corrected, allowing himself to get stripped of the football while running across the middle.
► Running back Jonathan Williams also fumbled, taking a carry around the left edge. Based on player reactions, it looked as if defensive end Trey Flowers was the one who knocked the ball loose.
► The Lions worked another two-minute drive segment on Sunday, simulating the end of the first half. And although both the first- and second-team offenses came away with field goals, they looked shaky doing it.
With the first team, Matthew Stafford was nearly picked off on the first play when cornerback Amani Oruwariye undercut the throw. Stafford did manage to extend the drive with third-and-long completions to Jesse James and Marvin Hall, setting up a 48-yard Matt Prater kick.
The second team, led by David Blough, wasn’t much better. After an overthrow on a wheel route on first down, and a drop by Jamal Agnew on second down, Blough found Kennedy for a 26-yard gain after the cornerback in coverage fell down. But that was as far as the drive went, with an incompletion, batted pass and a defensive breakup by safety Tracy Walker on third down.
That left Prater with a 55-yard attempt, which he still managed to knock down.
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► We’ll cap today’s notes with the play of the day, a one-handed interception by Reggie Ragland in seven-on-seven work. The veteran linebacker jumped into the passing lane on a throw intended for Hockenson, somehow managing to softly deflect the ball to himself and run it back 90 or so yards.
Running it back for the score was definitely unnecessary, but the defense enjoyed the moment, piling on Ragland in the opposite end zone. Asked after practice if he thought he could have outrun Stafford in a live game, Ragland laughed and said, “You damn skippy I would have.”