In the same way a veteran pitcher may spend part of spring training working on a certain pitch, there is a trial-and-error component to training camps in the NFL.
Detroit Lions receiver Kalif Raymond told me Monday he has used his reps in one-on-one passing drills this summer to work on a few specific routes he feels will be staples for him this fall. Raymond is less concerned with winning every rep, though he’s done plenty of that in one-on-ones, and more concerned with getting better at the intricate details he needs to succeed against foreign foes.
The Lions have taken a similar experimental approach to parts of camp, and some of that tinkering appeared to be on display Monday when they gave veterans Devin Funchess and Isaiah Buggs their most extended work with the first team.
RELATED: Lions TE Devin Funchess embracing ‘Olympic mindset’ after extended football layoff
Funchess played well in last week’s preseason-opening loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He caught four passes for 19 yards, had a 1-yard touchdown reception and picked up first downs by breaking a tackle and hurdling a defender, and the Lions rewarded him by bumping him up the depth chart.
Funchess still worked behind T.J. Hockenson, Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra, one of his primary competitors for the No. 3 tight end job, but Monday was the first time I can remember him getting any work with the first-team offense in camp.
To make the team, Funchess will have to prove he can function as a blocker and not just be a big receiver, and he probably needs to contribute on special teams. But after waiving tight ends Garrett Griffin and Nolan Givan on Monday, it sure seems like the Lions want to give Funchess ample chance to show what he can and can’t do.
MORE FROM BIRKETT: Why Dan Campbell gives Lions constant reminder of organization’s ineptitude
Buggs, like a Funchess a summer signee, took some first-team reps Monday at nose tackle and could see extended work there this week against a good running team in joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Lions are neither big nor deep on their defensive line, especially with Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal out with injuries, so now is the time to see if Buggs can add value to the run defense. After Wednesday and Thursday’s practices and Saturday’s game, the Lions should know how rosterable Buggs is or if they need to sign more reinforcements, someone like ex-New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Tyeler Davison.
Buggs, who played the past three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, said he feels like he is having a “pretty good” camp so far, but acknowledged the next week will be big for his chances of making the 53-man roster.
NFL teams must trim their rosters to 85 players by Tuesday, 80 by Aug. 23 and have until Aug. 30 to get down to 53 players.
“It’s a league where you got to jump on the train and keep going,” Buggs said. “No matter what time you get here, you got to pick up and learn it fast. If you can’t do it, they’ll get rid of you, so you’ve got to be consistent in what you do and work hard every day.”
Observations from Lions’ practice Monday
• Funchess and Buggs aren’t the only changes to the Lions’ depth chart heading into Week 2 of the preseason. David Blough took second-team reps ahead of Tim Boyle at quarterback, and Jeff Okudah mostly worked ahead of Will Harris at cornerback (the two continue to split reps, but Okudah was first up during install).
I wouldn’t read too much into either move yet. Blough and Boyle have alternated days with the second-team offense since spring, and this should be Blough’s week to go first in the rotation. I thought Blough outplayed Boyle against the Falcons, but Jared Goff’s backup is still anyone’s guess.
Okudah and Harris have been in a time-share system this summer, too, and are essentially co-starters at the No. 2 cornerback spot. Harris started against the Falcons, gave way to Okudah after he injured his finger on Atlanta’s first series, then played with Okudah after the Lions took Amani Oruwariye out of the game.
[ Lions CB Jeff Okudah’s preseason debut ‘encouraging’ sign of things to come ]
• The Lions practiced in shells Monday — they have a walk-through scheduled for Tuesday before traveling to Indianapolis — and were not particularly crisp offensively while spending a good portion of the day in situations.
Charles Harris beat Taylor Decker for a sack on the first play of the first situational period, when the offense was given a first-and-10 at its own 49-yard line, needing a field goal to win with 16 seconds to play.
Lions coach Dan Campbell disgustedly beckoned the twos onto the field after the sack, then watched the second-team offense pitter away its own chance at a game-winning field goal. Blough completed a quick slant to Tom Kennedy to the 40-yard line, but Raymond was slow getting back to the line of scrimmage after running a downfield route and Trinity Benson left the left tackle uncovered as he lined up for Blough’s spike.
Benson shuffled up to the line as Blough was taking the snap, creating an illegal motion (and game-ending clock run-off) on the play.
To make matters worse, both Austin Seibert and Riley Patterson left their 57-yard field goals attempts short.
• The first- and second-string defense outdueled their offensive counterparts in the last situational period the Lions had Monday, too.
Starting from first-and-10 at the 49, needing a touchdown to tie with 45 seconds on the clock, Goff picked up a first down with two quick passes before the offense ran into trouble. Oruwariye had a pass breakup on a curl route on first down, Okudah blanketed Amon-Ra St. Brown on third down and Goff threw wide of DJ Chark on fourth-and-5.
With the twos, Blough dinked-and-dunked his way to the 38-yard line before Chase Lucas intercepted a pass intended for Raymond in the end zone. Lucas sprang to his feet as if to try and return the pick, but Harris held him in the end zone for a touchback.
SHAWN WINDSOR: ‘Hard Knocks’ confirms Dan Campbell’s authenticity. But do Lions players buy it?
• One bright spot for the offense: The play-action game was good enough on one red zone play Monday that it even fooled Campbell. The Lions coach blew his whistle to stop a play after a well-executed run fake by Blough. A Lions defender swallowed up the running back, but Blough had the ball and bootlegged left, throwing in Raymond’s direction as the whistle stopped play.
Funchess beat Harris for a touchdown two plays later.
• On the injury front, I did not see what happened to right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, but Tommy Kraemer finished practice with the first-team offense. And Jashon Cornell gave the already-thin defensive line a scare when he limped to the sideline midway through practice before eventually returning. Cornell had a nice tackle for loss against the second-team offense in Monday’s run period.
Quintez Cephus wore a compression sleeve on his left leg in his first practice since Aug. 2. He was limited to position drills. Ifeatu Melifonwu, Julian Okwara, Josh Johnson, Levi Onwuzurike, Brady Breeze and Savion Smith were among those who did not practice.
• Neither Seibert nor Patterson had a great day kicking the ball. Patterson badly missed a 54-yarder from the right hash and was wide left from 47 yards during live field goal, and the consensus from reporters was that Seibert was wide left from 54 yards, though I couldn’t tell from where I was standing on the sideline. There was some question about whether both kickers made their 33-yard attempts, too.
The field goal period came after the defense got another situational stop. The period started first-and-10 at the 18, with the offense needing a touchdown to win. Goff threw complete to D’Andre Swift down the middle, then spiked the ball to kill the clock with 7 seconds to play. When no one was open on second down, he a pass at St. Brown’s feet to kill the clock. On third-and-goal, C.J. Moore deflected a pass over the middle intended for Chark in the back of the end zone.
• The Lions have a walk-through and travel day Tuesday, but observations will return for both joint practices in Indianapolis on Wednesday and Thursday.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.