ALLEN PARK – The Detroit Lions have reported on the start of training camp, though their actual return to work is on hold as players go through mandatory COVID-19 testing. If players pass all three tests this week, they will be eligible to take physicals and pick up their gear over the weekend.
Work ideally begins next week. But even then, physical things will be limited to strength and conditioning.
So as we sit down and wait to see this list on a soccer field for the first time, let’s take a look at what it might look like. Some might even call it premature. I know I would. But these are weird times, and even the team itself is in the unusual position of making personnel decisions without the benefit of practice time. So with that enthusiastic endorsement …
Quarterback (3)
In: Matthew Stafford, Chase Daniel, David Blough
Outside: None
Decomposition: All things being equal, I think the Lions would rather roll with just two quarterbacks after paying all that money to Chase Daniel in free agency. But in case you haven’t noticed, all things are not the same. We are living in the midst of a pandemic, and there is no telling what will happen tomorrow, let alone 17 weeks in the regular season. Just look at what happened to the Miami Marlins after a baseball weekend. What happens if Daniel tests positive for COVID-19? What if, God forbid, Matthew Stafford does it? I think the fear of always being a positive test of losing your quarterback for 10 days will make many clubs play safe by including a third QB.
Receiver
In (6): Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola, Marvin Hall, Quintez Cephus, Jamal Agnew
Outside: Travis Fulgham, Chris Lacy, Tom Kennedy, Geronimo Allison, Geremy Davis, Victor Bolden
Decomposition: Matthew Stafford passed for more yards than any other quarterback in the first half of last season, and now he enjoys the return of every catcher who caught him. That includes Kenny Golladay, who comes from consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and has just led the NFL in touchdown catches.
This receiving group should be one of the best in the league, and that depth creates a lot of competition for reserve jobs. Marvin Hall is a tough guy to cut after he racked up five sacks of at least 39 yards and 261 receiving yards overall, while playing only 127 offensive snapshots. That is really good from the bench. Quintez Cephus will face the same challenges as other rookies in this shortened offseason, but his polished route running inside and out will serve him well. Jamal Agnew remains a front-runner favorite, though I suspect his offensive role will continue to be limited to gadget plays despite his full-time move to receiver.
Hard end
In 3): TJ Hockenson, Jesse James, Isaac Nauta
Outside: Hunter Bryant, Matt Sokol
Decomposition: Make no mistake, Hunter Bryant has a chance to be part of this team. The undrafted rookie was one of the most efficient tight ends in the country in Washington, averaging 2.9 yards per road. That was No. 1 in the country at the spot, and it was TE3 in the draft according to a large consensus board compiled by The Athletic. But nobody selected it at all, which was “the biggest head scratcher” of the year according to ProFootballFocus. Hunter’s fall likely has something to do with his history of knee injuries. But if he can stay healthy, Detroit could always use another guy who can catch Matthew Stafford’s soccer balls. The problem is, Hunter just won’t have much time to catch up like any other UDFA in the league. He is able to push for a place on the list, but that is difficult to do when you cannot enter the soccer field. At this moment, he is outside looking inside.
Running backwards
In 5): D’Andre Swift, Kerryon Johnson, Bo Scarbrough, Jason Huntley, Nick Bawden (FB)
Outside: Ty Johnson, Wes Hills, Luke Sellers (FB)
Decomposition: Spending a second round pick on D’Andre Swift when you return, former second round pick Kerryon Johnson is saying. And it’s not exactly a surprise. Matt Patricia wants to run the damn football, and Detroit continues to invest in doing so. With Swift and Johnson at the top of the rotation, Detroit’s running game finally has a real chance of being a threat. There will be fierce competition for the remaining jobs, but there’s a lot to like about Bo Scarbrough’s physical career style in contrast to Swift and Johnson. Ty Johnson could also be a factor, but he had trouble seeing the field last season and had trouble producing when he took a look. The best money goes to Jason Huntley, this year’s fifth round pick, another speed trader who may also line up in the slot.
One of the most interesting questions on the list facing Detroit is whether to lead a fifth tight end or a fourth tight end. Given all the investments in the running game, from recruiting Swift to taking guards in the third and fourth round, I bet Patricia and Darrell Bevell would rather have a fullback at their disposal.
Offensive line
In (8): Taylor Decker, Joe Dahl, Frank Ragnow, Kenny Wiggins, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Jonah Jackson, Logan Stenberg, Tyrell Crosby
Outside: Oday Aboushi, Josh Garnett, Beau Benzschawel, Caleb Benenoch, Russell Bodine, Matt Nelson, Dan Skipper
Decomposition: Detroit broke camp with nine offensive linemen last year and 10 the year before. So eight is basic to this regimen, especially in a season when you’re on a COVID test of losing a guy for 10 days. But the positional versatility of Kenny Wiggins and Tyrell Crosby allows them to stay slim here, offering depth inside and out.
It will also be interesting to see how the battle unfolds for proper guard duty. Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg were brought in in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, although COVID has destroyed the practice schedule. If neither is ready, Wiggins could head to the initial job.
Defensive line
In (8): Trey Flowers, Danny Shelton, Da’Shawn Hand, Julian Okwara, Romeo Okwara, Nick Williams, Austin Bryant, John Penisini
Outside: Kevin Strong, Frank Herron, Jashon Cornell, Olive Sagapolu, Jonathan Wynn, John Atkins (already excluded)
Decomposition: The Lions were supposed to have one of the most feared defensive lines in the game last season. Instead, they had one of the worst. Now they have cleaned the house by purging Snacks Harrison, A’Shawn Robinson and Mike Daniels. Add the loss of John Atkins, who has chosen to exit the 2020 season, and the Lions don’t have the four tackles who played the most snapshots last season.
Of course, Da’Shawn Hand’s return helps, as long as he can stay healthy after a series of injuries that limited him to zero quarterback hits in 110 snapshots last season. Detroit has built around it by adding Danny Shelton and Nick Williams in free agency, as well as spending last-minute draft picks at John Penisini and Jashon Cornell. I like Penisini’s chances a bit more among rookies, though Cornell is more versatile.
On the brink, Trey Flowers is back after a sneaky debut season in Detroit. It wasn’t as swanky as some might wish for $ 90 million, but it was among the best players in the final season. Romeo Okwara also returned, while Julian Okwara was a good value in the draft. Austin Bryant is a wild card after sitting most of his rookie season due to injury.
Linebacker
In (6): Reggie Ragland, Jarrad Davis, Jamie Collins, Jahlani Tavai, Christian Jones, Miles Killebrew
Outside: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Jason Cabinda, Elijah Lee, Anthony Pittman
Decomposition: Since my editor won’t let me put the shrunken emoji here, let me say this: Who knows what’s going on here? No position offers less clarity or greater uncertainty than this. That starts right in the middle, where the Lions continue to say they love Jarrad Davis, but they continue to do things that make you think they don’t love Jarrad Davis, at least as a full-time half linebacker. That includes signing Reggie Ragland in free agency, just a year after taking Jahlani Tavai in the second round of the draft. Both players can also play in between. My money is in Ragland taking over most of Davis’ past chores in between, while Davis happens to have a faster role in subpacks. That’s where it’s been at its best anyway.
At the limit, it will be interesting to see what Matt Patricia’s plans are for her reunion with Jamie Collins. Miles Killebrew has one foot on either side of the list bubble, but he has been a must-have special team collaborator for Detroit with Matt Patricia, and his experience in a year with so little practice time will be valuable.
Secondary
In (11): CB Jeff Okudah, CB Desmond Trufant, CB Justin Coleman, CB Amani Oruwariye, CB Mike Ford, CB Dee Virgin, S Tracy Walker, S Duron Harmon, S Will Harris, S Jayron Kearse, S CJ Moore
Outside: CB Mike Jackson, CB Tony McRae, CB Darryl Roberts, S Jeremiah Dinson, S Jalen Elliott, S Bobby Price
Decomposition: Eleven defensive backs may seem like a lot, but Detroit had 12 last year. A lot will depend on how the special teams shudder, where Brayden Coombs has been hired as the new coordinator and is clearly taking things in another direction. Detroit has been loaded with special team aces in free agency, and some will. Jayron Kearse is an excellent candidate, and his 6-foot-4-inch frame also gives him intriguing defensive versatility.
Specialists
In 3): PK Matt Prater, P Jack Fox, LS Don Muhlbach
Outside: Arryn Siposs, LS Steven Wirtel
Decomposition: After five years of almost uninterrupted continuity in specialist positions, change is underway. Sam Martin is out in the punter game, and there is a well-crafted job battle between Jack Fox and Arryn Siposs. Fox is a more traditional bettor, with a great leg and experience in handling kickoffs. He is the favorite, although Sipposs is an Australian rules player who could give Detroit a very different look. And with new leadership on board in Brayden Coombs, a young and highly respected mind in the game, maybe that’s what the Lions will want.
Don’t sleep in the long snapper position, either, where Don Muhlbach returns for his 314th season in Detroit, although Steven Wirtel was considered one of the best long snappers in the country last year at Iowa State. But with so little time to work together in the field and develop the precision time required for these guys, the smart money is in the old death and taxes are back once again, forever. Amen.
