ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Lions minicamp concluded on Thursday — the third of three days where the whole team was together, working to improve before a six-week break.
The Lions got some good reps this week. And at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about, right? Installing new looks, ironing things out, developing young players and managing workloads of the vets to ensure a smooth season. The Lions have done that this week, and even though Thursday was a bit lighter, it was no different.
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Here are some observations and key topics from the final day of Lions minicamp.
Dan Campbell’s message to his veterans
It was the last day of work for the veterans on the team, off for the summer until training camp begins. As things typically go, some vets will catch flights in the coming days. They’ll enjoy some much-needed downtime with their families. But before then, Campbell had a message for them.
“Just remember what we’re playing for,” Campbell said Thursday. “Each individual, ‘What do you want? What do you want out of this year? What do you want it to look like when we’re sitting here and it’s February? Where is your mind? So, think about that, and let’s work backwards from there.’ That’ll be the message.”
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It was the perfect message for a team with championship aspirations. When you have a team that finally arrived like the Lions did last season, a natural fear is that players get complacent, they show up expecting to win in a league known for parity. But because of the group in place — and the emphasis on work ethic and mindset the Lions place on the scouting process — it feels like less of an issue.
When asked to close his eyes and think about what February might look like, defensive tackle Alim McNeill’s answer was reflective of this group’s mindset, and where their focus is.
“Perfect season, we won the Super Bowl, we’re celebrating here in Detroit, in the city,” McNeill said. “That’s what I see when I close my eyes and when I go to workout, when I go run, when I’m at practice working on different moves. That’s what we all think about. That’s what I’m thinking about. And everybody has the same attitude here. We just want to win. Whatever we can do to win.”
This is a team that mirrors its coach. Doesn’t get more obvious than with answers like that. That’s why it was no surprise to hear what Campbell wants this thing to look like.
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“You know what I want,” he said, matter-of-factly. “I want the whole enchilada.”
We’ll see what’s on the menu this season.
Alim McNeill’s next step
Speaking of McNeill, he feels like one of the more underrated examples of how the Lions want this thing to look.
A 2021 third-round pick who flashed as a rookie, emerged as a full-time starter as a sophomore, trimmed his body to ensure a breakout third season and has now positioned himself for his best season to date, and a potentially significant payday.
The Lions expect big things from McNeill in 2024.
“We still feel like there is more in there,” Campbell said. “He really took a big step last year, we feel like there’s more in there. I know that’s one of the things that (Lions Defensive Line Coach) Terrell (Williams) noticed right when he came here — our D-line coach, like ‘Man this guy,’ — he said, ‘I’ve always liked Alim McNeill, but I see, there’s more to this guy. We can get more out of him.’ That’s a good thing. Some of that is by fundamentals, and technique, and just continuing to push. But Mac is one of those guys — I think this can go up another step. Last year was a big year for him.”
It feels like the stars are aligning for McNeill to emerge as a household name in this league. Last year was the beginning. PFF graded him as the seventh-best defensive tackle in football. He recorded career-highs in pressures (34) and sacks (5) and appeared to be on his way to a potential Pro Bowl nod before an injury forced him to miss four of the final five games of the regular season. Coming off momentum like that, the Lions added veteran DJ Reader this offseason — a high-effort, space-eating nose tackle who routinely makes those around him better.
Even though Reader hasn’t been with the defensive line on the field — still working his way back from a torn quad — pretty much every Lions defensive lineman you talk to has nothing but great things to say about the guy and how he’s already helping them improve. Second-year nose tackle Brodric Martin said Reader watched his film and had tips for him. Fourth-year DT Levi Onwuzurike said Reader has given him some technique advice.
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But no player will benefit more than McNeill, who’s already envisioned what this duo might look like come September.
“In my head, it just looks like destruction to me, honestly,” he said. “There’s no other way I can see it. Every time I close my eyes and visualize it, I just see destruction.”
This is a key season for McNeill. If he’s able to build off his strong 2023 season, you have to think the Lions will do everything to keep a young, homegrown talent like him in the fold, entering the final year of his rookie contract. The 20 highest-paid defensive tackles all make north of $16 million. McNeill could soon join that group.
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In the meantime, he’s focused on being the best player he can be.
“I’ve always had a mentality that I want to be the best on the field,” McNeill said. “I want to be the best player on the field, but this year I’m about to take it over another notch. Just gotta take it up a notch every year, you’ve got to. My mentality, really, is what will separate (me).”
Situational work
The Lions continued to hammer situational work on Thursday, and it was a fascinating one. Here’s how it played out.
Situation: Down 30-21, 1:59 to go, two possessions to take the lead, ball on the Detroit 30.
- Jared Goff pass complete to Amon-Ra St. Brown on a corner route. Found the soft zone between the corner and safety for a gain of 18 yards. First down.
- Goff pass to St. Brown incomplete. Overthrown and out of his reach with St. Brown open. Second down.
- Goff short pass to Kalif Raymond incomplete. Broken up by Amik Robertson after a big hit to jar it loose. Third down.
- Goff pass to Jameson Williams incomplete. Defended by Arnold. Fourth down.
- The Lions had both kickers, Michael Badgley and James Turner, attempt field goals from at least 55 yards out. Both attempts were good. Opponent 30, Lions 24.
- After the FG, the Lions essentially simulated a defensive stop to get the ball back, then had Raymond field a punt ahead of the next possession, in which the offense would look to take a 31-30 lead.
Situation: Lions ball at their own 20, 1:02 to go, no timeouts, down 30-24.
- Goff pass complete to Williams on an out route. Gain of 18 yards. Out of bounds to stop the clock with 58 seconds to go. First down.
- Goff pass to Williams incomplete. Williams had a step on Carlton Davis III but the ball was overthrown. Second-and-10.
- False start. Five-yard penalty. Second-and-15.
- Goff pass complete to Antoine Green for a gain of 14. Brings up third-and-1 from the Detroit 47. Clock continues to run
- Spiked ball. Brings up fourth-and-1 with 36 seconds.
- Goff pass complete to Sam LaPorta for a gain of eight yards to the Opponent 45. Out of bounds to stop the clock with 32 seconds left. First down.
- Goff pass incomplete to Williams. Had to extend for the ball and got his hands on it, but couldn’t make the catch. Tough play, but Williams was angry with himself afterward. Second-and-10 with about 25 seconds left.
- Goff pass incomplete to Williams. Goff held onto the ball for a long time. Williams broke off his route, perhaps to help Goff, but Goff threw it where he thought Williams was running. Third-and-10 with 16 seconds left.
- Goff pass incomplete to LaPorta. High throw. LaPorta got one hand on it but wasn’t going to make the catch. Brings up fourth-and-10 with about nine seconds left.
- Needing 45 yards in nine seconds, the Lions lateraled several times before Onwuzurike put an end to the nonsense and caught the ball. Drill failed.
Not the sharpest three days for the passing offense, but this is the time to work out flaws. Also an encouraging sign for the secondary to see them challenge the way they have.
News, notes and other observations
• Campbell said he wants veterans on the team to do more. What does that entail exactly? It seems like the coaching staff believes this team is far enough along for them to shift their focus from scheme responsibilities to instinctual play. He wants them to think beyond their individual assignments. It was a fascinating insight into where he believes the team is.
• Here’s part of that quote: “Alright, I’m in there and I’m the safety, and I know my responsibility is in a two-by-two anything vertical my way. However, if Sam LaPorta is not in there, then forget that. Let’s go work back side and help out (Lions WR) Jameson Williams. I know your responsibility says on paper, I should help any number two, but if that guy’s not a threat, let the corner have him. Those are the little things where we can really grow offensively and defensively. We can’t do the Ron Burgundy. We can’t just continue to read off the teleprompter. We have to grow and that’s the next step.”
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• Campbell said he and Brad Holmes will meet sometime next week to discuss where the roster is at and if they’ll need to add anywhere. He mentioned they’ll mostly be looking for depth and competition between the second- and third-string. The sense is they like their starters.
• Campbell said CB Khalil Dorsey, who left Wednesday’s practice with a lower leg injury, is dealing with an ankle issue. Sounds like he caught a break.
• Reader could miss the start of training camp as he works back from a torn quad, but it sounds like the majority of players who sat in the spring should be good to go come late July. That includes Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Emmanuel Moseley and Marcus Davenport.
• The Lions ended their walkthrough period this morning with the defense and offense switching spots. Joseph was at quarterback. He rolled to his left as Goff dropped into coverage. After feeling some pressure, he lofted a ball high in the sky, with Aidan Hutchinson leaping to get it, only for the pass to be broken up by Williams. That might reveal what kind of day it was. Campbell kept it light for the veterans on Day 3 after two good days of work.
• The Lions ended practice with a few players fielding punts. The first was Morice Norris, who couldn’t come down with it — just off his fingertips. Next up was Terrion Arnold, who looked like a natural and had no trouble. And finally, reporting for duty, Dan Skipper. On a punt that hung in the air longer than the Lions’ playoff win drought, Skipper was able to secure the ball, tumbling to the ground in the process as the entire team cheered.
• Before his press conference ended, Campbell took some time to recognize the career of longtime sportswriter Mike O’Hara, who’s retiring on Monday after 46 years on the beat. Really cool moment for a legend on the beat, with owner Sheila Hamp and team president Rod Wood in attendance for the send-off. Very classy gesture by Campbell. Huge congrats to Mike on a Hall of Fame run.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell ends his press conference with some love for the great Mike O’Hara, who’s retiring on Monday after 46 years on the beat: pic.twitter.com/LACPyORCaM
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) June 6, 2024
(Top photo of Dan Campbell: Junfu Han / USA Today)
