Detroit Lions training camp preview DT

The same cast returns in 2014. Contracts year for Suh, Nick and Mose. Fairley 5th year option was not picked up and Suh has not signed an extension. Suh will not sign in Detroit. We will be forced to let him go or franchise him in 2015. The Lions should have taken Aaron Donald in the draft.

Suh 5th year in Detroit (1st rd 2010) Nebraska Portland, Ore
Lions stats: 62 starts 186 tackles 2 ff 1 fr 27.5 sacks
Preseason: 17 tackles 1 sack
post season: 1 start 3 tackles 0.5 sack
rank #2 PFF
Contract Final Year $22,412,500 hit
Record: 26-37

Hall of Fame player in his prime. He does not want to play in Detroit. Look for a huge issue in 2015.

at Nebraska, 53 games 39 starts
215 t 24 sacks 3 Ff 4 int

Combine: 6040 307 5.03 32 35.5 4.44 7.21

Nick Fairley 4th year in Detroit (1st rd 2011) Auburn Mobile, Al
Stats: 38 games 22 starts 84 tackles 12.5 sacks 3 ff 3 fr
Preseason 10 tackles
post season: 1 game 2 tackles
rank: #31 PFF
Contract: final year #3,146,500 hit
Record: 15-23

Nick has been up and down. At times he is unblockable others he disappears. Two arrests and a weight problem means he will walk after the season.

at Auburn, 27 games 16 starts 88t 13 sacks 2 ff 3 fr

Combine: 6030 291 4.87 31 905 4.56 7.14

CJ Mosley 10th year 2nd year in Detroit (FA 2013) Missouri Waynesville, MD
Lions stats: 16 games 1 start 15 tackles 1 ff 1 fr
NFL stats: 114 games 23 starts 161 t 11.5 sacks 6 ff 4 fr
Record 7-9
Contract: $1,725,000
Preseason 3 tackles
rank: #21 PFF
Post season: 1 game

Reliable veteran, who I thought was under utilized. Probably last season in Detroit.

at Missouri, 36 games 167 t 15.5 sacks

Combine: 6020 312 5.08 27 27.5" 4.65 8.21

Caraun Reid Rookie 5th rd pick Princeton Bronx, NY
Contract 4 Years $467,220 hit

A guy who is probably a year away. We will need him then. 4th DT this year.

at Princeton, 40 games 37 starts 168 t 20.5 sacks

Combine: 6021 302 4.91 20 27.5 810 4.58 7.59

Andre Fluellen 7th year in Detroit (3rd rd 2008) FSU Cartersville, GA
Lions stats: 67 games 6 starts 55t 2.5 sacks 1 ff
Contract 1 year $570,000
Record 22-45 starter 1-5
preseason 32t 1 ff 5 sacks

Back again will not make the 53 out of camp but could be back during the season.

at FSU, 81t 5 sacks 5 PBU

Combine: 6017 296 5 28 28.5 808 4.45 7.78

Jimmy Sadler-McQueen 5th year in the NFL 3rd in Detroit (FA 2012) Texas A&M-Kings Houston
Lions stats: 1 games
NFL stats: 2 games
Preseason: 4 tackles 1 sack
contract: 1 year $495,000

JSM will compete for the 5th DT spot.

at Kingsville, 144 tackles

Pro Day 6033 296 5.07 21 31.5 811 4.83 8.1

Xavier Proctor 2nd year in Detroit (UDFA 2013) NCCU Ellicott City, MD
Preseason stats: 5 tackles
Contract 1 year $420,000

Versatile guy who was on the practice squad all year in 2013. 

AT nccu, 43 G 39 STARTS 146 T 8.5 SACKS

Pro day: 6055 283 5.13 19 31.5 809 4.86 8.04

Greg Hickman Rookie UDFA 2014
Contract 3 years $420,000

A guy who came out of the tryout camp. Will vie for the practice squad

AT FIU, 46 games 2 int

Pro day 6001 278 4.98 21 30.5 902 4.63 7.52

Detroit Lions training camp preview DE

Lions improved their play at DE in 2013. They lose Willie Young and Israel Idonjie to the Bears. The Lions have an interesting mix on young guys and veterans for the new scheme. The line was ranked # 2 in the NFL by Football Outsiders against the run but # 31 in pass rush.

Ziggy Ansah 2nd year in Detroit (1st rd 2013) BYU Legan, Ghana
Stats: 14 games 12 starts 31 tackles 8 sacks 2 FF
preseason: 5t 1 fr 1 int 1 td
Ranks: #27 PFF
Contract 3 years: $4,226,023 hit
record 6-8

Zig had a great year against the run. The Lions were ranked # 2 against run to the LE in the NFL. He did not have a consistent pass rush.  He had shoulder and biceps surgery in the off-season and missed the program.

At BYU, 31 games
72 t 4.5 sacks 10 PD 3 FF

Combine: 6052 271 4.56 21 reps 34.5 910 4.26 7.11

Jason Jones 7th year in the NFL (2nd rd 2008) 2nd year in Detroit (UFA 2013) EMU Southfield Lathrup
Lions Stats: 3 games started 1 tackles 1 PBU
NFL Stats: 64 games 34 starts 122t 19 PD 7 FF
Preseason: 4 tackles 1 FR 2 sacks
Post season 1 game 2 tackles
Contract: 2 years $3,683,330 hit
Record: 2-1

A torn quad tendon ended the season early for Jones. He was ineffective in his limited time. He will line up as the closed end inside of the TE.

AT EMU, 174t 14 sacks 3 FF
Combine: 6052 273 4.76 18 35.5 1003 4.32 7.27

Devin Taylor 2nd year in Detroit (4th rd 2013) South Carolina Beaufort, SC
Lions stats: 14 games 2 starts 9 tackles 2 FF
record: 5-9
Preseason: 8t 1 ff 1 sacks
ranks #23 PFF
contract: $570,146

Taylor had a strong rookie season, He did struggle against the run. His pass rush was effective and has a bright future in that capacity.

At South Carolina, 52 games 45 starts
161 tackles 18.5 sacks 2 FF 5 FR 2 int 2 td

Combine: 6072 166 4.72 16 35 1008 4.3 6.89

Darryl Tapp 9th year in NFL (2nd 2006) 1st in Detroit Va Tech Chesapeake, VA
NFL Stats: 114 games 35 starts 267t 25 sacks 2 int 9 ff 8 fr
Contract 1 year $635,000
post season: 5 games 2 starts 13t 1 ff

a pass rush guy who can play special teams. He will back up Zig at the open end.

VA Tech  21. 5 sacks

Combine: 6015 252 4.82 27 33 901 4.48 7.32

Larry Webster Rookie 4th round pick Bloomsburg Elkton, MD
Contract: 4 years $495,146

a total project. A basketball player who converted to football. Struggled at the Shrine game but his test scores were Clowney like.

at Bloomsburg, 88T 26 sack 3 ff 2 fr

Combine: 6056 252 4.58 17 36.5 1003 4.44 7.28

George Johnson 5th year in the NFL (UDFA 2010) 1st in Detroit Rutgers Glassboro, NJ
NFL Stats: 11 games 7 tackles
Contract 1 year $570,000

a veteran who can fill in if there is injury. Not likely to make the 53 man out of camp.

AT Rutgers, 51 games 134 t 13 sacks

Pro day: 6043 268 4.79 29 31 905 4.57 6.99

Kalonji Kashama Rookie UDFA 2014 EMU Brampton, Ontario
Contract 3 years: $420,000

Made the 90 after the tryout camp. Could be a practice squad guy.

AT EMU, 35 games 90 tackles 4 Ff 10 sacks

Pro day: 6030 248 5.03 14 reps 21.5 909 4.7 7.47

Detroit Lions training camp preview OG/C

Detroit Lions should be solid in the interior line. Good mix of veterans and young guys.

Center

Dominic Raiola 14th year in Detroit (2nd round 2001) Nebraska Honolulu
Stats: 204 games 188 Starts
Contract 2 years $1.5 million hit
Ranks #2 PFF
Record: 60-144 58-131 starts

Dom saved his best season for 2013. Allowed 0 sacks and only 6 QBH and 1 penalty. Signed 2 year contract in the off-season.

Three year starter at Nebraska

Combine: 6020 307 5.13 29 33 4.25 7.55

Travis Swanson Rookie 3rd pick Arkansas Houston, TX
Contract 4 years $574,868 hit

Drafted in the 3rd round as the replacement for Dom. Has received reps at guard during the off-season program. Will fight with Rodney for the back up interior guy.

At Arkansas, 50 games started
two time captain

Combine: 6050 310 5.28 20 26 711 4.65 7.73

Darren Keyton 2nd year with Detroit (UDFA 2013) CMU Traverse City
Contract 1 year $420,000

Spent camp with Lions in 2013 after emerging from the tryout camp. Will fight with the tackles for a practice squad spot.

AT CMU, started 37 games

Pro Day 6031 295 5.16 21 27 801 4.7 7.96

Guards

Rob Sims 9th year in NFL (4th rd 2007) 5th year Detroit (Trade 2010) Ohio State Macedonia, OH
Lions stats: 64 starts
NFL Stats: 109 games 98 starts
Rank PFF #37
Contract final year $3.775 mil
record: 27-38

Sims has never reached the pro bowl potential I thought he had. A knee injury held him back in 2013. This is a contract year for Rob. He has expressed his desire to stay in Detroit.

at OSU, 3 year starter

Combine: 6026 307 30 810 4.79 7.5

Larry Warford 2nd year in Detroit (3rd pick 2013) Kentucky Richmond, KY
Lions stats: 16 starts
Record 7-9
Contract 3 years $714,250 hit
Rank: #4 PFF

A great rookie season for Larry. He could be the 1st Detroit Lion Pro Bowl guard since John Gordy in 1966.

At Kentucky, 47 games 37 starts

Combine: 6032 333 5.58 28 22.5 800 5.1 7.78

Rodney Austin 3rd in Detroit Elon Charlotte NC
lions stats: 1 game 0-1
Contract 2 years $495,000 hit

Rodney earned a promotion to the 53 after being courted by the Titans. He has a chance to be the back up interior lineman on game day.

At Elon, 30 games 18 starts

Pro day 6025 308 5.26 22 26.5 809 5.03 7.99

Alex Bullard Rookie UDFA 2014 Tennessee Franklin, TN
Contract 3 years $420,000

Will vie for a practice squad spot.

At Tennessee, 39 games 25 starts

Combine: 6031 326 5.69 31 24 705 5.02 8.6

Dj Morrell Rookie UDFA 2014 Old Dominion Norwalk, CN
Contract; 3 year $420,000

Practice Squad or Bust.

At Old Dominion, 25 starts

Pro day 6052 325 5.4 27 23.5 800 4.9 8.2

AJ Dalton Rookie UDFA 2014 Robert Morris Carrollton, OH
Contract 3 years $420,000

at Robert Morris 37 starts

Pro day 6030 307 5.25 29 26 801 4.7 7.69

Detroit Lions training camp preview OT

Surprisingly, Tackle has become a strength of the team. It has good depth and developmental players.
Football Outsiders ranked the Lions O-line #2 in pass protection and #13 in run blocking.

Riley Reiff 3rd year in Detroit (1st rd 2012) Iowa Parkston, ND
Stats: 32 Games 24 Starts
Record:11-21
Contract: 2 years remain $2,180,000 hit
Ranks #36 PFF

All though not an ideal player at Left Tackle, he was okay. I credited him with 8 sacks and 28 QBH in 2013. 5 penalties and 3 forced fumbles. A better run blocker than pass protector will always be on the verge of moving to RT or OG.

At Iowa, 39 games 37 starts

Combine: 6056 313 5.23 450 26 reps 29.5 801 4.75 7.87

LaAdrian Waddle 2nd year in Detroit (udfa 2013) Texas Tech Columbus, TX
Stats: 12 games 8 starts
Record as a starter: 3-5
Contract 2 years left $498,233
Ranks # 30 PFF

A good find in 2013. Long armed, big dude who can run block. A decent enough pass protector has upside. Gave up 1 sack and 16 QBH mostly after his ankle injury.

At Texas Tech, 40 games 38 starts

Pro day: 6060 321 5.4 23 reps 29 806 4.88 7.23

Corey Hilliard 8th year (6th round in 2007) 6th in Detroit (FA in 2009) Oklahoma State New Orleans
Lions Stats: 40 games 12 starts
Record: 8-4 starter
NFL Stat: 45 games 12 starts
Ranks: #43 PFF

A solid swing tackle. Can step in and start from time to time. Gave up 2 sacks and 10 hits in 2013.

At Oklahoma State, 46 games 43 starts
23 at right tackle, 20 at left.

Combine: 6050 308 5.29 28 27 4.65 7.45

Michael Williams 2nd year in Detroit (7th rd in 2013) Alabama Pickens County, Al
Contract: 3 years $436,000 hit

After spending 2013 on IR, Williams was moved to Tackle. He will need some time to develop but he has a shot.

at Alabama, 52 games 40 starts
51 rec 503 yards 7td

Combine: 6056 278 5.16 25.5 801 4.87 8.15

J.B. Shugarts 3rd in the NFL (udfa 2012) 1st in Detroit Ohio State Klein, TX
Contract: 1 year $420,000

A 3 year veteran will be on the outside looking in. Too much talent at this position for him to stick.

At Ohio State, 3 year starter at Right Tackle

Pro Day: 6063 308 5.54 17 24.5 701 5.02 7.88

Cornelius Lucas Rookie UDFA 2014 Kansas State New Orleans
Contract: 3 years $440,000 hit

Long armed guy, who like Waddle has a lot of upside. An injury during the draft process hurt his stock. I think he make the team as the 4th tackle.

At Kansas State, 50 games 26 starts

Pro day: 6076 316 36 3/4" arms

Bryce Quigley Rookie UDFA 2014 San Diego State Apple Valley, CA
Contract: 3 years $420,000

Coming off a tendon injury in his foot, he missed the draft process. Many see him as a guard. He will make the practice squad.

AT SDSU, 2 year starter at Left tackle, 1 year starter at TE
14 rec 130 yards 1 td rec

Pro day: 6042 324 lbs.