ALLEN PARK >> Detroit Lions rookies – the nine drafted players. several undrafted free agents and a few tryouts – got their first taste of the NFL with the three-day rookie minicamp that started on Friday.
Some were nervous, others apprehensive.
No matter, this is the time they show the coaching staff what they have. It’s an opportunity they have earned, but now it’s up to them to take the next step.
“Obviously, we’ve only been here with them a short period now, but they’re excited. It’s a serious group, a focused group. We’re excited to get our hands on them and get them out there on the field as well,” coach Jim Caldwell said on Friday.
They worked out on the indoor field at the training facility. They went through two practices on Friday which will be followed by two on Saturday and one on Sunday. On Monday many of the rookies will start working with the veterans.
Five things we know about the Lions’ rookie camp:
1. All the drafted players were working out on the field on Friday. No one was missing due to injury. Also, 14 undrafted free agents who are signed were out there along with several other tryouts whose names were not provided. One of them was veteran running back Matt Asiata who Caldwell would not comment on. A few players who were with the Lions last year were eligible for the rookie camp including wide receiver Jace Billingsley, linebacker Brandon Chubb and linebacker Steve Longa. The media was allowed to watch for 10 minutes so it was tough to judge any one player.
2. Much is expected this weekend. “The big thing is acclimation to what we do from a scheme standpoint. That’s the big part of it. We have to kind of get them ready, first of all, to function within the confines of the building – know where to go, what to do, how to do it. Try to orient them a little bit to our culture,” Caldwell said. “We have a lot of information they have to absorb in a very short period of time and obviously the football portion of it is the most important portion of it. But yet, how to function within the building is equally as important. So we do a lot of educating in a very short period of time and we try to just give them as much information as we possibly can when they arrive and that’ll take us through the weekend.”
3. First-round pick Jarrad Davis, wearing No. 40, signed his deal on Friday. Much is expected of him. “I think if you look at his transcript, it’s as complete as can be, but we expect him to be a factor for us, smart guy. He’s got ability, can run, hit, etc., so I think he’ll help us quickly,” Caldwell said. After the draft, general manager Bob Quinn said they planned to play Davis at middle linebacker but Caldwell wasn’t as resolute. “It’s like anything else. You try to put them in the best spot possible that you think where they can fit,” Caldwell said. “But nowadays, the way in which you have so much nickel in the ballgame, those guys are really flexible in terms of the position that they play.”
4. While Davis is a lock to make the roster, others need to stand out to give a solid early impression. “It’s a six-month process. It’s the only job interview that’s like that, I think. And they’re absolutely right, it goes in some cases a long period of time, but we’re evaluating every single day,” Caldwell said. “Sometimes we make adjustments after a couple weeks or things of that nature. When you look at it, what a guy has to do is he’s got to learn his position as quickly as he possibly can. He’s got to be very, very effective in terms of his ability to get lined up properly to execute his techniques and he’s got to be able to kind of regurgitate what’s been taught to him in a hurry. We really load these guys with a volume of information.”
5. Between free agency and the draft, the roster is considerably improved and deeper at some positions but Caldwell won’t get too excited yet. “I’m one of those guys that I’m not going to make any pronouncements about what I think we’ve done until we actually have a chance to see it – get pads on. It’s in ballgames where that’s proven,” Caldwell said. “When you look on paper, yeah, we’ve improved. A lot different football team in some areas, but you still have to get it done. I think we’re stronger. I think we have more depth, but you can’t just talk about it. You’ve got to go out and do it and that’s what practice is for. That’s what this preparation is for. That’s what the offseason is for. That’s what training camp is for.”
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