6 Things to Watch at Detroit Lions Training Camp
The NFC North is believed to be the Detroit Lions' to lose.
After an offseason filled with buzz surrounding the team, Dan Campbell's group will finally hit the field Sunday for the start of training camp.
Here are six things to monitor when the team opens its workouts:
Malcolm Rodriguez's Role
The second-year linebacker will be a major competitor in the impending battle for the starting spot. As a rookie, he shocked many when he went from sixth-round afterthought to Week 1 starter.
Still, most eyes will be on the development of first-round pick Jack Campbell. He and veteran Alex Anzalone are the favorites in the competition.
Rodriguez will still have a role on the defense thanks to his physicality and knack for finding the football. Though considered undersized, he uses his body in a matter efficient for taking down ball-carriers.
How the Oklahoma State product fits himself into the linebacker equation is intriguing. He suffered an injury during OTAs and missed most of the summer work, so he's behind the rest of the pack.
How does Branch stack up?
Rookie Brian Branch had some good moments during the team's OTAs and minicamp sessions.
Coming out of Alabama, he was billed as one of the best tacklers in his draft class. This skill will be an asset, but his ability to cover receivers will be under the microscope during training camp.
The Lions have a legitimate cornerback competition with several worthy contenders, so he'll need a strong showing to crack the starting lineup.
His prowess as a tackler is well known, now he must use this opportunity to show he can make plays in the passing game against talented NFL corners.
Goff's deep ball
Detroit's veteran signal-caller created plenty of optimism with his play during the second half of the 2022 season. One area that remains scrutinized, however, is his ability to throw the deep ball.
The Lions have the pieces, starting with wideout Jameson Williams, to deploy a strong vertical passing attack. To do so, Goff must consistently demonstrate an ability to hit the necessary throws.
Per Pro Football Focus, the 28-year-old hit 41 % of his pass attempts that traveled 20-plus yards last year. On 55 attempts, he completed 23 passes with five touchdowns and two interceptions.
His strength is in play action and the short game, but consistently hitting the deep passes will take Detroit's offense to another level.
Kicker battle
Detroit has three kickers on its training camp roster. Each has taken a unique route to get to this point, and a fierce competition is brewing ahead of the regular season.
Michael Badgley is the incumbent, having played the final 12 games with the Lions last season. Riley Patterson was with the organization in 2021, but spent last year in Jacksonville before being traded back in the summer.
Then there's Parker Romo, an XFL standout with a big leg. In camp, he and Patterson had multiple competitions where he came out victorious.
With Badgley's experience, he'll have every shot to win the job. However, entering camp, the position is surely up for grabs.
Tracy Walker's return
The Lions' secondary got a big boost when Walker was cleared to return for training camp. His injury was a crushing blow last season.
The lone bright spot from his setback was the emergence of Kerby Joseph. Now, the duo of talented defenders will presumably share the field.
With C.J. Gardner-Johnson also in the fold, the Lions have a trio of solid options holding the last line of defense.
How they combine to share the field will be intriguing. Walker's workload, especially early in camp, will be worth monitoring.
Offensive tempo
With offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's creativity, the Lions are believed to be among the league's best offenses.
Through a mix of schemes and well-designed plays, Detroit kept defenses off balance for much of last season.
Will Johnson crank up the tempo in 2023? Goff has demonstrated extreme comfortability within the scheme, so a faster pace this season could be expected.
