Lions Training Camp: Notes From Friday's Practice

The Detroit Lions have already completed one week of training camp. Practice began exactly a week ago, and it rolled on with a morning session on Friday. Here are notes from the practice:

Offense

• Scott Linehan said after Friday's practice that Kellen Moore has had a "great" training camp. It sounds like he's improved quite a bit in the first week of practice.
• Also after practice, Linehan talked about Matthew Stafford's maturity and Calvin Johnson's improvement this offseason.

  Scott Linehan on Stafford: "Hard to believe a 24-year old can mature, but he has." #Lions

  — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 3, 2012

  Linehan says it's "hard to believe," but Calvin Johnson has indeed gotten bigger and stronger. #Lions

  — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 3, 2012

• Speaking of Stafford, he completed six passes in a row against the first-team defense at one point during practice on Friday, according to Brad Galli.
• Stefan Logan got reps with the first-team offense during the Lions' full squad drills on Friday. Given the state of the Lions' running backs right now, I don't think his spot on the roster can be considered up in the air at this point.

• With Titus Young having to leave practice early because of a sore knee, Patrick Edwards got reps on the first team.
• Apparently wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson wanted in on the action on Friday.

  #Lions WR Shawn Jefferson just ran a receiving drill. He is out of breath. LOL

  — Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) August 3, 2012

• Nate Burleson beat Alphonso Smith on a deep ball, according to Anwar Richardson.
• It sounds like Tony Scheffler had a pretty nice catch during drills on Friday.

  Scheffler with a nice one-handed catch in back on end zone in 7-on-7 red zone period. Spievey had good coverage just better catch

  — Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) August 3, 2012

• Riley Reiff took some first-team reps at left tackle when the Lions gave Jeff Backus a bit of a break.

Defense

• I'm still not sure how the Lions will find room on the 53-man roster for him, but Everette Brown sounds like he has been having a very good camp.
  

  Everrtte Brown a constant figure on 2nd team DL. If he keeps up his solid play, he could prove to be a key value depth add.

  — Lions RapidReports (@CBSSportsNFLDET) August 3, 2012

• With Corey Williams out on Friday, the Lions lined up Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley together on the defensive line.
• Ashlee Palmer stepped in for the absent Stephen Tulloch at middle linebacker on the first-team defense. Travis Lewis got to move up to second-team middle linebacker as a result of this.
• Tahir Whitehead has received a lot of praise during camp so far, and not just from the media.

  Justin Durant on Tahir Whitehead: "He's probably the strongest dude I've ever seen." #Lions

  — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 3, 2012

• Amari Spievey was originally drafted by the Lions as a cornerback, and to test himself, he apparently has been taking part in the one-on-one receiver/cornerback drill recently. I don't think it's been going all that well, though. These two tweets appeared back to back in my timeline on Friday morning:
  

  Amari Spievey taking 1 on 1 reps at CB for the second straight day. Said yesterday he wanted to test himself

  — Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) August 3, 2012

  #Lions WR Lance Long catches long TD pass against Amari Spievey

  — Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) August 3, 2012

• Bill Bentley once again received reps as a first-team cornerback on Friday, and he also got some work in as the team's nickelback. Out of all the Lions' rookies, I don't think there's any doubt that Bentley has been the most impressive of the bunch so far during camp. Don't believe me? Just look at the tweets from Friday alone:
  

  CB Bill Bentley may be the value pick of DET's draft. 3rd rd pick. Kid's done nothing but make plays...and then more plays.

  — Lions RapidReports (@CBSSportsNFLDET) August 3, 2012

  Tough ball from Stafford to Calvin into double coverage. Bentley and Spievey break it up. #Lions

  — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 3, 2012

  Bill Bentley picks off a deep throw by Matthew Stafford, sending the defense into a mad roar. #Lions

  — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 3, 2012

  Bentley makes nice break on out route. Break up.

  — Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) August 3, 2012

  Bill Bentley adjusting well to reps on the outside. Trying to prove he's more than a nickel CB

  — Lions RapidReports (@CBSSportsNFLDET) August 3, 2012

  #Lions Bill Bentley breaks up pass. Starting on the outside. Looking good

  — Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) August 3, 2012

  Bill Bentley continues to impress. Second straight day getting first team reps at corner. He's making plays.

  — Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) August 3, 2012

• Sean Jones got reps on the second-team defense with Louis Delmas out again.

Special Teams

• The Lions had Nate Hughes, Lance Long and Patrick Edwards returning kicks on Friday, according to Anwar Richardson.

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