clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Tuesday open thread: Which Lions player benefits most from an impressive training camp?

For the backend of the Lions defense, there’s one glaring need.

Carolina Panthers v Detroit Lions Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Football is near.

The Detroit Lions start training camp in just two days, and after announcing their first day of camp will be open to the general public, fans will get a chance to get their eyes on Lions football for the first time since January.

There are plenty of storylines for fans to tune into during this year’s training camp, and most importantly, most of them are to be observed on the field rather than the sideline.

The ongoing saga of Damon Harrison Sr. and Darius Slay’s contract situations were at the forefront, but a report yesterday from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero revealed Snacks plans on reporting to camp when it starts. And early Tuesday morning, Adam Schefter reported Darius Slay, after skipping mandatory minicamp, is also set to return to the practice field for the first day of camp.

Much to the chagrin of those who bemoaned Ezekiel Ansah’s tenure in Detroit, Trey Flowers, the Lions big-ticket free agency acquisition, landed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Monday. However, he can return to action whenever he recovers from the “minor” injury that also kept him limited in OTAs, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

But to set aside the contracts and the minor injuries, the Lions have questions on their roster, no matter what milk connoisseur Andy Benoit has to say. And those questions can be answered by certain players on this roster if they use training camp as a showcase for the improvements they made in their game over the offseason.

Which leads us to today’s Question of the Day...

Which Lions player benefits most from an impressive training camp?

It’s Teez Tabor; he’s the answer.

And it’s an improved Teez Tabor who the Lions—as a team—would benefit the most from should he show up ready to man a No. 2 cornerback spot that hasn’t been solidified since Rashean Mathis lined up opposite of Chris Houston in the 2013 season.

Tabor’s struggles in his transition to the pro game have been well-documented. Last season, he allowed a perfect passer rating when in coverage according to Pro Football Focus. After injuries last season provided him the opportunity to get on the field, he lost the job at CB2 when undrafted rookie Mike Ford outplayed him.

But this offseason has seen the narrative surrounding Tabor’s acclimation to the League change. Tabor opened up this offseason about his struggle with the game of football, admitting he “fell out of love with the game” by the end of last season. After taking stock of what was holding him back, Tabor is ready to embrace the challenge ahead of him, and that all starts at training camp.

There isn’t a player closer to the roster bubble than Tabor, especially with the likes of Rashaan Melvin, the aforementioned Mike Ford, and rookie Amani Oruwariye ready to prove they’re eager to contribute. Should Tabor rise to the occasion over the next couple of weeks, the former second-round pick can realize his potential and help nail down one of the biggest uncertainties facing this Lions defense.

Your turn.

Pride of Detroit Direct

Sign up now for a 7-day free trial of Pride of Detroit Direct, with exclusive updates from Jeremy Reisman on the ground at Allen Park, instant reactions after each game, and in-depth Lions analysis from film expert Jon Ledyard.