Detroit Lions training camp preview
By Ty Finch
Best/Worst Camp Predictions
These players might be fighting for a roster spot, a higher place in the pecking order, or possibly hoping nobody sees their camp footage.
Best: Eric Ebron
Everyone agrees on this, right? We all love, admire, and respect Eric Ebron right?
Regardless of your feelings towards the tight end out of North Carolina, Eric Ebron has the best chance of anyone on the offense to have a great training camp. He has many advantages this year: be it more targets since losing Calvin Johnson to retirement, the lack of options below him on the depth chart, or the fact that camp accentuates agile and able-bodies like Ebron’s. His propensity for drops will likely always be a problem, but even the greats like Calvin dropped a few inopportune balls. Ebron should generate a great deal of excitement over the next few weeks.
Worst: Jake Rudock
As if I haven’t ruffled enough feathers with the Ebron prediction. The Michigan man has an uphill battle to make the roster, as I alluded to earlier. This is not to say that Rudock is a bad quarterback. There are hundreds of rookie quarterbacks that have lousy first camps that go on to have good careers. The odds of a 6th round quarterback who has had ½ of a good season in college having a terrific training camp are low. In fact, if the Lions do bring in a veteran quarterback like Jimmy Clausen, I would expect him to show better than Rudock initially. A veteran has been through this before and knows how to deal with everything better. Rudock has a lot to learn and many more traits to improve, and training camp with seasoned NFL players is not the easiest place to showcase improvement. Still, a poor showing should not hurt Rudock, as he is a likely practice squad candidate.
Needs to have best: Gabe Wright
Gabe Wright is simply in an unlucky situation. Wright was drafted by former general manager Martin Mayhew in the 4th round of 2015, a player he even traded up to get. Bob Quinn did not like the depth at defensive tackle, and re-signed Tyrunn Walker, picked up Stefan Charles in free agency, and drafted A’Shawn Robinson in the 2nd round. Caraun Reid played substantially more minutes than Wright last year, and looks to have the upper hand in camp as well. Wright, as of now, seems to be the odd man out. He is still eligible for the practice squad, but there are likely a few teams lurking to snatch up the former 4th round pick. If Wright does not stand out in camp and preseason, he may be on another team come week one.
There are only 46 more days until game one against the Indianapolis Colts. Football is almost back, everyone. Enjoy training camp.