The Detroit Lions start training camp in a few weeks time, and when that gets going, there will be plenty of situations to watch on the roster as the franchise gets going on a new season.
Defensively, there are plenty of places to monitor closely, but the secondary takes the cake as the one spot to watch given all the upheaval in recent months at multiple positions. Safety is a position with plenty going on, and as a result, it stands to be an interesting camp.
Detroit still doesn't know what will happen to the likes of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, and each player will start the season shrouded in health question marks. That means the battle to see who starts will be interesting.
DetroitLions.com writer Tim Twentyman took a closer look at the situation, and projected the best competition to be for a final roster spot. That's primarily due to what the team already has at the position.
"How many safeties the Lions include on the initial 53-man roster out of training camp will depend on how (Kerby) Joseph's knee holds up in camp and his projected health for the start of the season and if (Brian) Branch will start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he continues rehab from a torn Achilles."
"(Chuck) Clark and (Christian) Izien took nearly all of the first-team reps at the two safety spots in OTAs and minicamp with Joseph and Branch not taking part in on-field practices. The coaching staff cross-trained them at both safety spots and they appear to be the main backups heading into camp."
Having multiple options to hold down the fort until Joseph and Branch are ready is good news. Even though there are plenty of bodies, it seems obvious how things will sort out at the position. The Lions are likely to keep the players who have position versatility and experience, and may hold a player like Dan Jackson on the practice squad in case of additional injury.
Add it up and there is the opportunity for others to make a name for themselves while the mainstays work back to health. Not a bad situation for a position with plenty of health question marks.
Chuck Clark not feeling pressure to fill in at safety while stars are out
The Lions didn't make major offseason headlines with an addition in the secondary, but their moderate moves were very intelligent in nature. Detroit not only kept Avonte Maddox who was a solid addition by the end of the season, but added a similar veteran in Clark to help bridge the gap with the other injured players.
Clark has experience doing just that, and recently showed why he has the perfect mindset for the job. As he said, he doesn't feel the pressure to step in because he's simply a football player and playing the game consistently is the only thing he knows.
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"Never been pressure. To me, it's football. Regardless of how I go, who's up, who's down, you always got to be ready. I think for me (or) any player in this league, that's what you train for, for the moments, for your opportunity to come whenever (the) opportunity comes. I just look at how I got my my start in this league. I wasn't a starter, but in a matter of a week, I became a starter, a green dot player, captain of a defense. You got to be ready for whatever in this league."
Given Clark's experience, it seems as if the Lions are in good hands with him at safety. If Izien earns the job opposite him, that would provide a stable duo to start the season. Seeing if anyone else opens eyes and earns a way on the roster will be the most interesting part of the offseason.
While there is certainly bigger drama elsewhere, don't count on much at safety. There is some welcome stabilit at a position that has major injury concerns until proven otherwise.
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