8. Morton feels really good about where second-year left guard Christian Mahogany and rookie right guard Tate Ratledge are at in their development heading into the season opener. He used the word ‘prepared’ when talking about both players. He’s got a ton of confidence that both players will live up the standard that’s been established in that room over the last few years.
9. Fipp said the placement of kickoffs and making sure it hits the landing zone is something Lions kicker Jake Bates has gotten much better at over the last year. It’s sometimes challenging for a big-leg kicker like Bates to put the finesse on that play but Fipp credited Bates with really doing a nice job with it.
10. The Lions obviously have a ton of starting talent on defense, but Sheppard appreciates the job general manager Brad Holmes and his staff did improving the depth talent on defense this offseason. He raved about veteran players like Avonte Maddox, Rock Ya-Sin, and Zach Cunningham. Sheppard said Cunningham is a starting-caliber player in this league after the training camp he had.
He said it’s nice knowing he’s got the kind of depth and versatility that no matter what happens he won’t have to change the scheme or the core principles he believes in defensively if injuries occur because he has veteran players waiting in the wings to step in and perform.
