As training camp looms, these five Lions rookies should have big role – Detroit Free Press
GM Quinn’s first class of draftees will be scrutinized; see which rookies could start as early as Week 1
It usually takes about three years to fairly judge an NFL draft class. So the jury will be out until 2019 on general manager Bob Quinn’s first group of Lions draftees.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t take an early look at what this year’s crop of rookies will add to the team.
Last year, the Lions had two rookies start in the opener: guard Laken Tomlinson and fullback Michael Burton. They also had other rookies and first-year players who became starters or made significant contributions, like running back Ameer Abdullah, cornerback Quandre Diggs and special-teams ace Brandon Copeland.
This year, the Lions again should have two rookie starters in the opener: tackle Taylor Decker and long-snapper Jimmy Landes. But they should have a few other rookies who make an impact.
The Lions kick off training camp July 29, but the rookies get a head start and report Saturday. So we’ll get an early start as well by taking a look at some of the rookies who should play significant roles this season.
Taylor Decker: He was the first draft pick, 16th overall, of the Quinn era. He worked exclusively at left tackle in spring practices open to the media and has pushed Riley Reiff to the right side.
So, how has Decker looked? At best, without ever knowing individual assignments, it’s hard to judge offensive linemen. And without pads, it’s even harder. The good news for Decker is that he hasn’t looked out of place and coaches haven’t chastised him on the field for missing assignments.
We’ll get a much better sense of where Decker is when the Lions don the pads and when he goes against Pro Bowl defensive end Ziggy Ansah at full speed. The offensive line struggled last year, and inserting Decker on the left side could help boost the entire line.
Graham Glasgow: Let’s stay with the O-line. None of the five linemen had a great season, but the three interior linemen allowed too much pressure on quarterback Matthew Stafford up the middle.
The key player in that scenario was second-year center Travis Swanson, who got the starting job for the first time. This year, Swanson isn’t assured of anything. He split reps this spring with veteran free-agent Gabe Ikard, and waiting in the wings is Glasgow, the 6-foot-6 third-round pick who went from a walk-on to a blue-chip player at Michigan.
Glasgow has size, speed and smarts. It doesn’t appear the Lions will let him compete for the starting job this year, instead giving him a year as a backup to learn the position. But given the tenuous nature of the position and high rate of injury, don’t be surprised if Glasgow gets a chance to start sooner rather than later. Once he gets his chance, he could become the Lions’ next Dominic Raiola.
Cole Wick: The 6-6, 255-pound undrafted tight end from Incarnate Word — yes, it’s a university; I checked — is my pick to be this year’s training camp darling. He’s quick, athletic and has great hands. He caught passes in traffic from all three quarterbacks in minicamp and looked spectacular.
Yes, all that happened without pads and not in real games. But Wick’s plays earned him regular “oohs” and “aahs” from teammates on the sideline.
I don’t want to get ahead of myself by predicting Wick will supplant Eric Ebron as the starter. But I’ll go as far as to say this: He could.
For one, Ebron has been a disappointment in two seasons. He also wasn’t drafted by Quinn, so there is no allegiance to Ebron. And if Wick gets into games and becomes productive, Quinn will start earning some Belichick-like Boy Genius praise for finding a diamond in the rough.
There’s one more thing helping Wick. His college offensive coordinator and O-line coach was Tony Marciano, brother of Lions special-teams coordinator Joe Marciano. Wick comes from a small school, but he’s going to get a huge amount of help from Joe Marciano’s vast knowledge of special teams and the NFL. That should help flatten out Wick’s learning curve — and possibly the hill he has to climb to become the starter.
Jimmy Landes: Now we get to the really exciting stuff: Long-Snapper Training Camp Battle of Death 2016!
In short, this is Landes’ job. Sorry, Don Muhlbach, but Quinn didn’t just waste — I mean spend — a sixth-round draft pick on this Baylor kid if he didn’t plan to keep him on the roster.
Landes basically has to snap footballs onto Rotunda Drive for Muhlbach to keep his job. I’m just not sure why Quinn felt he needed to draft a long-snapper this year when it’s the final year of Muhlbach’s contract. The Lions could have let Muhlbach play out his contract and let him sign early next year with another team as a free agent. Instead, Muhlbach will be fighting to find a new team during the season.
Oh, wait. I just remembered why Quinn did this: There’s zero loyalty in the NFL. Thanks for 12 great years, Don!
Jake Rudock: The former Michigan quarterback might be part of one of the most interesting camp battles: between Quinn and coach Jim Caldwell.
In 2009, Martin Mayhew drafted quarterback Matthew Stafford, anointed him Quarterback For Life, then ignored the position for six years.
So what does Quinn do in his first turn as GM? He picks Rudock in the sixth round. But he pre-emptively diffused any controversy by explaining before the draft his philosophy of drafting a QB at least every other year as “really good football business” because “there’s such value at the position.”
And he’s right. The truth about QBs is that no one knows anything. Just ask JaMarcus Russell, a No. 1 overall pick, or Tony Romo, an undrafted player.
There’s no question Caldwell prefers Dan Orlovsky, who brings a ton of veteran knowledge as a backup and sounding board for Stafford. Orlovsky has gotten all the second-team reps in the spring. But he’s only signed through this year and really has no future in Detroit.
Rudock looked competent in minicamp. But will the Lions keep three QBs? Would they risk exposing Rudock on the practice squad? If we see Rudock taking second-team reps, that could signal the Lions would prefer to keep Rudock and cut Orlovsky. That would be a move Quinn almost certainly prefers and one that ultimately could affect Stafford’s future. If you don’t believe me, just ask Drew Bledsoe.
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