Prior to the Detroit Lions’ final minicamp practice, coach Dan Campbell was asked which players he thought arrived to Allen Park most improved from where they were the previous year. Immediately, Campbell was hesitant to even answer the question given the heavy limitations they have on practice thus far.
“That’s a tricky one because, there again, with where we’re at and what we’re doing, not having pads, the style of practice,” Campbell said.
He’s got a point. Offensive and defensive line play is incredibly hard to evaluate without pads. Running backs—especially ones who win with physicality and contact balance—cannot show off their best traits if the defense isn’t even tackling.