Lions' Sam LaPorta and Antione Green are earning higher team reps at camp
There's a bit of a tale of two halves here with two Detroit Lions rookies. On hand, there's Sam LaPorta. he was the second highest tight end selected in this years draft. The Lions took him in the second round. On the other hand there's Antione Green, the Lions seventh round pick. Two rookies with […]
There's a bit of a tale of two halves here with two Detroit Lions rookies. On hand, there's Sam LaPorta. he was the second highest tight end selected in this years draft. The Lions took him in the second round. On the other hand there's Antione Green, the Lions seventh round pick. Two rookies with completely different stories and different expectations. The thing that makes them the same is that they're both earning the same thing, bigger reps.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took to the podium on Wednesday and talked about how both LaPorta and Green are earning bigger reps with the team.
For LaPorta, it's pretty simple and it's what you would expect. LaPorta is already in with the ones. Johnson said "He's earned the right to be in that first-team huddle with Jared and that offensive line." That might seem like a forgone conclusion, but LaPorta did have to earn that. He mostly worked with the second team during OTA's and mini camp.
As for Green, Johnson says he's also earning some higher team reps at camp so far. That's a big deal for Green since he has such a hard road towards making the Lions 53 man roster.
A week ago it would have been much easier, but now that the Lions have brought in Denzel Mims, Green is going to have to compete against a player that has similar build and attributes as him and plays the game the same type of way. The Problem for Green is that Mims has looked pretty good in his short time with the Lions.
That doesn't mean Green is in a boat with no paddles. He still has a shot to make this roster and the fact that he's earning higher team reps is a good sign. Last year the Lions went into the season with five receivers. This year they should do the same until Jameson Williams comes back and makes in six.
Perhaps Green can do enough at camp to make the Lions consider starting the season with six receivers and let Green get some shots while the team waits for Williams suspension to end.
Of all the rookies on this team, I think Green might be the guy I'm most looking forward to seeing during the preseason. He should get tons of looks and hopefully for him, he can make a big impact.
Regardless of what happens, you have to come away encouraged by the performances of the Lions rookie class at camp so far. Each guy seems to be earning their keep. Let's see what happens when the pads go on next week.
Featured image by Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
