4 days ago
Dolphins offensive speed, defensive scheme will challenge Lions in joint practices
The Miami Dolphins are headed to Allen Park for two days of joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday with the Detroit Lions ahead of Saturday's preseason game at Ford Field. Because the Lions don't play their starters in preseason games under head coach Dan Campbell, the joint practices are effectively the tune-up for the regular season for Detroit's first-team offense and defense.
Detroit's defense has been ahead of the offense for most of the summer sessions, notably in run defense. New coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's defense also played very well in the preseason win over Atlanta, limiting the Falcons to just 185 yards and eight first downs on seven full drives before the game-ending injury to Lions safety Morice Norris.
More: Lions camp notebook: Takeaways from 1st practice following preseason win vs. Falcons
Miami is a different challenge. The Dolphins and head coach Mike McDaniel bring a lot of speed and a different blocking scheme than what the Detroit defense bangs up against in practices. It's something Lions head coach Dan Campbell is looking forward to seeing.
"It'll be good, that's a talented roster," Campbell said of the Dolphins. "They're creative on offense, and they've got a tough D. That's that kind of Baltimore background, so the scheme will be good. The speed on the perimeter will be really good for our guys, obviously with what they've got. We're looking forward to it.'
That perimeter speed Campbell mentioned is about as fast as it gets in the NFL. Between Tyleik Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Miami has two outstanding deep threats on the outside. Slot receiver Malik Washington can also challenge defenses with his blend of above-average speed and outstanding quickness off the line. Mike McDaniel's Shanahan-based scheme loves to move guys around pre-snap to isolate Hill and/or Waddle on the best available matchup. That means a good field test for the communication between new Lions CB D.J. Reed and the outstanding safety tandem of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Speedy RB Devon Achane is a dangerous receiver out of the backfield, too, which will keep the safeties honest.
As for Detroit's offense, they should have a chance to find success against a Dolphins secondary that is sorting through some position battles. Miami lost top CB Kadar Kohou for the season to an injury just after trading away their best defensive player, Jalen Ramsey. Vet Artie Burns is also out for the season, leaving Miami's starting CBs as Kendall Sheffield and Storm Duck, with some challenges from Jack Jones and others.
They also have a battle royale for a starting safety spot (next to Minkah Fitzpatrick) being waged between Elijah Campbell, rookie Dante Trader, Ashtyn Davis (who has been injured) and ex-Lion Ifeatu Melifonwu, who was just recently activated from the PUP list. Miami primarily operates in a straight 3-4 front, which the Lions own defense doesn't often deploy.
It's a chance for Lions offensive coordinator John Morton to test some of his deeper route combos against an unsettled secondary, and for new starting guards Christian Mahogany and rookie Tate Ratledge to face off with a different style of stout Dolphins defensive front. For rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa, it's an opportunity to show that the magic he's performing in Detroit translates to working against other defenses, too.
