TIM AND MIKE: Training camp Day 1 observations

Short yardage: Lions GM Bob Quinn made it clear with both his words and actions this offseason that the short yardage rushing attack needed to be a lot better moving forward. Go figure, the first team period of 2018 Lions training camp presented by Rocket Mortgage was a goal line running drill pitting the offense vs. the defense. The offense brought in their power package with power back LeGarrette Blount toting the rock behind a fullback. – Tim Twentyman Double security: The Lions ran a ball security drill – with a catch. They did it on both sides of the ball. First it was an offensive player running toward the sideline with a defender trying to rip the ball away. Then it was reversed, with the offense trying to strip the defender. The goal: If you get a turnover, don’t fumble it back – Mike O’HaraStanding out: One player who stood out to me during Friday’s practice was veteran receiver Marvin Jones Jr. He was making catches all over the field in front of both Darius Slay and DeShawn Shead, who started at the two outside cornerback spots. One thing Jones wants to improve this year are his YAC (yards after catch) totals. He’s off to a nice start. – Tim Twentyman Teo time: Undrafted rookie receiver Teo Redding of Bowling Green made an impression in the offseason workouts, and he didn’t slow down on the first day of camp with a leaping catch in the back of the end zone. He might have landed an inch or more beyond the line, but he still made an impression with the catch. – Mike O’Hara Versatile Diggs: Last year we saw how versatile Quandre Diggs can be in Detroit’s secondary with the ability to play both slot cornerback and safety. Diggs played both spots in the open OTA and minicamp practices this spring. During Friday’s practice, he lined up in the nickel and then went to safety in back-to-back plays. – Tim Twentyman Hyder’s return: Defensive end Kerry Hyder Jr. didn’t want to talk much about the season-ending Achilles injury he sustained in the first preseason game last year, but he looked fast and quick on the first day of camp. If he’s close to full strength, he can help the pass rush. He had eight sacks in 2016 in his first full season as a pro. – Mike O’Hara Getting in the work: Ziggy Ansah might not be able to participate in practice because he’s starting camp on the PUP list, but that doesn’t mean the talented sixth-year defensive end isn’t getting his work in. Ansah was off to the side of practice Friday working pretty darn hard. That included beating a tire with a sledge hammer, going through an entire upper body workout with the big ropes, and then dragging a weighted sled around. Ansah got a good workout in Friday. – Tim Twentyman Big boy interception: There was just one interception that I noticed in team drills Friday. It belonged to 320-pound Toby Johnson off a deflected Matt Cassel ball at the line of scrimmage. The play occurred toward the end of practice, and the defense had a good time celebrating the play. – Tim Twentyman