TIM AND MIKE: Training camp Day 12 observations

Situational football: Practice is all about replicating game situations as best coaches can, so they can prepare players for every situation that might come up throughout the course of a game. Late in practice on Monday, the Lions worked through a two-minute team period that replicated a game situation that came up in the preseason debut Friday night. The final possession in the preseason loss to Oakland started at the Lions' 40-yard line with 2:17 left in the game. It ended when quarterback Matt Cassel was stripped of the ball and the Raiders recovered it. The Lions put 2:17 on the clock in practice Monday, and worked through the same situation. This time, the first and second-team offenses were able to move down the field and score. – Tim Twentyman Michael Roberts, end zone sighting: The second-year tight end has not been a prolific pass-catcher or red-zone threat the way he was at Toledo, but he showed a flash of his college days in Monday’s practice. Roberts jumped to catch a pass from Matthew Stafford in the deep right corner of the end zone. More to come? – Mike O’HaraNot just a power back: Veteran running back LeGarrette Blount has a reputation as a thumping power back at nearly 250 pounds, but during one-on-one passing drills against the linebackers on Monday, he showed off his quickness and wiggle against the likes of Jarrad Davis, Darnell Sankey and Steve Longa to gain separation and make the catch. – Tim Twentyman Healthy Rudock: Jake Rudock took a hard hit at the end of the last possession he directed Friday night against the Raiders, but he showed no ill effects Monday. Running the two-minute offense at the end of practice, he completed his first 10 passes to make it first and goal at the four. After two incompletions – one was a batted ball – he finished off the possession with a TD pass. – Mike O’Hara Sneaky speed: Wide receiver Kenny Golladay has terrific size at 6-foot-4 and 213 pounds, and it’s that size people like most about his game, but Golladay is sneaky fast with those long strides. During a team period at practice Monday, Golladay ran a short crossing route all the way across the field, and was able to get a step on the trailing cornerback for a completion. The trailing cornerback was Darius Slay, the fastest player on the roster. – Tim TwentymanAdjusting to the move: It’s going to be a difficult transition for Miles Killebrew moving to linebacker full time this late into camp. That being said, one area where I’ve noticed he stands out compared to his fellow linebackers is with his coverage skills, which should be expected having played safety for so many years. In one-on-one coverage drills vs. the running backs, Killebrew had a great rep against Theo Riddick on a wheel route. Killebrew stayed right on Riddick’s hip (which isn’t easy for any linebacker). He should have made an interception, but he at least knocked the ball away for an incompletion. – Tim Twentyman Ramping up workouts: Ziggy Ansah did noticeably more work to start this week. He took part in team drills with the first-team defense, and looked to be a full participant in practice. Ansah came off the PUP list a week ago, and was eased back into action during the joint practices in Oakland. He didn’t play in the preseason opener. Will he be a full participant in this week’s joint practices with the Giants? Could he play in the preseason game Friday night at Ford Field? – Tim Twentyman Participation report: The Lions got out of their first preseason game pretty healthy. The only players sitting out practice Monday were: Wide receiver Andy Jones (PUP), running back Dwayne Washington, linebacker Chad Meredith and safety Stefan McClure. – Tim Twentyman