“Winning is winning”: Detroit Lions Hard Knocks Episode Three
For Lions fans, the beginning of Hard Knocks episode three might be a tough montage to stomach. We are thrust back into the ending of Detroit’s first preseason loss to the Atlanta Falcons. With the game in hand, Detroit’s mental lapses literally and figuratively gave the game away with two minutes left on the clock.
These were the plays that coach Dan Campbell stressed would win and lose football games, and unfortunately for the Lions, it was the latter.
We catch up with coach Campbell talking in front of the team about shaking off the final remnants of “losing”. “All the stuff that been here that has kept us from winning. We did everything right man, we had the time of possession, we had all this, but we didn’t keep them out of the endzone”.
“When we have a game, and we own that game, we finish that game”, Campbell’s final remarks to end the meeting and motivate the team to keep working.
Can Offensive Tackle Obinna Eze avoid the cut?
The Nigerian tackle came to the USA in 2015 as a basketball player, but going into his junior year of high school, his foster family encouraged him to give football. After the first practice, he “fell in love”. “Before coming to America, I never picked up a football, never seen the shoulder pads, and had never seen a helmet before.”
After four years at Memphis, and a year at TCU, before finding himself at Lions training camp. While Obinna has tremendous potential, his lack of experience has shown throughout camp.
He will need to step up in a hurry if he wants to make the Lions roster, but with 14 offensive linemen at camp, it may not be the right time for Eze.
Joint practice days with the Indianapolis Colts
The Lions found themselves in Indiana to run shared camp sessions with the Colts. Almost instantly, tensions ran high as the competitive natures of the athletes emerged.
The Lions were overmatched during the first day of the joint practices. Dropped passes, fumbles and, missed tackles highlighted a rough first day in Indianapolis. After poor performances from the running back committee, left running back coach Duce Staley voiceless.
“If you like what the f*** happened today, you don’t need to f***ing be here”. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I probably could have, as Staley could barely say a word by the end of the day.
Day two was different on both sides of the ball for the Lions. The offense was firing on all cylinders, and the defense shut down the Colt’s attack. “I love the competitiveness. You guys are a f***ing gritty group, and you’ve got to hold on to that. That’s got to be our identity, that’s our DNA.”
Preseason game two against the Colts
One of my favorite parts of the Hard Knocks series is the focus on the players that we have been introduced to throughout the series. It’s special watching the player perform on the field, while also catching scenes of the family members in the crowd reacting to the game.
Pimpleton, Eze, Reynolds, and “Rodrigo” were all highlighted in the first half of the game, with mixed results. One of the emerging stars for the Lions is Malcolm “Rodrigo” Rodriguez, who continued to make his case to crack the Detroit roster.
With 1:47 mins remaining in the half, David Blough looked to give the Lions the lead heading into the half. It was Blough who cost the Lions the victory in their first preseason game, so he needed a statement game to help his case for the backup QB role.
After driving down the field and only 3 seconds remaining in the half, Blough would get his opportunity. He would find wide receiver Tom Kennedy in the back of the endzone, tying the game at 13 heading into halftime. The touchdown scoring drive was exactly what Blough would need, as he would be taken out of the game at halftime.
The second half could best be defined by Dan Campbell’s mantra of toughness and grit. Grinding their way into the 4th quarter tied 20-20. A massive turnover caused by the Lion’s defense would give the Lions the opportunity to take control of the game.
Obinna Eze would play every snap on the Lion’s 18-play drive, resulting in a rushing touchdown by Godwin Igwebuike. While seeing Eze make big plays for the team brought a smile to my face, it was the play-by-play reactions of his wife Yasmeen which made it special.
A late comeback drive from the Colts proved unsuccessful, with the Lions able to prevent a 2-point conversion to hang on to win 27-26. It was the first win of the preseason for the Lions, but now having the taste of victory, it may go a long way for the team and players moving forward.
Extras and Recap
The episode is filled with heartfelt moments, laughs, and all the aggressive football action that will get you excited for the beginning of the NFL season.
Other episode highlights include a great stand-up comedian mocking coach Campbell, Craig Reynolds discussing life with his brother in prison, and an introduction to wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton.
“Winning is winning, and it feels good man, and we needed to taste that cause that’s where we’re going. That’s what we need to get used to. The best thing we did this game, we complimented each other”.
This speech from Coach Campbell closed out the episode, and could convince me to start planning the Super Bowl parade for the Lions, realistic or not.
