Detroit Lions Hard Knocks: Episode 2 Recap

By Tayyib Abu

After episode one of this year’s Hard Knocks series focused on the Detroit Lions coaching staff, episode two pivoted towards the playing staff and the preparations ahead of the Lions’ preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Lions fielded the second-youngest roster in the NFL last season, and this episode peeked behind the scenes as to what makes some of these young players tick. Here are three highlights from Week 2 of Hard Knocks.

Amon-Ra St. Brown Is Grit Personified

As seen in episode one, grit is something that the Lions want to entrench into their players—second-year wideout Amon Ra St. Brown just might be the walking, talking embodiment of grit. The USC product demonstrated that during a grueling training session with his father and older brother. St. Brown is quietly intense, and his relationship with his dad is a big reason. Furthermore, the young receiver embodies another core element of the Lions’ ethos. In the hallways of the Lions’ practice facility, there is a section that reads ‘Detroit vs. Everybody.’ The vs. Everybody movement featured heavily in the rebirth of Detroit as a city, and the Lions are embracing that same attitude. St. Brown confirmed he had that when he reeled off every wide receiver drafted ahead of him in a chilling sequence. It felt like St. Brown was naming his wanted list as he displayed how big the chip on his shoulder was. After a stellar rookie season, the former USC Trojan is fiercely determined for more. Swift catches 202 balls from the JUGS machine every day. His hunger to be the best is off the scale.

Duce Staley And D'Andre Swift

Credit: Junfu Han via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Like St. Brown, running back D’Andre Swift is a crucial cog in the Lions’ roster. Swift has all the potential in the world; his burst, agility, and receiving skills mark him as a supreme talent. But, the Lions are yet to see Swift’s true potential come to light. Injuries and down-to-down inconsistency have often blighted Swift’s first two seasons in the NFL.

Enter Duce Staley. Staley played nine years in the NFL as a running back; he knows what it takes to play the position. Not only does Staley know running backs, he knows Swift very well. Staley first heard about Swift when the ex-Georgia Bulldog was a high school phenomenon in Philadelphia. Staley knows how good Swift can be, and the former Eagle is hell-bent on dragging it out of Swift. Staley’s coaching may seem aggressive, bold, and has a hint of ‘sports dad.’

Nonetheless, he is eager to see Swift get better and better. It seems to be slowly working. After Staley criticized Swift for not being physically strong enough, Swift responded by bulking up considerably ahead of training camp.

Malcolm Rodriguez Is Ready To Break Out

The fact that Malcolm Rodriguez is now practicing with the first-team defense is a testament to his character and the mess in the Lions linebacker room. Rodriguez is a hard-hitting, high-motor player with leadership skills from Oklahoma State. Rodriguez is impressing the coaching staff, and his personality meshes well with the Lions’ culture.

Rodriguez’s rise is something to watch. An afterthought during rookie minicamp, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy captain, is quickly cementing a Week 1 starting role on defense.

TAYYIB ABU

CFB/NFL ANALYST

Tayyib is an avid NFL fan and, as a follower of the detroit lions, is a permanent resident in the honolulu blue heartbreak hotel. writing football articles since 2019, tayyib loves everything about the sport except that wins are not a qb stat. follow him on twitter @TayyibABU1

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