year’s award recipient, former Atlanta Falcons and current N

Our observations from Thursday’s practice." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhitePride Of Detroita Detroit Lions communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibraryLionsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Detroit Lions NewsDetroit Lions NotesDetroit Lions AnalysisDetroit Lions TransactionsDetroit Lions Game RecapsFiled under:Detroit Lions AnalysisDetroit Lions OTA Day 5 observations: Jahlani Tavai gets some time with the first teamNew Womens Matt Prater Jersey ,21commentsOur observations from Thursday’s practice.EDTShareTweetShareShareDetroit Lions OTA Day 5 observations: Jahlani Tavai gets some time with the first teamStephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY SportsThe Detroit Lions took the practice field on Thursday, hoping to get an opportunity to work on ball security on a rainy day.“As far as today with practice, we’re going to try to go outside,” head coach Matt Patricia said before the team broke for practice. “I know it’s raining out – I haven’t really seen it yet. We do have new fields out there, so I don’t really feel like tearing them up. But they’ve actually done a great job of holding up with the rain. Good opportunity for us to work on some ball-handling, some things in the wet weather that you never know when they’re going to come up, so you take advantage of those opportunities when you can.”Well, unfortunately (fortunately?) for Patricia and the Lions, the sun immediately came out as the team took the field for a beautiful two-hour stretch of football activities. Here are our observations from Day 5 of OTAs:Jahlani Tavai getting some first-team workIn “base” formations, it was still Devon Kennard, Jarrad Davis and Christian Jones working with the first team, but in positional drills and certain subpackages, we saw—for the first time publicly—Davis and second-round rookie Tavai working alongside each other. For the most part, it was still Davis patrolling the middle with Tavai on the outside, but Tavai was getting work all over the place, including his normal spot as the middle linebacker for the second team. Frank Ragnow stays at centerThe offensive line remained the same as last week. From left to right: Taylor Decker, Kenny Wiggins, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, Rick Wagner. The second team was also the same: Tyrell Crosby, Joe Dahl, Leo Koloamatangi Womens Kerry Hyder Jersey , Oday Aboushi and Andrew Donnal. With Ragnow now taking part at center in at least three of five practices, it certainly looks like this positional switch is more than just a test of versatility. At this point, Ragnow is the favorite to start at center this year.Another minor note on the offensive line: Kenny Wiggins spent some time with the twos as a replacement for Joe Dahl. Dahl, on those limited reps, spent time as a fullback, since Nick Bawden remained with trainers on Thursday. Tom Savage looks sharpAs we head towards mandatory minicamp next week and training camp in late July, it looks like Savage has a firm grasp on the backup position over Connor Cook. Savage drew some audible gasps from media members with some serious displays of arm strength Thursday. In a goal-line drill, Savage’s arm cannon was really on display. He fit several balls into small windows, which allowed the offense to beat the defense and had defenders doing pushups at the end of the drill. You can see one rep of that drill at the 16 second mark here: His deep ball accuracy remains an issue, especially on the run, but he impressed today more than any backup in recent memory.Participation I’m going to split this into three categories: Completely absent (not on the field), mostly with trainers (in attendance, but not working with position groups), very limited (with position groups, but not going through most drills).Completely absent: Darius Slay, Damon Harrison Sr., Tommylee LewisMostly with trainers: Marvin Jones Jr., Kenny Golladay, Nick Bawden, Steve Longa, Isaac Nauta, David JonesVery limited: Trey Flowers Womens Ricky Jean Francois Jersey , Austin Bryant, Justin ColemanIt was a step in the right direction for Flowers and Bryant, who spent most of their time with trainers last week. Note: ESPN’s Michael Rothstein is reporting that Matt Prater was also absent. I can’t confirm nor deny that as I spent no time watching special teams. No standouts at wideoutOne of my positions to watch was wide receiver. With Jones and Golladay still sidelined, I was hoping that someone would differentiate themselves from the pack. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. I noted Andy Jones with a drop, Travis Fulgham with a drop, Deontez Alexander with two, and no significant plays from anyone else in the wide receiver corps.The best catch of the day came from Danny Amendola, who made a twisting grab over the middle of the field. For a good portion of practice (five minutes or so), Matthew Stafford was working exclusively with Amendola in the middle of the field, while the backups worked with the rest of the wide receiver corps. Random observationsTeez Tabor, again, made the defensive play of the day. He had an excellent pass breakup on Amendola on a comeback route. Barely a step behind, Tabor showed some rare closing speed that allowed him to get the PBU.A’Shawn Robinson got into a very minor scuffle with Oday Aboushi. A little rare to see before the pads came on, but no blows were thrown. Logan Thomas appears to be the early favorite to win the TE3 job. He was getting a lot of reps with the first and second team on Thursday.Like last week, Da’Shawn Hand was the last guy off the field, as he helped mentor two undrafted rookie defensive tackles on their technique: Ray Smith and Kevin Strong Additionally, the entire linebacking crew stayed on the field after sprints. The meeting appeared to be led by Jarrad Davis among others. Also included in that group was Eric Lee and Austin Bryant: Atlanta Falcons guard Ben Garland and former Detroit Lions quarterback Eric Hipple are the finalists for the NFL’s Salute To Service Award.The recipient of the award, presented by USAA, will be revealed on Feb. 2 during the NFL Honors show when The Associated Press announces its annual league awards, including MVP.Garland and Hipple were selected for their efforts to support members of the military community.USAA, a provider of insurance and other services to U.S. military members, veterans and their families Anthony Zettel Jersey White , will contribute $25,000 in the award recipient’s honor to the official aid societies representing all five military branches. The NFL will match USAA’s donation to the award recipient’s military charity of choice.Garland attended the Air Force Academy and just completed his fifth pro season. He recently was selected to become a major in the Colorado Air National Guard.Garland is involved with helping veterans adjust to life after service and helping to raise awareness for PTSD. Last year, he participated in the Armed Forces Mission’s Georgia LOSS Walk, when he walked alongside veterans, service members and families for a program called “Turning the Tide on Veteran Suicide.”Participating in the military taught Garland lessons that have helped him as an athlete and vice versa.“Serving in the Air National Guard has been paramount to my development as a football player,” he said. “It has helped my leadership skills, mental toughness, how to work under pressure, and establish an Air Force core values mindset of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. I also believe my NFL career has made me a better officer. Over my career, I have had the opportunity to play for some of the best coaches in the world and in doing so was able to study their leadership methods.”Garland works year-round with a number of military nonprofits: Merging Vets and Players, Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, Shepherd Center SHARE Initiative and TAPS. He works with Pigskin Patriots to help raise funds and donate time for camps for military children and with Children of the Fallen Patriots Foundation on granting college scholarship funds.Hipple retired following the 1989 season after 10 seasons in the NFL. Since his 15-year-old son Jeff’s suicide, Hipple has worked to build awareness and break down the stigma surrounding depressive illnesses.In conjunction with NAVY U.S. Fleet Forces, Hipple has conducted workshops on suicide and destructive behavior prevention during the last decade, focusing on mental fitness. His book “Real Men Do Cry” received a publisher Presidential Award.After retiring from the University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Depression Center, where he spent 11 years in outreach, Hipple serves as outreach specialist for Eisenhower Center’s “After The Impact” program, a neuro-behavioral residential treatment facility serving military veterans and former NFL players.“There are many similarities when working with military and NFL players in regards to their mental health,” he said. “Pressure of training, stress Danny Amendola Jersey White , performance, winning and the mission comes first and at all costs, risk of injury. Most of all, it is retaining their identity and locker room camaraderie after a career is over. Some of the pitfalls are depression, PTSD and substance abuse.”Hipple does suicide prevention workshops for U.S. Fleet Forces on Navy bases and Naval Air stations on the East Coast, in Europe and the Middle East. He has been involved with the planning of the Real Warrior Campaign of Army suicide prevention and organized public service announcements with players supporting service members. In 2008, Hipple helped organize with the players’ union for NFL Legends to speak at Army bases throughout Texas, New York, Georgia and Mississippi during the NFL playoffs, and for the Real Warrior Campaign’s presentations place at Okinawa Marine base in Japan.Last October, the 32 NFL clubs nominated coaches, active and retired players, and team executives and personnel who best demonstrated support for the military community. Submissions were evaluated by a panel of judges, including last year’s award recipient, former Atlanta Falcons and current New York Jets receiver Andre Roberts, a 2018 All-Pro kick returner.Other previous winners were Falcons coach Dan Quinn, Buccaneers receiver Vincent Jackson, Bears defensive end Jared Allen, Ravens coach John Harbaugh, Bears defensive back Charles Tillman and Titans owner Bud Adams.