The Detroit Lions wrapped up their second week of preseason with a 24-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Ford Field. Despite the final score, there were several takeaways from the game that are worth noting.
Tashard Choice, the new running backs coach, is impressing in his first week on the job. The room showed significant improvement against the Dolphins, with Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki making notable plays. Reserve running back Jacob Saylors also stood out with some tough nosed carries.
Rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa is living up to expectations. After a relatively quiet start to training camp, TeSlaa had a strong performance against the Dolphins, catching four passes for 41 yards and his second touchdown of the preseason. He ran crisp routes and created separation from defenders.
The Lions need to work on their penalty discipline. With seven penalties in the first half alone, Detroit’s offense was often wiped out by infractions or mental errors. Both rookie wide receivers Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett had drops that ended drives, while reserve tackle Giovanni Manu was called for a holding penalty.
Cornerback Nick Whiteside continues to impress, turning in another strong performance against the Dolphins. He was physical against the run and sticky in coverage, making it tough for Miami’s passing game.
Punter Jack Fox remained in form, averaging 42.7 yards per punt on seven attempts, including longs of 60 and 63 yards. Overall, while the loss to the Dolphins is disappointing, there are plenty of positives to take away from this preseason finale.
Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-analysis/139290/5-takeaways-from-lions-vs-dolphins