The Lions wrapped up the offseason training program with their last couple OTA practices this week.
"I think from a full team scale, the want to, the toughness, the desire to get better is great," head coach Matt Patricia said Monday about how his team has approached the offseason. "And these guys are all in as far as that's concerned. There's a really high football intelligence factor here too."
There's a feeling around the team that the intensity is up, and the standards are higher.
"You have to find a way to understand the defense more," cornerback Nevin Lawson told reporters on the last day of open practice. "It's something new for us. The only way we're going to get it is by repetitions – doing it over and over.
"You just have to be on your job, and every day you come in you'd better be able to perform – be able to show up and understand you have to be better today. Go to work today.
"The intensity is very high. There's no room for slacking off. If you slack off, you get exposed."
Fellow cornerback Darius Slay is hoping the work he's putting in now will help him achieve the lofty long-term goals he has in mind.
"The ultimate goal is to win a championship," Slay said. "My individual goal is to be in the Hall of Fame one day. I mean, that's everybody's goal. Whose goal in the NFL is not to be in the Hall of Fame? That's crazy."
MINICAMP HIGHLIGHTS
Recap all the action from Week 3 of OTAs:
OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS:
- The Lions announced Thursday they signed tight end Sean McGrath and waived tight end Wes Saxton.
- Who stood out this offseason? Tim Twentyman covers that question and more in his latest 10 Questions column.
- Take a look at 5 Lions with breakout potential this year.
- Check out all of the highlights from Sam Martin's annual celebrity softball game.
