NFL analyst Benjamin Solak recently attended two Detroit Lions practices and he was absolutely giddy over defensive back Brian Branch, while also heaping praise on several other players. However, he did express concern about one position.
Branch, who is expected to play more at safety this year after spending his rookie year in the slot, was absolutely locking down receivers while Solak was watching. He noted that only Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was able to find any semblance of success against the second-year defensive back.
"There isn't a player here that consistently gets open against Brian Branch," Solak wrote. "Only one who can actually get catches on him is Amon-Ra, and even then, they're usually contested. Wouldn't be surprised if we're calling him the best slot in football by December."
One last thought on the DL that I can’t believe I forgot: man. Big fellas. Alim, Reader, Levi. Kyle Peko. Huge. Hutchison and Davenport and Josh Paschal and Derrick Barnes (on ball SAM) on the edge — long as all get out.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) August 13, 2024
Running on this team is gonna be tough.
Solak also heaped praise on linebacker Jack Campbell, who is entering his second year and is expected to have a larger role.
"Rookie LB Jack Cambell was LB3 last year -- this year, he's the MIKE and doesn't leave the field," the ESPN analyst wrote. "Looks just like he did last year -- huge and fast -- but is clearly much more vocal. The big question mark is coverage ability, which we won't really see till Week 1."
Solak was "very impressed" by safety Brandon Joseph, who he expects to make the 53-man roster. Joseph helped his cause with an interception in preseason Week 1.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs was also included in Solak's praise, with the analyst revealing that Gibbs works with the wide receivers in pass-catching drills. Solak believes Gibbs will be used in the slot more this year.
Unfortunately, Gibbs' status is up in the air currently after he suffered an unspecified hamstring injury at practice on Monday.
Last but certainly not least when it comes to the praise, Solak loved what he saw from the Lions' defensive line.
"One last thought on the DL that I can’t believe I forgot: man," Solak said. "Big fellas. Alim, Reader, Levi. Kyle Peko. Huge. Hutchison and Davenport and Josh Paschal and Derrick Barnes (on ball SAM) on the edge — long as all get out.
"Running on this team is gonna be tough."
It wasn't all positive from Solak, though, as he expressed concern about the Lions' wide receiver situation, and specifically the No. 2 and 3 spots on the depth chart.
"WR2/3: I walk away from camp even more worried about the Josh Reynolds departure than I was. Jameson Williams is still very up-and-down and the depth behind him is struggling. Lions need WR help badly IMO (post-cut additions? veteran trade?)"
Solak's troubling assessment of Detroit's wide receiver depth comes on the heels of head coach Dan Campbell expressing some disappointment in the team's options, with Campbell saying the Lions are waiting for someone to step up.
"It's still the same as where it's at," Campbell said. "We're waiting for somebody to step forward. We're waiting for any one of those guys to step forward. (Donovan Peoples-Jones) I felt like has been since the game much better. He's playing faster and I notice it, we all notice it, so that's encouraging. But (Daurice) Fountain and Tre'Quan (Smith) and Kaden Davis, we're dying for somebody to step up and say, 'Hey, man, I'm the guy. I'm the guy you can depend on. I'll be the same, consistent player everyday and find a way to make the plays that come my way.'"
We've said all offseason long that the Lions should explore bringing someone else in, like veteran wideout Michael Thomas, for example. Detroit has ample cap space to make another move if they so choose.