(continued from previous post)
Moving on up (the depth chart)
Rookie guard Christian Mahogany was active for the first time this season, getting the call to serve as a top backup ahead of veteran Kayode Awosika. Even though Mahogany didn’t see work on offense, the reward for his work on the practice field was meaningful.
“It was a surreal feeling when they told me I'd be active and one of the first people in (if there was an injury),” he said. “It was a surreal feeling for me to be active for my first game in the NFL after missing camp. This is kind of where it all started for me, at the (scouting) combine here.
“I hope I can continue to progress the way the coaches want me to and just try to get better every day,” Mahogany said. “That's the mindset.”
A sixth-round draft pick out of Boston College, Mahogany’s first offseason was derailed by a lengthy bout of mono. That caused him to miss training camp and the first several weeks of the regular season.
He did see some action on Sunday, blocking on the team’s one field goal and three extra-point tries.
“When you're dressed, you definitely want that taste,” Mahogany said. “Obviously, I got in, played a little field goal, so that was a cool experience. I just want to continue to grow and see where the future takes me.”
He expressed gratitude for the way the veterans in the room have supported him all year, calling it overwhelming.
Wicked curve
One of the more unique aspects of Detroit’s offense is the team’s willingness to call runs on third downs where they need between 4-10 yards.
Not only are they calling runs when most teams don't, they’re converting at an unusually high rate.
Goff said part of the philosophy is the offense is comfortable slicing the distance to set up a manageable fourth-down try. Don’t tell that to Montgomery, who is expecting to earn a fresh set of downs every time he gets those calls, like when he barreled through multiple defenders on third-and-6 in the red zone to move the chains against the Colts.
“We take pride in that,” Montgomery said. “Whenever we get a chance to run on third down, our mentality is we better get the first.”
Campbell agreed with the running back.
“It's another one of those things, it's a mentality,” Campbell said. “It's kind of one of the things we do here. And if we really believe we can do it and get it, we'll do it. It's not a throwaway (play) for us. We really believe if we're going to call (a run) on third-and-7, we're going to get the first.
“It's a curveball,” Campbell said. “It's a changeup. It's paying dividends for us.”
An emotional return
After more than a year away from the game, working his way back from a second ACL tear suffered in Week 5 last season, and a torn pec in training camp, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley was back in action.
“I'm just proud of him,” Davis said. “That **** (rehab) is not easy. That **** is a (long) road. He's been doing a good job. He's been staying up with his spirits. For him to come back out here today, we were proud of him and we're happy to have him on our side.”
Moseley didn’t have a huge role, seeing some snaps on special teams, but it was emotional nonetheless.
”I ain't going to lie, it was amazing,” Moseley said.
Moseley acknowledged he was in his head until the ball was snapped, but in that moment, he reverted to the instincts he's cultivated as a football player.
“Then it's, 'All right, here we go.' That's all you're thinking about is making a play and trying to do your job,” Moseley said.
At this point, it’s baby steps going forward for the veteran corner. Last week, Campbell said the team has been working him in at practice at multiple spots on defense, including outside corner, nickel and safety.
“They just wanted me to touch the field, get my feet underneath me, make sure my conditioning was right,” Moseley said about his role against the Colts. “…I would say I’m just taking it day by day. I finished this game, thank you, Lord. Now it's getting back to practice and getting to the next game.”
Rapid change of scenery
Making his debut with the Lions was veteran David Long, who got the temporary promotion off the practice squad and surprisingly was asked to log double-digit snaps on defense as the team patchworked the linebacker position a week after Alex Anzalone broke his arm.
I asked Long how he was able to carve out a role so quickly.
“It makes it a little easier when you have a coaching staff and teammates that gravitate toward you and help you,” Long said. “I was ready for whatever. I have a standard I hold myself to, so whenever I get in, I'm a smart football player. With their help, it was easy.”
Long said coaches Kelvin Sheppard and Shaun Dion Hamilton, along with new teammates Jack Campbell and Ezekiel Turner, were particularly helpful this week.
Turner acknowledged the past week had been an emotional rollercoaster, going from being cut by the Dolphins to joining the red-hot Lions, but he leaned on the adversity he’s overcome in life to understand this was a small bump in his road.
“I've been through a lot of things,” Long said. “I had to not get down on the moment. I had to remember what I've been through and what I've overcome. You just have to trust it. I know it's hard to trust things you can't see, but that's what faith is. I had to get back into my faith and my support system, and that's helped with the transition.”
If you haven’t had the chance, Ty Dunne pieced together
a wonderful feature on Long’s turbulent background and how it’s molded him.
