FIRST DOWN
The assumption a year ago was that defensive end Devin Taylor's role would increase as he entered his second year in the NFL.
That didn't happen because veteran George Johnson unexpectedly emerged as a pass-rushing threat for the Detroit Lions and stole some of Taylor's playing time.
Taylor, a fourth-round draft pick out of South Carolina in 2013, went from 301 defensive snaps (29.2 percent of the team's defensive plays) as a rookie to 225 snaps (21.5 percent) last season.
He had 2 1/2 sacks two years ago, just one in 2014.
Disappointing?
"Not at all," Taylor said. "I played my role. That's all I can do."
It should be different this coming season. Johnson turned his six sacks into a nice payday with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a restricted free agent.
The Lions chose not to match the offer, presumably in part because they have faith that Taylor (6-foot-7, 275 pounds) can help fill the void.
"He's got speed, he's got length, he's a guy who is tough," coach Jim Caldwell said. "He was a bit of a younger player (last year).
"He's developing. He's got to come along for us. He's a very, very important part of what we do. We are expecting to see him develop by leaps and bounds."
SECOND DOWN
The NFL is going to make extra points more difficult for kickers, moving them back to what's typically going to be a 33-yard attempt instead of the oh-so-easy 20-yarder.
Matt Prater of the Lions has his own way of making things more difficult for himself.
Instead of kicking into a normal NFL goalpost, which is 18 feet, six inches wide, Prater practices on goalposts that he said are nine feet wide, similar to what is used in the Arena Football League.
Prater said that he doesn't even want to "look at a normal upright until game day."
After practicing on the narrow posts, Prater said, "When you go to the normal uprights, they look huge."
"You feel like you should put it right down the middle," he added.
Prater used the narrow posts when he kicked in Denver. He mentioned that to the Lions after joining the team starting with the sixth game last season.
Caldwell said he thinks the practice posts are "challenging" for Prater.
"It was something that he uses to focus in on and narrow his scope," Caldwell said. "You can see that it does indeed help him."
Prater said practicing on the narrow posts is another example of how kicking is so mental.
"The mental part is huge," he said. "Kicking is all mental. Anybody can go out and kick. It's just who can do it under pressure?"
THIRD DOWN
The loudest end of the Lions' practice field is almost always where the defensive linemen are doing drills.
That's partly because of Kris Kocurek, an extremely animated D-line coach.
But it's also because of defensive end Darryl Tapp, who is entering his 10th year in the league.
Caldwell went so far as to say that teammates "gravitate toward him."
"He's a leader, great family man, has his life in order," Caldwell said. "He's a great example for the young guys.
"He loves the game. That's what you see and you hear is the passion that he has for this game. We've got a few guys out there like that, but maybe none quite as vocal as Darryl Tapp."
Tapp's personality was a factor in the Lions' decision to re-sign him to a one-year deal worth $870,000 during an offseason in which several other defensive linemen were lost in free agency.
