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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Detroit Lions training camp notebook: Day 1 observations and takeaways
Detroit Lions training camp kicked off its media access on Sunday morning. Under a cloudy sky with occasional spits of raindrops, the Lions took to the practice fields at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park. The players were not in pads, and the initial session was a shorter one (90 minutes) than typical, as players and coaches get back into the swing of being in camp. Detroit is starting a few days earlier than normal with the team participating in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game in 11 days. Here's what I saw on the field in the first training camp practice of the 2025 season. Play of the day Undrafted rookie safety Ian Kennelly gets the nod here for a great coverage and pass breakup on a Hendon Hooker throw up the right sideline. The entire secondary had locked up the initial reads in the passing set, and Hooker rolled to his right to get a better angle on a comeback route. Kennelly burst in front of the receiver and swatted down the ball with his right arm, to the great jubilation of the starting defensive backs, who mobbed the Grand Valley State product in celebration after the rep. That play edges out Jared Goff expertly feathering a deep post route just over the leaping Amik Robertson and into Tim Patrick's arms early in practice. Really nice route by Patrick, who got a little space with a savvy pushoff, and the throw was as good as it gets. Skipper and the LTs With Taylor Decker on the PUP list as he recovers from what head coach Dan Campbell termed a "clean-up" on his shoulder, veteran Dan Skipper took the first-team reps at left tackle. Jamarco Jones was the second-team LT, followed by Giovanni Manu. With the practice not padded, it's hard to get too deep on the OL/DL performance other than movement skills. Skipper continues to get out into space well on screens and effectively seals the backside for cutback runs with his length. Manu appears to have redistributed some of his weight into more muscle in the shoulders and more overall muscle tone. He's a naturally big man, but he might have been carrying a little extra bulk as a rookie. Ben Raven from MLive and I noted that Manu's calves and thighs were definitely more toned and sculpted than a year ago as Manu walked off the field. Bubbling up? It's Day 1, so keep that in mind as needed context, but a couple of younger players wound up getting some reps higher up on the Lions' food chain than expected. EDGE Nate Lynn took some first-team reps in the period before stretching. With Josh Paschal out until at least early September per Campbell, the Lions need someone to step up as a reserve pass rusher. Lynn, who spent his rookie season on the practice squad after being signed as an undrafted free agent from William & Mary, had made some splashy rushes a year ago. It appears the Lions are open to seeing what Lynn can do. Also in that period, Erick Hallett repped as the first-team safety in place of Kerby Joseph, who returned and looked very spry following the stretching. Hallett was up there ahead of Avonte Maddox, Dan Jackson, Morice Norris, Ian Kennelly and Loren Strickland. Again--it's the first day, so it's important not to read too much into anything other than the Lions looking to see what they've got. Hallett spent 2024 on Detroit's practice squad. Rakestraw goes down Second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw left practice with trainers after suffering an injury in a passing rep when he got tied up with a receiver on a route. He is being evaluated for a chest injury, per the Lions. More info on Rakestraw will come as it's made available; we're not permitted to speculate on the severity or exact injury. The QBs Jared Goff looked to be in midseason form with his throws, starting out with a picture-perfect connection to TE Sam LaPorta on the sidelines. Goff notably threw a deep dart to Amon-Ra St. Brown that was in perfect stride some 50 yards down the field. No. 16 even showed off some wheels in team drills, bursting through a wide hole up the middle and gaining a good 10 yards before any of the defenders got to him. Hendon Hooker was, well, Hendon Hooker. Just as was the case last season, he mixes in some outstanding throws with some ponderous misses. That was very evident in a 7-on-7 drill where he bounced a short pass to Dominic Lovett but then rifled a perfect throw to UDFA TE Zach Horton in between closing defenders that resulted in a very big gain on Hooker's very next rep. He wasn't my main focus, but I didn't see or hear any of last year's issues with Hooker being too hesitant to throw the ball. Hooker and Horton connected a couple of times on nice in-stride throws in the seam. Kyle Allen is the new No. 3 and from one practice, it's easy to see why the Lions had interest. He's got a quick release and can move around in the pocket with his eyes up. Allen showed the weakest arm of the trio, but that's relative. Replacing Levi Defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike is out for the year with a torn ACL. That's a big dent in the depth chart, as Onwuzurike played both tackle and end in Detroit's 4- and 5-man fronts. Most of the reps that would be anticipated to go to Onwuzurike went to veteran Pat O'Connor, especially in the 5-man fronts (which are fairly common). Chris Smith and Myles Adams each got reps as well. Quick hits --Tate Ratledge and Graham Glasgow each got first-team center reps. Glasgow moved to right guard as Ratledge slid into the pivot, but when Glasgow was at center, Ratledge did not play any guard reps that I noted (he might have and I just didn't see them). --Kalif Raymond casually fielding a punt with a ball already tucked in his arm is a good indication that the wideout is comfortably ensconced as the top punt return option. He was followed in PR reps by (in order): Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, D.J. Reed, Tom Kennedy. I didn't see a ball touch the ground that wasn't supposed to. --Newcomer Avonte Maddox primarily played high safety with the second-team defense in his first practice in Detroit. --The Lions experimented with some looks where Amik Robertson was the outside corner with Terrion Arnold in the slot on the same side. When the slot went to D.J. Reed's side, Robertson travelled that way and Arnold played outside. Again--first day observation and perhaps nothing more than that.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Detroit Lions training camp outlook: Competition for the reserve offensive tackle spots
For the fifth straight season, the Detroit Lions will open training camp with no questions about their starting offensive tackles. Taylor Decker is heading into his 11th season as the starting left tackle, while Penei Sewell is embarking upon year No. 5 on the right side. Sewell is an All-Pro and one of the brightest young OL talents in the league, still not even 25 years old. Decker remains reliably above-average in both the run and pass game. Together, the Lions have one of the very best starting tandems in the NFL. After that, there are some questions at offensive tackle. This year's training camp and preseason will help answer who fits where on the depth chart and who belongs on the 53-man roster, the Lions practice squad, or another NFL team. Dan Skipper Dan Skipper is back as the prodigal Lions reserve. Skipper is a fan favorite, a valuable locker room presence and a very effective 6th lineman in jumbo formations. Because Detroit utilizes the six-lineman look more than any other team, Skipper's ability there is no token fluff; the Lions ask him to be ready at any time. As far as filling in for Decker or Sewell, that's where Skipper scrapes his ceiling. The 6-foot-9 vet is capable in small doses, better in the run game than pass protection. Anything beyond a couple of drives in any game is asking a little too much from Skipper. It seems extremely unlikely the Lions would dump Skipper, especially since he's coming off a career-high 108 special teams snaps in 2024. The question with Skipper is, OT3 or OT4 on Sundays? Giovanni Manu To circle back up to the Skipper section, the Lions are not-so-quietly rooting for Manu to prove he can be OT3 and active on gamedays in his second season, pushing Skipper into the 6th OL and OT4 duties. Manu wasn't anywhere close to pushing for that role as a fourth-round rookie and football novice from the Canadian college game (U Sports). Manu will be one of the most scrutinized players throughout the summer. The rampant hope, both from the Lions themselves as well as fans, is that Manu has grown his game and developed his football acumen enough to justify a roster spot aside from the draft capital (Detroit traded a 2025 third-rounder for Manu in the 2024 NFL Draft) sunken cost. The athleticism with Manu is obvious. Humans his size (6-foot-8, 350 pounds) aren't supposed to move so quickly, so fluidly. The football skills are where Manu needed considerable work. A native of Tonga, Manu went to Canada for college as a basketball player. Even the rudimentary basics of blocking were challenges for the rookie. To his credit, he never lost his eagerness or got too down on himself while spending a de facto redshirt season as a fixture on the inactive player list on gamedays. Offensive line coach Hank Fraley will see how much Manu has progressed in the technical aspects very soon. There isn't a better teacher of an O-line coach in the league than Fraley, and getting Manu to emerge as a viable NFL blocker in 2025 would be one of Fraley's greatest accomplishments. Jamarco Jones Now entering his second season in Detroit, Jones probably deserves more attention than he gets. A seven-year vet, Jones played three seasons in Seattle as a part-time starter. In fact, Jones has started at least one NFL game at every OL spot except center. "Starting" and "worthy of starting" are not necessarily equivalent terms, as Seahawks fans are apt to say about Jones from his time there. Jones has decent strength but struggles with foot frequency and length at tackle, going back to his college days at Ohio State. The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder isn't unathletic, but relative to Manu or either starter, there are more limitations to the movement and pulling with Jones in the game. Jones is certainly in the mix to claim a spot, be it on the 53-man roster as a versatile reserve or as a trusted member of the practice squad who is ready on a moment's notice--the role he played in 2024 in Detroit. Kayode Awosika See that last sentence above, in the Jones section? Swap in Awosika's name and the story remains the same, albeit in a different stylistic package. Awosika is entering his fourth training camp with the Lions, and he's made the team every year in some capacity. The burly Awosika lacks length to play outside full-time, even though that's what he played in college and for the Eagles before joining the Lions. He's played guard quite a bit in Detroit, both as a reserve and a fill-in starter. The reality for Awosika is that he's much more apt to win a position battle inside than at tackle, but his OT experience can't be summarily dismissed as the Lions create the depth across the line. Mason Miller This year's undrafted rookie free agent competitor, Miller played right tackle at North Dakota State opposite Seahawks first-rounder Grey Zabel. Just as Zabel is moving inside in Seattle, Miller is almost certainly destined to kick inside to guard if he has any chance to stick in Detroit. His sluggish footwork was readily evident during spring practices. Miller worked out at all five positions in collegiate postseason all-star games, and a year developing into one particular spot on Detroit's practice squad is his most likely Lions outcome as a rookie. Colby Sorsdal Sorsdal is looking for a position to stick at in his third season on the Lions. All indications from the spring sessions are that Sorsdal will be transitioning to center after failing to impress enough at guard or tackle, though it's premature to rule out another shot as a reserve tackle.
Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
BPS Superintendent Skipper receives high marks in latest evaluation
Still, board members noted progress remains uneven across schools and called on Skipper to accelerate the closure of student achievement gaps. Skipper could also improve her engagement with district families, the majority of whom are low-income, according to the board. 'A strong foundation to better serve the students, families and staff of BPS has been laid under the leadership of Superintendent Skipper and the actions of her team,' according to a summative evaluation from the committee. 'We all recognize, Superintendent Skipper included, there is more work to do.' Advertisement The district made the written evaluation public prior to Advertisement Board members in written evaluations rated Skipper overall as either 'effective' or 'highly effective'; Skipper rated herself overall as 'effective' in a self-evaluation. In subcategories, however, Skipper received received some lower scores, including the four 'developing' ratings by Brandon Cardet-Hernandez across each area assessed: instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture. (Developing, according to a scoring guide, means proficient.) Cardet-Hernandez, in his fourth year on the committee, criticized Skipper for the pace of the district's progress on student achievement. The achievement gap on the math test is even wider: around 60 percent of Asian and white students met expectations, while only about 15 percent of Black and Latino students did, according to the state. 'Given our funding, resources and values, we should be aiming for greater progress,' Cardet-Hernandez said. 'We are not closing the achievement gaps.' He also said advocates and families report that students with disabilities and English learners are 'still not consistently' receiving required services or access to quality instruction. Skipper previously has acknowledged 'We tell our students success takes discipline and consistent progress,' Skipper said. 'The same is true for our district and schools.' Skipper's signature initiatives Advertisement There have been concrete signs of success. In her first budget without federal pandemic aid, there were no layoffs. The district is no longer in a category of schools that are eligible for receivership, as it was when the state plan was implemented. And it is no longer in the bottom 10 percent of districts in the state. Boston has also brokered a Skipper's tenure, though, has not been immune to criticism. Like many districts, Boston still grapples with learning loss years after the pandemic; there also remains A state improvement plan expired June 30, Many school buses, which crisscross Boston as part of its school choice program, continue running late, though they have improved. But those improvements have been overshadowed by Advertisement And one measure intended to help buses run more efficiently — Christopher Huffaker of the Globe staff contributed to this report. John Hilliard can be reached at
Scotsman
25-06-2025
- Scotsman
From desk to deck: Caithness reservist leads 188-mile sailing expedition off the Scottish coast
Lieutenant Angus Lapslie, a Reservist with 7th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (7 SCOTS), organised the voyage as part of Exercise Highland Express - a military adventurous training programme designed to build resilience by placing soldiers in unfamiliar, high-pressure environments. It is one example of how the Reservists train to help ensure they are combat ready. By day, Angus works at the Dounreay nuclear site but in his Reservist role, he swaps his desk for the boat deck and uses his training to plan and deliver expeditions that push both his team to their physical and mental limits. 'It's easy to think of sailing as a bit of a jolly,' he said. 'But in The Royal Regiment of Scotland, adventurous training is one of the ways we safely simulate the stress and unpredictability of operations.' Departing from Oban, Angus was joined by five other reservists, including four junior soldiers, most of whom had never set foot on a sailing boat before. Under the guidance of a qualified skipper, Angus served as second-in-command, responsible for navigation, planning and mentoring the crew through the demands of life at sea. They battled stormy weather and gale force winds, navigated tight anchorages at remote islands like Canna and Loch Scavaig and weathered sea conditions that tested even the most experienced hands. 'At one point we were cooking bacon mid-storm,' Angus laughed. 'We lost breakfast more than once.' For Angus and one of the crew, the expedition also counted toward advanced sailing qualifications - including the coveted Coastal Skipper certification. But for Angus, career progression wasn't the main purpose of the trip. 'The experience was about trying something new,' he said. 'One soldier from Caithness had never sailed before - and by day two he was helming the boat through 40-knot winds. That's what this is all about: building confidence and showing people what they're capable of.' Despite the tough conditions, the rewards were unforgettable. 'We had a pod of around 40 dolphins swim alongside us near Ardnamurchan Point,' he said. 'And anchoring in Loch Scavaig, with the Cuillin towering above us - it was breathtaking. You don't get that in a classroom or on a parade square.' On today, Reserves Day, Angus hopes more people will recognise the scale of opportunity available through part-time service and the important role Reservists play as part of the Army. 'Being a Reservist is a huge privilege,' he said. 'It's not always easy balancing it with a full-time job - but the leadership experience, personal growth and once-in-a-lifetime moments make it more than worth it.' He now hopes to run similar expeditions in future, opening up more of Scotland's spectacular coastline to fellow soldiers from across the Highlands - a move which would be welcomed by his teammates. Pte Gus Strudwick of 6 SCOTS, said: 'It was a really enjoyable yet challenging week of sailing on the West Coast. With a mixed bag of weather, from choppy waters to high winds, it really made us focus and forced us to be adaptable under pressure, especially when having to conduct smooth and efficient sail changes on the foredeck with waves splashing over the top. I am looking forward to the opportunity of similar expeditions to come.' In similar enthusiasm, Pte Will Macdonald of 7 SCOTS, added: 'It was a great all-round piece of unit adventurous training, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I feel my yacht sailing, teamwork with members from the wider Regiment and leadership capabilities as a Jock have all developed, and I have a new drive to further advance my sailing experiences within the Army Reserve. I hope that this is repeated and would love to be involved with any unit sailing in the future.' 2 . Contributed (L-R: Lt Angus Lapslie, Pte Callum Steven and Pte Will Macdonald Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed Lt Angus Lapslie and Cpl Steve Macintyre rounding Ardnamurchan Point Photo: Submitted Photo Sales
India Gazette
23-06-2025
- Science
- India Gazette
Latest global rankings show shift in global research landscape
Beyond the Nature Index, numerous global rankings have also highlighted Asia's growing influence, particularly China's significant contributions to worldwide scientific research. LONDON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- China's contribution to world-class science is advancing at a remarkable pace, further extending its lead in research output, according to calendar-year data for 2024 released in the latest Nature Index Research Leaders report. Beyond the Nature Index, numerous global rankings have also highlighted Asia's growing influence, particularly China's significant contributions to worldwide scientific research. Asian countries as a whole have gained greater prominence, while Western institutions have seen a decline in the number of top positions held within the rankings. An increasing number of experts believe these data indicate a fundamental transformation in the global research landscape, with scientific and research leadership shifting from the West to the East. CHINA MAINTAINS TOP SPOT In 2023, China surpassed the United States to claim the top position for the first time in the Nature Index Research Leaders list, which ranks countries, territories, and institutions based on their contributions to papers published in 145 leading health and natural sciences journals. Over the past year, China's leadership has expanded rapidly. According to the latest data, China's lead over the United States in the Nature Index database has grown more than fourfold in just one year. The country's Share -- the Nature Index's key metric of author contributions to high-quality research -- reached 32,122, a 17.4 percent increase from 2023. The region now has eight institutions in the top 10, compared to seven last year. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) retained its top position. The University of Science and Technology of China ranked third, while Zhejiang University (Share 819.57) rose from tenth to fourth place. Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief at Nature, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview earlier this year that China's increasingly mature and impactful contributions to global research have been recognized not only in the Nature Index, but also in other major rankings and evaluation systems for scientific output. According to the Global Innovation Index 2024 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China continues to lead the world for the second consecutive year with 26 of the top 100 science and technology innovation clusters, further establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing economies in innovation over the past decade. "It is, of course, a testament to China's systematic investment in research and education, as well as its recognition of the importance of international collaboration," said Skipper. ASIA ENJOYS GREATER DOMINANCE Countries across Asia have shown strong growth in research output. In addition to China, South Korea and India were the other two countries in the top 10 to increase their adjusted Share from 2023 -- by 4.1 percent and 2 percent, respectively. South Korea, for instance, moved up from eighth to seventh in the Research Leaders 2025 ranking and increased its adjusted Share in biological sciences by more than 11 percent. The country also advanced from sixth to fourth place in the physical sciences. Singapore also distinguished itself with recent performance, rising to 16th place from 18th and posting a 7 percent increase -- the second-largest among the top 20 countries after China. Its adjusted Share in earth and environmental sciences papers grew by more than 19 percent from 2023 to 2024, while its adjusted Share in health sciences rose by over 23 percent. Japan, however, was an exception, recording a 9 percent decrease. The success of other Asian countries may also reflect a focus on green technology and materials, which are accounting for an increasing share of research articles in the database. According to the World Economic Forum, Asia is also emerging as a global hub for technology and innovation. By 2030, Asia's fintech revenues are expected to surpass those of North America. In the latest Global Innovation Index (GII) rankings, the five leading science and technology clusters globally are all located in East Asia, with China accounting for three of them. Data from the Nature Index also suggests that China-based researchers are increasing their collaboration with scientists in other Asian countries. This growing cooperation is helping to strengthen the research capabilities of other Asian nations, as reflected in the latest calendar-year data from the Nature Index. THE WEST'S DECLINE IN SHARE Joanne Carney, chief government relations officer at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), warns that the United States has "clearly crossed a threshold into actively abdicating our position as a global leader in research and development and innovation." Previously dominant Western countries have experienced a decline in their adjusted Share for the second consecutive year. Canada, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States each recorded decreases of at least 7 percent, while Australia and Germany saw smaller declines of less than 3 percent. The United States' adjusted Share dropped sharply by 10.1 percent. Western research institutions also continue to fall in the annual Nature Index Research Leaders rankings. Major contributors to high-quality science, such as Germany's Max Planck Society and France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), have both dropped several places. The Max Planck Society fell from fourth to ninth place, while CNRS exited the top 10 for the first time, now ranking 13th. U.S. institutions have also seen significant declines. Stanford University dropped from sixth place overall in 2022 to 15th in 2023 and 16th in 2024. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranked 17th in 2024, down from 14th the previous year. Harvard University, despite maintaining second place, recorded a 17.5 percent decrease in adjusted Share in 2024. "The data reflect a profound shift in the global research landscape," Simon Baker, chief editor of Nature Index, said: "China's continued investment in science and technology is translating into rapid sustained growth in high-quality research output, which in areas such as physical sciences and chemistry is now far outstripping previously dominant Western nations, including the United States."
