Detnews: Lions training camp observations: Juice Scruggs 'in control'

# Lions training camp observations: Juice Scruggs ‘in control’
full article at link.

:play_button: Quarterback Luke Altmyer continues to show more in practice than Josh Dobbs. As we get closer to the end of camp, I continue to have the feeling that he should be ahead of Dobbs on the depth chart. Dobbs has taken far fewer training camp reps, and when he has thrown the football, he hasn’t been better than Altmyer, in my estimation.

During Dobbs’ only series of the day, he rolled left and scrambled for a gain of 6. After a 1-yard run by Sione Vaki, Dobbs looked for Tarik Black down the sideline in a one-on-one situation and didn’t even give his receiver a chance to come up with it. His final pass of the day was to wide receiver Dominic Lovett on a short outbreaking route; he was probably lucky the ball wasn’t interepted. Cornerback Khalil Dorsey was all over it, giving Lovett nearly zero chance of making the play.

:play_button: Juice Scruggs has firmly grabbed the brass ring at first-team center over the last two weeks. While we’ve presumed that Scruggs would be the starter in Cade Mays’ (wrist) absence over the last week or so, we’ve also seen some consistent growth from the player during that time. While we won’t fully know how the unit progressed over camp until we see them on the field together in Week 1, they are making good progress given the circumstances.

“I thought yesterday was good,” Campbell said before practice. “And there again, he’s coming back off his injury. He’s getting familiar with (Jared) Goff and what we’re running. He’s in control now. He’s the gy who’s got to make the points, the cadences, all this stuff. … I think he’s only going to get better and more comfortable with what we’re doing.”

After practice, Scruggs told The Detroit News that it just “takes time” to build comfortability being at the center of a unit that requires cohesion.

“It’s a lot of time, a lot of reps, a lot of trust, and it’s something you’ve gotta build,” Scruggs said. “It’s not something that’s just gonna happen when you just go out there first day, first couple days. It takes time, getting a feel for each other. But I feel like we’re (going) in the right direction. We just have to keep going.”

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Juice and Rock are two sneaky important players. The vet safeties as well.

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“The juice is loose” and he’s going to take a knife to the opposing DTs and LBs.

The juice was loose for James Houston too.

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I don’t feel good about our oline if juice is starting center.

As your backup center for a short early season run i dont know what you expect?

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I would rather put him at left guard.

So scruggs at lg mahogany to bench and mclaughlin to C? Idk if you want to do that but i suppose it is an option

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I wouldn’t mind trying Scruggs at left guard once mays is back.

Scruggs is a natural center, he’s not as good at guard.

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Will Scruggs be better than GG was last year?

I sure hope so but the Lions need that IOL to gel and play as a top 10 interior OL. Goff needs a pocket or we’re in trouble.

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He’d better be, or yeah look out JG.

I think he can be solid, he’s just 26 and GG was a broken down 33 last year. I guess we’ll see.

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Even if Scruggs plays at the same level as GG ratledge will be much much better. A solid to above average right guard alone can help be better than last year. Sewell will erase some of mahogany’s flaws. Miller will be on par with what decker delivered last year. Some up and down performances but mostly solid. So there should be at minimum incremental improvements.

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It was an option. Sounds like McL flunked the test.