Expectations are sky-high in the motor city this year coming off of last year’s 10-6 season that ended with a playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints. There were several things to look for in last Friday’s pre-season opener vs. the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field and at the top of that list was seeing how the Lions much-maligned defensive backfield would stack up in real-time, NFL action.
Third round pick Dwight “Bill” Bentley was called upon to start alongside Chris Houston at cornerback, due in large part to the recent release of Aaron Berry, who was expected to be the heir-apparent to Eric Wright, Detroit’s only missing starter from last season. Bentley will be forced to grow up quickly in this Lions defense, barring a free agent signing or trade to bring in a veteran corner with starting NFL experience, but that is highly unlikely, especially after the upside Bentley showed on Friday night.
n the third play of the game, Bentley looked every bit a rookie as he allowed Browns’ rookie wide receiver Travis Benjamin to beat him on a 34-yard connection from rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden. Bentley showed that he is a quick study, though. On the very next play, he broke up a pass intended for Jermaine Saffold in which he blanketed the receiver the entire route, giving him little to no chance to make the catch.
During the second defensive series Bentley broke up a pass by nearly picking it off. He made up for the would-be turnover on the very next series, making Brandon Weeden pay for his telegraphed pass by jumping the route beautifully and intercepting it.
Over the course of the first three series’ of the game, Bentley showed great ball instincts and decent speed. There is always a learning curve for even the most talented rookies in becoming acclimated to NFL game speed, and this will be Bentley’s biggest obstacle to becoming a solid, NFL starting cornerback.
When Lions coach Jim Schwartz was asked about Bentley’s interception at his half-time interview, the coach’s responded, “He should have had two.” This only goes to emphasize the ‘never-satisfied’ attitude Schwartz and the Lions have made their mantra since Schwartz’s arrival in 2009.
In surprising fashion, the Lions offensive and defensive starters remained on the field for the first three series’ of the game. This is far from typical for the first preseason game, but apparently coach Schwartz wanted to see something more from his first-team squad. Offensively, the Lions first series resulted in a three-and-out. The second drive was looking somewhat promising before quarterback Matthew Stafford and tight end Brandon Pettigrew appeared on different pages of the playbook, resulting in an interception.
There were a few bright spots from the first team offense, including two impressive strikes to All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson, but the first team failed to score a touchdown, which Stafford later said was disappointing. “You never want to turn the ball over, whether it’s preseason or [the] regular season. We would have loved to put one in the end zone. We’re going to learn from it and get better,” said Stafford of his team’s offensive performance in week one of the preseason.
The Browns kicked a 45-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining to put Cleveland ahead 19-17 and that would eventually seal their preseason victory over Detroit.
The Lions next preseason game is this Friday vs. Baltimore.
By Eric Wagenmaker
