Lions rookie safety Randy Phillips fits in quickly

Safety Randy Phillips might be on the Lions roster because of his relationship with secondary coach Tim Walton , his former defensive coordinator at Miami (Fla.). But Walton had nothing to do with Phillips playing with the No. 1 defensive unit Friday in training camp.

"In understanding schemes and knowing what is being asked of him, sure, it helps that he played for Tim Walton," coach Jim Schwartz said. "Does it help him as far as competing and where he is on the depth chart? Absolutely not. That's all based on him and what he does."

Phillips, an undrafted rookie who spent most of the offseason recovering from January shoulder surgery, was added to the roster Wednesday. And after getting second-team reps at safety Thursday, he was with the first-team defense Friday, subbing for injured starter Louis Delmas alongside C.C. Brown .

It's unfair to evaluate a player based on a day's worth of drills, but Phillips seemed to handle the position well, just as he did in a three-day tryout in June mini-camp.

"He's a smart guy and he's had some experience playing the scheme we play," Schwartz said.

Click here to order Randy Phillips’ proCane Rookie Card.



(detnews.com)