ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions defensive back Avonte Maddox is putting together a strong training camp, and he appears to be a lock to make the final roster.
That doesn’t mean his return home to Detroit has been without challenges. The eight-year veteran has rotated between nickel corner and safety throughout camp, a transition that requires constant adjustments.
“Whatever I’m playing that day, I try to take one step (at a time),” Maddox told MLive. “I try to learn one thing from that position that day. So I take it one (day) at a time, even though it’s moving fast, but I don’t want to rush too far into it and I end up losing it all.”
In Saturday’s preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins, Maddox logged 22 snaps across both roles and finished with four tackles. He admitted that safety, the least familiar position for him, has been the toughest to master.
“That’s kind of the most difficult. Other than that, you got different terminology coming from another team, and everyone says things in different ways,” Maddox said. “You have to be able to learn it and be able to communicate it on the field so that your teammates can trust you. That’s kind of the biggest thing (for me).”
Fortunately for Maddox, he feels the Lions’ secondary has the right mix of talent and leadership to help him settle in. He pointed to Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph as two of the league’s top young safeties, highlighted rookie Terrion Arnold and veteran D.J. Reed as strong corners, and called Amik Robertson one of the NFL’s better slot defenders.
The competition and camaraderie in that room, Maddox said, have helped his development as he toggles between positions. Branch and Joseph in particular have been quick to offer pointers.
“Every single day they do. I encourage ‘em to help me. I’m going up to ‘em. I’m like, ‘I shouldn’t (have to) ask you to help me, you should just be helping me. How about that?” Maddox joked. “Those guys, they’re great people, though. They are always willing to help.
“Whatever they see, they’re willing to show me, and whatever I have in mind that I see, I tell ‘em as well. So as long as we’re working together and making each other better and getting better as one, that will take you a long way.”
The Lions host joint practices with the Houston Texans on Thursday before wrapping up the preseason at Ford Field. Maddox said his goal is to showcase his ball-hawking ability and create turnovers -- a point of emphasis from coach Dan Campbell.
Through two preseason games, including the Hall of Fame Game, Detroit’s defense has yet to force a takeaway.
“You’ve got to attack the ball. The ball is key, the ball is gold, the ball is everything,” Maddox said. “So you’ve got to punch out the ball, you’ve got to go attack the ball when it’s in the air, and the ball is everything that wins you games. If the defense gets the ball and steals some possessions as much as they can, that wins you a game.”
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