2. Stuard returning kicks
It was actually film from Grant Stuard's college days at Houston playing some fullback that put Fipp onto giving it a try with the linebacker returning kicks.
"You want a guy who's going to be able to last and be durable," Fipp said. "At the time (Sione) Vaki was down early on in training camp, we've had
Craig Reynolds back there. Anytime you bring a player in, you kind of watch everything they've done in the history that we have on film. There was some film from him at Houston where he was running the ball, and I was like, 'Wait a minute, like this looks pretty good right here.'
So Fipp and the Lions invested some time with him, teaching him ball security and seeing where it goes. Fipp is excited about the potential.
Stuard is one of the best special teams players in the league and said after Tuesday's practice that for him as a cover man, it's easier to tackle the players who go more east and west than north and south up the field. Stuard is definitely a north/south runner with some speed, power, and ability. He fumbled his opening kickoff return in the preseason but has been solid ever since.
