Far From Irrelevant: Detroit Lions WR Tim Toone Proves Value

During my two mornings at the outdoor practice facility in Allen Park, Michigan, there were eye-catching players both great and small in Honolulu Blue and Silver.  Among the great of stature were WR Calvin Johnson, DT Sammie Lee Hill, DT Corey Williams, and TE Dan Gronkowski.

But one of my best impressions of the two days might be, "less is more."

Mister Irrelevant isn’t.

On one particular pass play, the former Weber State star blazed past defenders en route to a great catch and the ensuing roar of the pride faithful assembled at training camp, “TOOOOOOOOOONE.”

I said (in a voice that was neither ambiguous nor lacking for volume), "He looks pretty relevant to me!"

The crowd agreed with their laughter and comments.

Detroit Lions fans are going to love this young man.  As a 25-year-old rookie, Tim Toone is far from a kid.

That maturity appears to be serving him well in every aspect of his game.

What I like about Tim Toone is his combination of speed, quickness, and elusiveness.  Tim understands his skill set and uses his gifts well.

Quickness in and out of cuts, more so than straight-line speed (all NFL receivers are fast), is what helps to create the initial separation a receiver is trying to get from a defensive back or linebacker.  The quickness of Patriots' receivers Wes Welker and Julian Edelman makes them very difficult to cover, and it is that same quality that Toone possesses.

There seems to be a quiet confidence about Tim Toone that is translating to performance on the practice field.  He doesn’t seem "phased," "out of place," "little fish in the big pond," "deer in headlights," or "dazed and confused"—none of that, folks.

Quite to the contrary, good Lions fans.

What the Detroit Lions and their fans have in WR Tim Toone is a top-notch competitor who understands “the math” at the wide receiver position—cost, production, and versatility.

The business administration major should understand these concepts well and how he can place his personal brand equity into the spotlight, creating value that will earn him a spot on the 53-man roster.

The cost-benefit analysis will reveal that Tim Toone is a keeper.

What I have learned is that Jim Schwartz and Martin Mayhew seem to have a fair eye for picking seventh-round talent, and no one has gotten higher mileage from late-round or undrafted players.

At a time when getting high mileage has never been more popular, the Lions are on the cusp of capturing hybrid production with minimal unit cost.

John Kreger, Special to CBSSports.com, had this to share about Detroit Lions WR Tim Toone:

"WRs Tim Toone and Derrick Williams continue to perform well at KR and PR. The Lions like the speed and hands that both possess. The coaches are looking to slot the players into multiple roles to justify roster spots. If it becomes a competition, Williams has the edge."

WR Tim Toone on his increased reps: "It’s awesome to be noticed by the coaches. My hard work is paying off. I’m just trying to come in here, work hard, and get the chance to perform.”

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Clearly, Tim Toone has put on a very good showing in everything the coaching staff has asked of him, and his performance is being recognized and his responsibilities increased.

After organized team activities a couple months back, Coach Schwartz had the following to offer about Toone:

"He's done a nice job.  He's been returning kicks and playing in the slot. He's adapted pretty quickly and he's got pretty good quickness. He's a savvy player and he knows his way around a little bit. He's going to be in the mix. He's a guy that has some playmaking ability. He brings some tools to the field that will help him in certain roles for us."

What I saw during practice lets me know that Tim Toone is staying on time and on target. 

His arrow is definitely trending up.

I think Detroit Lions fans are going to be in for a surprise when the final cuts are made and the surviving wide receivers are announced.

I believe the man from Weber State will be the Detroit Lions fifth wide receiver and kick returner for the road opener in Chicago.

I’ll tell you something that isn’t Looney Toones—I’m betting on the white dude with dreads to be “Survivor Allen Park.”

HäMMëR