Allen Park — Asked which players have made the most noticeable improvements during these early stages of the offseason program, one of the first names mentioned by Detroit Lions coach Campbell was Ifeatu Melifonwu.
With Tracy Walker still working his way back from last year's Achilles injury, Melifonwu, the third-year defensive back out of Syracuse, has been getting plenty of reps with the first-team defense. And he's been shining with the those opportunities, showing noticeably improved positioning, timing and playmaking skills a year after making the position switch to safety from cornerback.
Durability has hindered Melifonwu's development through his first two seasons, with quadriceps, hamstring and ankle injuries costing him significant practice time.