August

Aug. 20, 2008   

Stanton starting to push Orlovsky in Detroit

There’s a quietly intriguing battle at the backup QB spot in Detroit, where steady Dan Orlovsky now is trying to hold off Drew Stanton after Stanton’s strong performance in the preseason win over the Bengals. Stanton showed good athleticism and precision in the passing game, leading a couple of scoring drives, while Orlovsky struggled in his time out there. At the beginning of camp, the idea of Stanton pushing for the backup spot appeared unimaginable. He struggled mightily, and offensive coordinator Jim Colletto wasn’t afraid to say so. And coming off a mostly wasted rookie season in which he was forced to sit on injured reserve, there had been talk of Stanton never getting the proper opportunity to make any move with the Lions. No more. We hear team officials are excited about the way Stanton has improved, and his good mobility appears to be a nice match for an offense that is using more quick throws, rollouts and bootlegs.

Aug. 13, 2008   

Run game has work to do, but Lions' plan for balance is undeterred

Head coach Rod Marinelli’s postgame assessment of the Lions’ rushing effort in the exhibition opener spoke volumes. When asked what was the problem, Marinelli responded, “Didn’t get enough yards.” That was true. But it has been clear to observers of camp that the newfound emphasis on running the football is a commitment, not just an attempt. Offensive coordinator Jim Colletto reminded his players that running the football is not easy but that the team would not back down from doing it this season, even if the early returns are not pretty. Up front, the Lions are trying to establish more of a defensive mentality on the line, attacking as opposed to letting blocks come to them. It has been a slow process. And although it has held back the production of the running backs thus far, the team has made an interesting statement — despite Marinelli imploring the media not to read too much into it — by having rookie Kevin Smith lining up with the first team and veteran Tatum Bell with the second. Marinelli rarely puts rookies atop the depth chart this early, but sources in Detroit say the team believes it has something special in Smith and that it’s only a matter of time before he works well in this system.

Aug. 2, 2008   

Offensive line undergoes changes in Detroit

Much of the offensive changes the team has undergone this season start with the offensive line. The Lions have installed a zone blocking scheme, and the reports thus far have been positive. The passing game appears to have more quick-rhythm throws and three-step drops, and the running game is expected to be featured far more this season. But there are still some personnel issues to figure out. George Foster is lining up with the first team at right tackle so far, but first-round rookie OT Gosder Cherilus has looked solid so far. He actually has played both OT spots in practice, as has Jonathan Scott. One of the reasons is that the Lions are trying to develop some depth and versatility up front. Last season, the team dressed only seven O-linemen on game days, which meant that players such as ex-Lion Blaine Saipaia were forced into action at right tackle, having to play out of position, which became a symbol of the team’s season-long struggles there.

July

July 26, 2008   

Lions have lots of questions at linebacker

Ernie Sims is one of the Lions’ few sure things. Otherwise, linebacker represents a position that could look a lot different at the end of the preseason than it does right now. With LB Jordon Dizon missing the first few practices of training camp while waiting to sign a contract and the team looking at free agent Takeo Spikes possibly to add to the mix, there are some faces who could be added to the starting lineup. As it stands now, Sims starts on the weak side, Paris Lenon is in the middle and possibly Alex Lewis on the strong side. But Dizon’s arrival and emergence could mean Lenon — or Spikes, if he’s offered a contract — may end up occupying the “Sam” position. Lewis is considered more of a special-teamer than a two-down linebacker. The “Sam” ’backer typically comes off the field in the Lions’ nickel defense, so finding a more sturdy, run-stopping player would appear to be the coaches’ biggest aim.

July 16, 2008   

Tight end expected to be more important position for Lions

The new design of the Lions’ offense should have the TE position contributing more than it did last season, when it was an afterthought in the passing game (a league-low 19 receptions by true tight ends) and little-used in run blocking because the Lions chose to throw so often. The return of Dan Campbell should be a big boost. He’s a first-class run blocker, and though he’s coming off elbow surgery, he’s expected to be ready to go at the start of camp. Free-agent addition Michael Gaines arrives with a reputation as a good blocker, but he has spoken often about his ability to catch the ball and should get a chance to do so in a scheme that will involve more passing routes than former coordinator Mike Martz chose to utilize. Casey FitzSimmons and Sean McHugh are more H-back types (they played fullback in Martz’s offense but are considered tight ends now), and neither is an outstanding blocker, but they can catch the ball. Also in the mix is John Owens, but the team is not likely to keep more than four at this position.

July 12, 2008   

Lions do homework on Raiders’ Jordan

The Raiders gladly allowed their persona non grata running back, LaMont Jordan, who was told earlier this offseason by head coach Lane Kiffin he no longer fits into the team’s plans, to visit the Lions, a possible trade partner. The potential move makes some sense for Detroit, which lacks a bigger back to complement outside runner Tatum Bell and rookie Kevin Smith, who might do his best work off tackle, we are told. But there are some obstacles to a trade. First, knowing he’s not in Oakland’s future, the Lions likely aren’t willing to part with anything more than a seventh-round draft choice, and with little competition for Jordan's services, they could sit tight and wait until the Raiders inevitably release him. Either way, it would be a low-risk move, assuming the Lions can pare down the unwieldy $4.7 million base salary that Jordan is due to make. If he’s released, the Lions could sign him to a new contract. We hear the Lions are in no rush to make a move and merely are looking out for all their RB possibilities should Bell, Smith or any of the other backs disappoint. But we also hear that Jordan would sit above free-agent RB Najeh Davenport, another big back who thinks the Lions might be a good landing spot.

July 4, 2008   

Lions, Davenport might make good match

The Lions have not said they are in the market to add a running back, but they might be interested in adding one more veteran at the position before or during training camp. Most recently, free-agent RB Najeh Davenport, late of the Steelers, reportedly has said he favors the Lions and Cardinals as possible landing spots. The Lions’ potential interest is not for a lack of bodies there — the team is, in theory, stocked with Tatum Bell, rookie Kevin Smith, Brian Calhoun, Aveion Cason and Artose Pinner. The problem is that none of those players, other than Bell, has proven himself as a starting running back for a full season, and Bell was mostly an afterthought during a disastrous first season in Detroit. Smith holds promise but never has taken an NFL snap and might have to overcome some maturity issues to become a dependable full-time back. Davenport may not have the résumé of a starting back, but he has shown flashes of ability and would add size to a smaller group of backs. He also has kick-return experience, something the Lions need to shore up.

June

June 27, 2008   

Lions concerned about their rookies’ behavior

It was reported Thursday that ORT Gosder Cherilus must pay a fine of $52,000 and serve a year of probation stemming from a 2007 incident with former Boston College teammate DeJuan Tribble, in which the two players were charged with assault and battery during a bar brawl. Although the Lions were aware of the situation and are not concerned with the outcome, they have to be worried about the behavior of their rookie class to date. It turns out that second-round LB Jordon Dizon was arrested six days before the NFL draft on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, a charge that only recently was reported. And even though RB Kevin Smith, the team’s third-rounder, has not been involved in any shenanigans, to our knowledge, he told PFW that head coach Rod Marinelli had stressed to him numerous times following the draft and during rookie minicamps that he must stay out of trouble. Some teams red-flagged Smith as having a character question during the draft-evaluation process after Smith reportedly missed or chose to skip one team’s scheduled private workout with him. Expect Marinelli’s message for his rookies — to stay out of trouble — to be echoed throughout training camp.

June 6, 2008   

Marinelli thinks Lions have speed to burn

Head coach Rod Marinelli spent a good part of a media session this week talking about his team’s improved speed and how that might affect the results on the field. He thinks his team not only can play fast but also think quickly, which is imperative to be the kind of club that can make major improvements after losing seven of eight games down the stretch. The area where the improvement is most evident is probably in the secondary. CB Brian Kelly is not a burner at 32, but his instincts allow him to play faster. S Dwight Smith is another player whose mind probably works faster than his legs at this stage of his career, but the idea is that veteran players who play fast are probably just as important as young players who can run but haven’t yet caught up to the speed of the NFL game.

May

May 28, 2008   

Many feel Johnson is on verge of big season

Calvin Johnson

WR Calvin Johnson was shy with the media as a rookie, but he also was a bit overwhelmed by a voluminous playbook and hindered by an early back injury that never really went away. And Johnson admitted recently that he was unprepared to deal with the sheer length of the NFL season, which grinds away with little offseason in the summer all the way through January. But many feel that the second-year receiver is in a good position to break out after what Johnson termed as a “just OK” rookie season in which he caught 48 passes, averaged 15.8 yards and caught four TD passes. They say his demeanor in practice is more professional and focused, there appear to be no ill effects from the back injury and that he will be featured prominently in the new design of the offense. In Mike Martz’s system, Johnson and Roy Williams often were double-teamed or bracketed by safeties, forcing QB Jon Kitna to throw underneath to slot WRs Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey. However, the strong emphasis on the run game in the new scheme should open things up outside, assuming opponents respect the run game with a safety playing down in the box sometimes.

May 23, 2008   

Smith says Lions are perfect fit for his skills

Kevin Smith

Despite the team's recent struggles, there's no hiding the excitement felt by Lions rookie RB Kevin Smith about the prospect of playing in the Motor City: “Detroit was my favorite going into the draft. I thought they were going to get me a little earlier, so it made me panic. But they never left. They came and got me (with the 64th pick, at the top of Round Three). I am happy where I landed.” Smith joins an offensive backfield that likely will feature him and Tatum Bell, but team sources feel that Smith is a perfect fit for an offense he knows very well. “Basically, the Lions’ offense is just like the offense that I ran (at Central Florida),” Smith told PFW. “My offensive coordinator in college (Tim Salem) and Coach Colletto (Lions O-coordinator Jim Colletto) worked together at Purdue. The terminology is almost exactly the same, and the (zone) blocking scheme is exactly the same — outside zone, inside zone scheme. Maybe 85 percent of the playbook is the same.” In an offense that Colletto pledges will be far more balanced, Smith could earn quite a few carries; at UCF, he was a workhorse, carrying the ball 450 times in 14 games (32.1 carries per game), and Bell historically has seen his effectiveness be at its highest when his touches are capped at around 10-12 per game. Said Smith: “If I have to carry it 46 times against UTEP, I will. If I have to carry it 20 times against Memphis to get the win, that’s what I have to do. So whatever my job is that game, I’ll do it.”

May 16, 2008   

Kitna believes new freedom could allow him to have better grasp on offense

QB Jon Kitna didn’t join the ranks of Lions players who got in line to bash former offensive coordinator Mike Martz, but team sources say Kitna appears more content with the idea of having a more balanced and two-dimensional offense. However, it’s another important deviation from the old scheme that the quarterback likes most. It appears that coordinator Jim Colletto will allow Kitna more freedom at the line of scrimmage to make calls and reads, change plays or alter routes or blocking schemes depending on what the defense offered. Martz believed his offense was tailored toward always having a safety valve no matter what the defense was running, and thus he afforded Kitna very little leeway at the line to make changes. Word is, Kitna believes this new flexibility will allow him to communicate better with his receivers, backs and offensive linemen and come up with a better play option in any given situation.

May 9, 2008   

Smith making big first impression on Lions

So far, Lions coaches are tickled with rookie RB Kevin Smith, who not only could start as a rookie from Day One but could be the first-year player who makes the biggest immediate impact. Yes, first-round OT Gosder Cherilus figures to get every chance to start at right tackle, and second-round LB Jordon Dizon will get the same crack to earn the starting “Mike” LB spot. But Smith appears a great fit in the Lions’ new zone-blocking scheme, and with a serious need at the position — only Tatum Bell figures to challenge Smith for a starting role — there are many who feel he could put up very strong numbers as a rookie. New coordinator Jim Colletto figures to run the ball more as he has said he wants better balance in an offense that was way too slanted toward the pass under former coordinator Mike Martz. The biggest adjustments for Smith likely will be third-down duty; whether or not he can learn to catch the ball and pass-protect likely will determine whether the coaches will give him full-time duty or have him split time with Bell or others.

April

April 25, 2008   

Several reasons why Lions are unlikely to trade Williams

Roy Williams

It might have earned them a draft pick or two, and perhaps some good ones, but the Lions say they have decided to hang on to WR Roy Williams. The potential trading chip also happens to be a good and established football player, which the Lions currently have too few of. They are young at several spots, painfully thin at others, and head coach Rod Marinelli knows he needs as much offensive punch — especially in the passing game — with a defense that remains a work in progress. And there might be another, more subtle reason. Though Calvin Johnson should improve in his second year, we hear there is very quiet concern about the Lions thinking he is not quite ready to take the reins as a go-to receiver. That said, they expect bigger things to come out of their second-year wideout.

April 11, 2008   

Is Martz’s criticism of Lions' O-line fair?

After saying he wanted to close the door on his Detroit days, 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz continues to talk about how bad his old employer was. Martz told 49ers.com, initially speaking about his new team’s QB situation: “In Detroit we were not a good football team. We were last in the NFL on defense, and when you have to throw the football to win, that’s not a good thing. We weren’t good enough on the offensive line to protect (the quarterback) and throw the ball like we did.” The specific criticism of the line is the most pointed attack in the entire quotation, but it must be noted that Martz’s overreliance on throwing the ball and his insistence on five-man pass protections left the line quite vulnerable. That said, the team’s right tackles were less than adequate last season, and team sources indicate that tackle is a position that almost assuredly will be addressed in one of the team’s first few draft picks.

April 4, 2008   

Marinelli allowed to put more of his stamp on Lions

There is a certain line of thinking, leaguewide, that an NFL coach has three years to prove himself, and even that idea might need revisiting with some recent head coaches lasting shorter than that. But it appears that Rod Marinelli has been given a major sign of endorsement from both vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. and GM Matt Millen — a man who knows a thing or two about living on the edge in this league — from this week’s owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. Both men enunciated their support for the head coach, despite his record of 10-22 since taking over, and spoke of how much more of an influence Marinelli has and has had recently over the shaping of the roster. That sentiment appears to fall in line with the Shaun Rogers deal, which sent the underachieving defensive lineman packing in a trade to Cleveland. Rogers was a Millen pick, and those two were said to have a good working relationship. But even Millen had to agree with Marinelli’s assessment that Rogers never was going to meet his expectations with Lions. So, with the head coach’s stamp on the matter, he was traded. Now only 13 players remain on the roster Marinelli inherited when he became coach in 2006. Expect his influence to carry a big effect on what the Lions do in the draft in a few weeks.

March

March 26, 2008   

Lions’ Williams not planning on going anywhere

The rumors had been mostly shut down, but for those who still wondered if the Lions and GM Matt Millen perhaps were willing to deal from a position of strength and maybe trade WR Roy Williams, the player’s comments on Tuesday appear to quash that notion fairly thoroughly. He told local media that he planned to remain a Lion, wanted to continue playing with the team and that head coach Rod Marinelli called him earlier this offseason when the trade talk started heating up and told Williams that he was going to have his best season to date — in Detroit. It makes sense. As much as the Lions could afford to deal Williams and help out one of their other areas of need, they are not in the necessary cap shape or have so much of a wealth of talent that they could let one of their best players go — likely in exchange for draft picks. The team has four picks in the first three rounds of the draft already, having picked up an extra third-rounder from the Browns in the Shaun Rogers deal, and likely is too cap-tight to add many more picks that require large signing bonuses.

March 21, 2008   

Lions’ tight ends could be critical to success

The talk of the offseason has centered around the departure of Mike Martz and the expected transition to more of a run-based attack. With the departure of T.J. Duckett and the release of Kevin Jones, the RB position is very much up in the air with only Tatum Bell, Aveion Cason and Brian Calhoun manning the spot as of now. The offensive line, which will be critical to the running success, also stands some changes, mostly at right tackle. But don’t overlook the role of the tight ends. Dan Campbell, one of the league’s best blockers at the position, was hurt last training camp, and it damaged the run blocking. He re-enters the picture this season and projects to man the position along with Michael Gaines, a free-agent pickup from Buffalo who also has a reputation as a good run blocker. We hear it won't be a surprise if tight end — a position Martz rarely highlighted in either the pass or run game — becomes a crucial spot in 2008.

March 14, 2008   

Lions may be turning major focus to right tackle

Two moves the Lions made on Wednesday appear to indicate how the offseason plan is going. The team re-signed CB Travis Fisher and let reserve OL Blaine Saipaia go. Fisher stands to battle for the nickel CB job with Keith Smith following the additions of Leigh Bodden by trade and Brian Kelly through free agency. Though many suggest the Lions will seek a cornerback with their first-round pick (15th overall), team sources indicated that the offensive line is the bigger, more immediate area of concern. Saipaia had only provided depth, but with Damien Woody gone and Jonathan Scott still rehabbing, now only the recently re-signed George Foster — who lost the starting job last season — can be counted on to start at right tackle. The draft appears to be strong at tackle, with six possible first-round picks, but the talent level drops off after that. The Lions haven’t drafted an offensive lineman in the first three rounds of the draft since 2001, when they selected OT Jeff Backus and C Dominic Raiola with their first two picks.

March 7, 2008   

Running back becomes big concern for Lions

Updated 9 a.m. ET, Saturday, March 8

The Lions didn’t put up a major fight to keep T.J. Duckett and might watch Tatum Bell go to another team, making running back an area of concern this offseason — especially with a commitment to a more run-based attack under new coordinator Jim Colletto. Kevin Jones and Brian Calhoun, the two backs currently on the roster, are coming off injuries and could be PUP list candidates. Will the Lions sign a free agent or will they take care of the position through the draft? The answer might be both. Ideally, the team would convince Bell to return — even though he rode the pine the final 11 games last season — and sign a veteran back. The team visited with Julius Jones, but he decided to sign with Seattle. If those two plans fall through, the team could add a lower-level free agent and go for a running back — this is considered a fairly deep draft class — in the middle rounds. There likely are too many other needs to consider using a high pick on a runner.

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

Don’t lock Rogers in with trade to Broncos — yet

Although the Broncos are among the DT-needy teams that have contacted the Lions about a trade for Shaun Rogers, don’t expect a deal to happen in the next couple of days as many media outlets are reporting. We hear the Lions suddenly have found themselves in the catbird seat, discovering a healthy market for their defensive tackle. Although they are almost certain to part with him — we hear the team thinks he’ll never reach his full potential in Detroit — they’ll be content to sit back and let teams up the ante. The Lions will shoot for getting a second-round pick in return but may accept a high third-rounder, something in the first 75 picks, for Rogers, we hear. The irony of the situation is that team president Matt Millen probably would prefer to keep Rogers — Millen drafted him, and the two get along — but the relationship between Rogers and head coach Rod Marinelli is so broken down that it’s clear that Rogers has played his final snap as a Lion. There is a bit of urgency to do a deal by this weekend, considering that Rogers is due a $1 million roster bonus on Saturday, but it’s possible that the team may pay the bonus if the right deal isn’t available to them yet and then wait for a better offer.

Feb. 20, 2008   

Lions remain interested in Wilson, but other priorities exist

We’re told that the Lions haven’t ruled out signing former Broncos MLB Al Wilson, who made his first free-agent stop in Detroit, but he isn’t high on the team’s priority list. Expect Wilson to make other visits after the NFL Scouting Combine concludes next week, and then the Lions might re-evaluate their interest. At this point, though, despite the positive words from head coach Rod Marinelli — he said the team had “high interest” in Wilson — and the team’s need for improvement at linebacker, especially in the middle, don’t expect a match any day now. We also hear that the team might have had a little concern about Wilson’s physical, the results of which it did not release.

Feb. 13, 2008   

Lions look to fill middle of defense; Wilson visits

Of the several needs the Lions have on defense, middle linebacker wouldn’t appear on the surface to be a major one. But the team views Paris Lenon, as acceptably as he played last season, as more of a placeholder at the “Mike” spot than anything else. He might be a better fit in this system on the strong side, where Boss Bailey isn’t likely to return. And backup and former starter Teddy Lehman perhaps fits best on the bench. That’s why the team is getting a jump on filling this need, having met with unemployed LB Al Wilson on Tuesday, even if he needs to pass a very thorough physical for the Lions to make a move in his direction. Wilson would give the defense toughness, and he would pair nicely with WLB Ernie Sims, the only consistent playmaker on that level of the defense last season. The unit also was sorely short of leadership, an area in which Wilson specializes.

Feb. 1, 2008   

On offense, Lions plan to 'keep it simple, stupid'

All the rhetoric from new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto seems to suggest a vast departure from the four- and five-wide, minimum-protection days of former playcaller Mike Martz. Team sources have honed in on several things Colletto has said recently to the media — such as “it’s not rocket science” and “you don’t have to be a genius to figure these things out” — when it comes to how he plans to run a balanced attack. It also includes other simplicities, such as a pared-down playbook, less motion and shifting before the snap and simpler terminology. Colletto hinted that the team would like to develop some signature go-to plays a season after the team really didn’t have any to hang its hat on. One expected beneficiary of this new offense, besides the running backs, is WR Calvin Johnson, who was said at times to have had trouble picking up the nuances of Martz’s voluminous offense.