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Thread: Detroit Sports Thread

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    It's prime time for Lions; season ends with bang

    April 14, 2005


    BY CURT SYLVESTER
    FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER



    The Lions will open the season with traditional rivals Green Bay and Chicago, but the real fireworks in their 2005 NFL season might be exploding in the final six weeks.


    Beginning Thanksgiving Day against Atlanta, the Lions will meet six teams with a combined 60-36 record in 2004; all had records of 8-8 or better; and three of the final four games are on the road.


    The wild ride to the finish includes:



    The Falcons, defending NFC South champions, in the traditional holiday game at Ford Field on Nov. 24.


    The Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Dec. 4.


    The Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Dec. 11, in the Lions' first ESPN prime time appearance since the 2000 season.


    The Cincinnati Bengals in the final regular season game at Ford Field on Dec. 18.


    The New Orleans Saints in a Christmas Eve road game.


    The Pittsburgh Steelers, defending AFC North champions, in the regular-season finale at Heinz Field on New Year's Day.

    With that kind of finishing schedule, it is probably in the Lions' best interest to get off to a fast start, and that's what coach Steve Mariucci had on his mind after getting his first look at the NFL schedule announced Wednesday.


    "We always emphasize the importance of our division," Mariucci said in a statement released by the team. "What better way to start the season than with two divisional opponents who also happen to be arguably our two greatest rivals?"


    The Lions open the season at home Sept. 11 against the Packers, followed by a road game against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 18 and a bye in the third week.


    Six of the next eight games are against teams coming off losing seasons -- Tampa Bay, Carolina, Cleveland, the Bears, Arizona and Dallas. Baltimore (9-7) and the Vikings (8-8) also are included in that eight-game span.


    The Lions' elevated expectations for the 2005 season are reflected in their three games scheduled for national television -- a Monday night exhibition game against St. Louis on Aug. 29, the Thanksgiving Day game against Atlanta and the Sunday night game at Green Bay on Dec. 11.


    It will be the most nationally televised games the Lions have had since the 2000 season, when they had four.


    The Lions also have two Sunday afternoon late games -- the 4:15 p.m. opener against Green Bay and the 4:05 p.m. final home game against Cincinnati -- that are shown to a larger nationwide audience than the 1 o'clock games.


    NOTEBOOK: The Lions have agreed to contract terms with two restricted free agents -- tackle Kyle Kosier of San Francisco and linebacker Brad Kassell of Tennessee. Their teams can match the Lions' offers by next week or let the players go in exchange for compensation. ... Alex Smith, the tight end from Stanford, was among the draft prospects who visited Wednesday. Other players who spent at least part of the day at the team's Allen Park headquarters were Adam (Pac Man) Jones of West Virginia and defensive end/linebacker Johnathan Goddard from Marshall.
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    Lions re-sign CB Goodman to one-year contract

    April 15, 2005


    ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -- The Detroit Lions re-signed cornerback Andre Goodman to a one-year contract on Friday.

    Detroit drafted Goodman in the third round three years ago. He started the last four games of the 2004 season and finished the year with 23 tackles, one interception, three passes defended and a forced fumble.

    Goodman was a starting cornerback at the start of the 2003 season, but he had a season-ending shoulder injury in the third game. He has made two interceptions in his career and 85 tackles.

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    Lionsfans.com mock draft

    Mike Fowler - Scout.com

    April 17, 2005 at 11:36am ET


    A mock draft is nothing more than your basic crap shoot. You have about 0% chance of being right and 1000% chance of being wrong, but isn't that the fun of putting a mock together? Lionsfans.com's Mike Fowler weighs in with his version of how the 2005 NFL draft will fall and it's a doozy. (Above) Utah quarterback Alex Smith asks "Excuse me?" perhaps in disbelief at Mike Fowler's mock draft for Lionsfans.com

    A mock draft is nothing more than your basic crap shoot. You have about 0% chance of being right and 1000% chance of being wrong, but isn't that the fun of putting a mock together?

    The trade rumors involving the Miami Dolphins possibly acquiring Travis Henry of Buffalo would seriously damage my mock draft because that would mean that Miami would no longer be looking for a running back while Arizona would be in serious need of a franchise ball carrier.


    Also with Edgerrin James and Shawn Alexander both being shopped for as little as a second run pick, those holes could be filled without using a costly #1. So here goes with our 2005 mock draft (the double asterisks indicate a high probability of a trade at this position.)

    1. San Francisco 49ers (2-14)
    Braylon Edwards | WR | Michigan .
    San Francisco has a servicable quarterback in Tim Rattay . If they use the first overall pick on Aaron Rodgers , they won't get any value from it for two seasons. Edwards is the kind of pure playmaking receiver that the 49ers have had since Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens left the Bay.

    2. Miami Dolphins (4-12) ***
    Ronnie Brown | RB | Auburn
    This pick immediately changes if the Dolphins obtain the rights to Travis Henry for their second round pick, but why take Henry when James is available for likely the same price?

    3. Cleveland Browns (4-12) **
    Travis Johnson | DT | Florida State
    The Bill Billichick system begins getting installed in Cleveland as new coach Romeo Crennel gets his franchise run stopper.

    4. Chicago Bears (5-11)
    Mike Williams | WR | USC
    The Bears were hoping to pair Braylon Edwards with free agent acquisition Mushin Muhammad but with Edwards off the board, they get a solid chain mover in Williams who complements Muhammad in the star role.

    5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Cadillac Williams | RB | Auburn
    Jon Gruden gets the pass catching, slashing back he favors as he makes over a team two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance. Williams immediately becomes the feature back in the Chris Simms era.

    6. Tennessee Titans
    Antrel Rolle | CB | Florida State
    With the Titans losing both their starting corners, Rolle is too good to pass up. Watch him show why he's the best corner in the draft by making a pro bowl appearance as a rookie.

    7. Minnesota Vikings
    Troy Williamson | WR | South Carolina
    Look for the Vikings to find a big play man to take the play of departed Randy Moss . Williamson's rep as a deep ball threat fills the bill here.

    8. Arizona Cardinals
    Aaron Rodgers | QB | California
    Rodgers may be the best QB in the draft, but he isn't as good as past QB prospects. Still, Dennis Green is always looking for the next great arm and decides that with the running backs off the board, he'll go for the QB.

    9. Washington Redskins
    Adam Jones | CB | West Virginia
    Redskins are still feeling the pinch from trading away Champ Bailey and need a shut down corner. Jones has the reputation but somehow I get the feeling he's going to be the draft's big disappointement.

    10. Detroit Lions **
    Alex Smith | QB | Utah
    Look for the Lions to trade out of this spot. They would like to get a defensive player, but not this high. They also want extra picks to build up the depth on the team. If they stay here and Smith is on the board, Detroit will grab him and say adios to Joey Harrington . Harrington will count almost $9 million against Detroit's cap if he's on the roster on July 1. With his lack of productivity and veteran Jeff Garcia ready to hold down the starting job for the next two to three years, Detroit can bring Smith along slowly to be the quarterback of the future that Harrington never developed into.

    11. Dallas Cowboys **
    Derrick Johnson | LB | Texas

    12. San Diego Chargers **
    Marcus Spears | DE | LSU

    13. Houston Texans
    Cedric Benson | RB | Texas

    14. Carolina Panthers
    Heath Miller | TE | Virginia

    15. Kansas City Chiefs
    Alex Barron | T | Florida State

    16. New Orleans Saints
    Thomas Davis | S | Georgia

    17. Cincinnati Bengals
    Erasmus James | DE | Wisconsin

    18. Minnesota Vikings
    DeMarcus Ware | DE | Troy State

    19. St. Louis Rams
    Khalif Barnes | T | California

    20. Dallas Cowboys
    Carlos Rogers | CB | Auburn

    21. Jacksonville Jaguars
    Mark Clayton | WR | Oklahoma

    22. Baltimore Ravens
    Shawne Merriman | DE | Maryland

    23. Seattle Seahawks
    Alex Smith | TE | Utah

    24. Green Bay Packers
    Adrian McPherson | QB | Florida St.

    25. Denver Broncos
    Travis Johnson | DT | Florida St.

    26. New York Jets
    Justin Tuck | DE | Notre Dame

    27. Atlanta Falcons
    Roddy White | WR | UAB

    28. San Diego Chargers
    Dan Cody | DE | Oklahoma

    29. Indianapolis Colts
    Darryl Blackstock | LB | Virginia

    30. Pittsburgh Steelers
    David Pollack | DE | Georgia

    31. Philadelphia Eagles
    Terrence Murphy | WR | Texas A&M

    32. New England Patriots
    Matt Roth | DE | Iowa -------SECOND ROUND------
    1. San Francisco 49ers
    Marion Barber III | RB | Minnesota

    2. Cleveland Browns
    Shaun Cody | DT | USC

    3. Philadelphia Eagles
    Kevin Burnett | LB | Tennessee

    4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Brodney Pool | S | Oklahoma

    5. Tennessee Titans
    Jamaal Brown | T | Oklahoma

    6. Oakland Raiders
    Fabian Washington | CB | Nebraska

    7. Chicago Bears
    Josh Bullocks | S | Nebraska

    8. New Orleans Saints (from Washington )
    Mike Patterson | DT | Arkansas

    9. Detroit Lions
    Adam Terry | T | Syracuse The Lions need a replacement for veteran Stockar McDougle and Millen strikes gold simply by staying put and taking the best tackle after the big three of Barnes, Barron and Brown are gone. Terry has big-league size and good skills and best of all, a second round price tag.

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    Lions | Aiming for Defensive Help in First-round? - from www.KFFL.com
    Wed, 20 Apr 2005 12:12:50 -0700

    ESPN.com's John Clayton reports the Detroit Lions can now address the defensive side of the football after acquiring WR Kevin Johnson. There had been speculation the Lions would use their third straight first-round pick on a wide receiver during the upcoming NFL Draft.


    Lions | WR K. Johnson Agrees to One-year Deal - from www.KFFL.com
    Wed, 20 Apr 2005 12:12:31 -0700

    ESPN.com's John Clayton reports the Detroit Lions have reached a one-year agreement with free agent WR Kevin Johnson (Ravens). Financial terms were not disclosed.


    Lions | Gain Kosier, Lose Seventh-round Pick - from www.KFFL.com
    Wed, 20 Apr 2005 06:20:43 -0700

    Associated Press reports the Detroit Lions have signed free agent OL Kyle Kosier, as the San Francisco 49ers declined to match the offer sheet Detroit gave him. The one-year deal has been previously reported worth around $1 million and the Lions will now need to give the 49ers their seventh-round draft choice as compensation.

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    Why wait? New WR Johnson fills need now

    April 21, 2005






    BY CURT SYLVESTER
    FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER



    With a little luck, Matt Millen figures the Lions will have no holes left to fill when they get to the NFL draft Saturday.


    The No. 3 receiver position is no longer vacant.


    The Lions reached agreement Wednesday on a one-year deal with six-year veteran Kevin Johnson, an unrestricted free agent who caught 35 passes for 373 yards and a touchdown with Baltimore last season.


    And they seemingly are closing in on a veteran to compete with Victor Rogers and Kelly Butler at right tackle, a position vacated when Stockar McDougle left for Miami.


    The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the 49ers will not match the Lions' offer to restricted free-agent tackle Kyle Kosier, but Millen was still waiting for notification from the 49ers late Wednesday. The Lions did announce the re-signing of Rogers, also a restricted free agent.


    It appears less likely the Lions will succeed in their bid for restricted free-agent linebacker Brad Kassell of Tennessee, but two out of three in the week leading up to the draft isn't bad, especially if the two are players who fill clearly defined holes.


    "If you look at our team right now, I don't think we have one glaring need," Millen said.


    That means when Millen and coach Steve Mariucci get into the draft, they won't have to feel guilty about taking a player simply because they like him instead of looking for a lesser player who might fill a specific need.


    The goal now -- after a concerted effort the past four years to get younger and faster -- is to acquire difference-makers.


    And drafting 10th in the first round, Millen expects to find a number of players of that caliber available, including Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson, whom many draft observers are projecting as the Lions' top pick.


    Should the Lions draft Johnson, he would join a solid set of linebackers, including four drafted in the past two years -- Boss Bailey and James Davis in 2003, Teddy Lehman and Alex Lewis last year. The Lions also have veterans Earl Holmes, Wali Rainer and Donté Curry.


    "I'm looking to get as many playmakers as I can get," Millen said. "I think Derrick Johnson is a playmaker. I think Boss has that in him. I think we have one at the corner; No. 32 is a playmaker."


    The Lions' No. 32 is Dré Bly.


    If the Titans experience a change of heart and let Kassell escape to the Lions, it could be a real logjam of linebackers.


    "Would it crowd it?" Millen asked. "Yeah, but so what? I'd like to have that problem for a change."


    Although the Lions have won only 16 games total in the past four years, Millen has put together a team facing much higher expectations. The Lions might have a chance to compete for the NFC North title.


    Assuming the veterans stay healthy, the rookies won't be thrown into the battle prematurely.


    "The persons we take don't have to come in and be frontline guys right away," Millen said. "That's a good position to be in, for us."


    The addition of Kevin Johnson gives the Lions the veteran presence they wanted as a No. 3 receiver in Mariucci's West Coast offense. Johnson started 71 of 73 games in his first 4 1/2 seasons at Cleveland before being released midway through the 2003 season.


    Johnson, 28, finished 2003 at Jacksonville and was traded to Baltimore.


    "Kevin Johnson has had success in this league," Millen said. "I think our two outside guys" -- Charles Rogers and Roy Williams -- "if they're going to do what I think they're going to do, it will be good for the inside people."


    Johnson is expected to line up most of the time at an inside slot position, where he can benefit from the attention defenses must pay to Rogers and Williams outside.


    "I like his hands, he's a good route runner, he's a hardworking kid, he's a smart guy," Millen said.


    Kosier, 27, started all 16 games last season at San Francisco and has experience at guard and tackle. He is expected to compete for the right tackle job, and if he doesn't win it can provide depth.


    http://www.freep.com/sports/lions/lions21e_20050421.htm

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    Lions take Mike Williams with 10th pick in draft

    April 23, 2005


    ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -- The Detroit Lions played out plenty of draft possibilities, and never really considered Southern California receiver Mike Williams among them.

    Yet when it was the Lions' turn to make their selection in the first round of the NFL draft on Saturday, they followed a familiar pattern by picking Williams 10th overall, the third straight year Detroit chose a receiver.

    ``We ran a lot of scenarios and in all of those scenarios, we didn't believe that Mike Williams would be sitting there,'' Lions CEO Matt Millen said. ``There are a lot of ways to help an offense and a defense. Scoring points is one of them. Mike Williams does that very well.''

    Williams caught 176 passes for 2,579 yards and 30 touchdowns in two years at USC, but hasn't played in more than a year.

    He was forced to sit out last season after the original court decision in Maurice Clarett's case against the NFL was overturned and the league was allowed to keep players from entering the draft until they were three years removed from high school.

    Then, Williams was not allowed to return to school because the NCAA wouldn't restore his eligibility.

    In 2003, Detroit picked Charles Rogers, and last year they selected Roy Williams. Rogers' seasons have been cut short by injuries.

    Mike Williams, who will wear No. 88 next season, said he is not looking to replace anyone, just fit in where he can.

    ``I'm just excited to be a part of that receiving group,'' he said. ``They have some big guys that can stretch the field and do their thing. I'm just excited to go up there and identify what I can bring to this offense.''

    Coach Steve Mariucci said the door is wide open on where Williams will line up -- inside or out.

    ``The thing about him is that he can do both,'' Mariucci said. ``He loves playing inside because he's big and physical, and he doesn't mind releasing off linebackers and working in holes and taking a hit. But he's good enough to play outside as well.''

    The 6-foot-5 receiver didn't know where he would end up after Tennessee and Washington took cornerbacks Adam ``Pacman'' Jones of West Virginia and Auburn's Carlos Rogers, respectively. He said no promises were made.

    ``Being a top-10 pick after not playing for a year is a blessing. That's something that no one thought would happen,'' Williams said. ``I could care less about what teams didn't draft me. What's important is the team that did draft me.''

    The Lions liked their options heading into the draft. They have needs, but they are not so desperate that they had to take a player because of the position he plays rather than his talent. They had the luxury of trading up or down, or sticking with the 10th pick.

    ``We made the appropriate calls and we had stuff set up before, and then we actually waited a little bit and nothing happened,'' Millen said.

    The Lions aren't forgetting about the defensive side of the ball, and will likely address those needs in the later rounds of the draft.

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    Excellent draft so far: A for a grade
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    Lions trade up, take DT Shaun Cody with 37th pick

    April 23, 2005
    NEW YORK (Ticker) - The Detroit Lions traded up four spots with the Tennessee Titans and selected Southern California defensive tackle Shaun Cody with the 37th pick in the NFL draft.

    The Titans moved down four spots and also received a fourth-round pick in the deal.

    A cornerstone on the Trojans' back-to-back championship teams, Cody was a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy and co-winner of the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year award last season. He recorded 45 tackles, including 13 for losses, and 10 sacks with two forced fumbles last season.

    Detroit selected USC wide receiver Mike Williams with the 10th overall pick.

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    Here's an article on the Mike Williams pick with the grade at the bottom...

    What in the heck is this team doing? Unless this team has a deal worked out for Williams with another team, why would they draft him? This is a luxury. Not a need. They have Charles Rogers. They have Roy Williams. Both were high first-round picks. And although there is some injury concerns with those two, no team can afford three high first-round picks at one position. This is a terrible move, no matter what kind of player Williams can be. D
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    Here's another...

    CZAR'S FRONT OFFICE TAKE: The only thing Williams may hate is that he could line up as a tight end. The Lions were pegged to take LB Derrick Johnson, but GM Matt Millen loved Williams' competitive attitude and his ability to strong-arm defensive backs. Doesn't have big-time speed, but catches in traffic and has super hands. There will be no excuses for QB Joey Harrington with his receiving lineup: Roy Williams and Charles Rogers. This off-season Rogers had a plate inserted over his collarbone, so there will never be a repeat of that injury. Pretty scary receiving lineup.
    DELUCIA'S SCOUTING TAKE: An excellent pick in taking the best player on the board, although they needed a pass rusher or another athlete at LB. Credit Matt Millen for being bold and smart due to the durability questions with Charles Rogers and Roy Williams. Mike Williams has the size and physical skills to create a lot of matchup problems. The Lions' passing game will be dangerous with a core built around young stars Mike Williams, Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, Kevin Jones, and veteran Marcus Pollard. If these guys stay healthy, they will be fighting for the ball. Joey Harrington is on the hot seat to produce quickly.

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    and another...

    Mike Williams WR
    Southern Cal | 6-4.5 | 230
    If Joey Harrington can't find someone to throw to at this point, we're going to have to start to look at him. Williams is not only a good wide receiver, he's great. Tall, strong, great hands. Maybe the Lions didn't need him -- remember, they have Roy Williams and Charles Rogers, two first-round picks, already -- but you better believe they'll use him. The Lions went for best available talent and, in doing so, look to be one exciting offensive team on the rise. If Harrington comes through, that is.

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    Critics ain't liking it, but the fans seem to really like it.

    The crowd at Ford Field watching seemed to be excited.

    I like it, no question.

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    You know Detroit's phones will be ringing about potential trades...

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    Critics change their minds about as much as they change their underwear.

    If Williams is a pro-bowl player in two years, they'll all say they raved about this pick.

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    I don't think it's a question of IF...he will be if he gets the touches...

    there is potential trouble here though...starting with touches...and the QB situation...which I know you all feel good about...but deep in your hearts...you feel like I do right now with my Steelers...

    I think Ben can be an outstanding QB...don't get me wrong...but the standards are pretty damn high right now...being that he's 16-1 as a starter...

    I thing Harrington is going to be playing with a ton of weight on his shoulder...and he's done nothing to make me calm in thinking he can handle it...

    and Garcia...as a backup for a game or 2...sure...but if he ends up your starter...I don't think it would matter if you had Rice, Stallworth, Swann and Tim Brown in their primes...

    I love the Mike Williams pick up...still think they are going to need to go out and get a QB...but hope for the best...

    I don't dislike Detroit...and wouldn't mind seeing them come out of this in incredible fashion...

    needless to say...I think their running game is going to be a major player this year...

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    Lions | Hakim Released - from www.KFFL.com
    Mon, 25 Apr 2005 13:33:11 -0700

    WDFN Sports Radio 1130 AM in Detroit reports the Detroit Lions have released WR Az-Zahir Hakim.


    Lions | Marion Released - from www.KFFL.com
    Mon, 25 Apr 2005 13:32:54 -0700

    WDFN Sports Radio 1130 AM in Detroit reports the Detroit Lions have released S Brock Marion.


    Lions | View Cody as Interior Rush Specialist - from www.KFFL.com
    Mon, 25 Apr 2005 13:01:22 -0700

    Curt Sylvester, of the Detroit Free Press, reports the Detroit Lions plan to use 2005 second-round draft choice DT Shaun Cody as an interior pass rush specialist in their defensive line rotation next season.


    Lions | Wilson to Compete in Nickel, Dime Packages - from www.KFFL.com
    Mon, 25 Apr 2005 12:59:23 -0700

    Curt Sylvester, of the Detroit Free Press, reports Detroit Lions CB Stanley Wilson, the club's 2005 third-round draft choice, will compete for playing time in the nickel and dime packages next year.


    Lions | Williams to Play in Three Receiver Sets - from www.KFFL.com
    Mon, 25 Apr 2005 12:55:00 -0700

    Curt Sylvester, of the Detroit Free Press, reports the Detroit Lions plan to play 2005 first-round draft choice WR Mike Williams in three-receiver sets with WRs Charles Rogers and Roy Williams next season.


    Lions | Orlovsky Projected as No. 3 QB - from www.KFFL.com
    Mon, 25 Apr 2005 12:48:22 -0700

    Curt Sylvester, of the Detroit Free Press, reports Detroit Lions QB Dan Orlovsky, the club's 2005 fifth-round draft choice, is expected to be the team's third-string quarterback this season.

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    Lions say draft picks should help them win

    April 25, 2005

    BY CURT SYLVESTER
    FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER


    It was a throwaway line, typical of Lions president Matt Millen. Certainly not an ultimatum.


    "A few years back we sat here and we said, 'We need playmakers. We need to get younger, we need to get faster, healthier and we need playmakers,' " Millen said. "Right now, we've done that. Across the board we have playmakers."


    Millen paused momentarily, turning to coach Steve Mariucci with a grin: "It's up to you there, big guy."


    Not an ultimatum but -- in the thick of the NFL draft -- a hint. A suggestion. A subtle reminder.


    With the addition of playmaking wide receiver Mike Williams and defensive tackle Shaun Cody, the Lions are no longer a team overmatched for the NFL battles ahead.


    In a similar situation at San Francisco, Mariucci took a rebuilt 6-10 team to a 12-4 record and the 2001 NFL playoffs.


    The 2005 Lions might not be ready for a 12-win season, but the 2-14, 3-13, 5-11 and 6-10 seasons should be history.


    "That's what you want," Mariucci said Sunday. "You want to put a team together where you have higher and higher and higher expectations each year, and that's the path we're on.


    "We added six draftees this weekend, we added six or so free agents, so we'll get some improvement from the additions we made but -- like I've mentioned before -- the greater part of the improvement will come from the development of our current players.


    "All the guys who have been wearing a Lions helmet need to improve and will improve and that's where that 6-10 record changes."


    The Lions might not have had the glitziest draft in the league -- nothing like last year's coup of landing wide receiver Roy Williams and running back Kevin Jones in the first round -- but Millen and Mariucci perhaps applied the finishing touches to the younger, faster Lions.


    Mike Williams and Cody -- the first- and second-round picks -- are not projected as instant starters, but the Lions will expect them to make immediate and significant contributions. They plan to use Williams in three-receiver sets with Charles Rogers and Roy Williams, and want Cody to provide an inside pass rush in the defensive line rotation.


    Cornerback Stanley Wilson of Stanford, the third-round pick, brings speed in an area where NFL teams are always seeking more depth. He will compete for time in the nickel and dime defenses.


    The second-day draft picks are never a sure thing, but the Lions feel good about the three they landed, including two Millen acquired in a trade with New England:


    • Dan Orlovsky of Connecticut, expected to be the No. 3 quarterback behind Joey Harrington and Jeff Garcia, with the prospect of developing into quality backup or a player with trade value.


    •Defensive end Bill Swancutt of Oregon State, a pass rusher who shared Pac-10 defensive player of the year honors with Cody and whose work ethic gives him a chance to make the team.


    •Defensive end/linebacker Johnathan Goddard of Marshall, who led the nation last fall with 16 sacks but doesn't fit physically as either an end or a linebacker. The Lions like his speed and will leave it to defensive coordinator Dick Jauron to determine where he fits best.


    Millen gave the Patriots the Lions' fourth-round pick in the 2006 draft for New England's fifth- and sixth-round picks this year. He took Orlovsky in the fifth round and Goddard in the sixth. The Lions took Swancutt with their own sixth-round pick.


    The Lions earlier gave up their fourth-round pick to move up four notches and draft Cody in the second round. They used their fifth-round pick in the maneuvering to get Jones in the first round a year ago, and their seventh-round pick went to San Francisco as compensation for signing restricted free agent tackle Kyle Kosier.


    Mike Williams and Cody briefly visited the Lions' training headquarters at Allen Park on Sunday. All six of the drafted players are expected to participate in a three-day minicamp beginning Friday.


    "We're going to give these guys a taste of what we do on offense and defense," Mariucci said. "We're going to do a little special teams, too. We'll put in punt and field goal.


    "We'll give them a little bit more than our base offense and defense. We're going to give them every personnel group. We'll probably stay away from goal line until June, but we'll give them a variety of things we're going to do in our base and nickel."


    Although the Lions spent their first pick -- No. 10 overall -- on a wide receiver for the third consecutive year, they used four of the remaining five choices on defensive players. Three of the four -- Cody, Swancutt and Goddard -- are front-seven players, providing the depth Millen and Mariucci wanted.


    "The defensive line was probably the most deep position and the strength of our football team, and we added a couple of real good players to it," Mariucci said. "We improved something we were doing pretty well with."


    Millen called Swancutt and Goddard, the Lions' last two players in the draft, "relentless. We've already picked up the pace on our defensive line."


    Wilson, the son of the former Cincinnati Bengals running back with the same name, also figures into the Lions' improved defensive depth. He has sprinter speed, has good size at 5-feet-11 and is good in coverage.


    "There's a good mix of corners right now," Mariucci said. "He's going to come in and compete.


    "Then you always get a special teams evaluation, too, on these kids. Chuck had him as a gunner, as a jammer, as an aggressive cover guy, as a guy that can run and do a lot of things in the kicking game. That's another area where he has added value."


    Gunners and jammers are the fast, tough players who man the flanks on punts and punt returns, the units Chuck Priefer coaches.


    Contact CURT SYLVESTER at 313-222-2621 or sylvester@freepress.com.

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    Mike Williams practices for the first time in nearly 16 months

    By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

    April 29, 2005



    ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -- Mike Williams' long, agonizing wait is over.

    The Detroit Lions' receiver was finally back on a football field -- with teammates -- for the first time since helping Southern California beat Michigan in the 2004 Rose Bowl.

    ``It's been a long time, a real long time.'' Williams said Friday.

    He hoped to be an NFL rookie last season.

    After a court ruled in February 2004 that Maurice Clarett was eligible to play in the league, Williams hired an agent and tried to follow him. But an appeals court overturned the earlier ruling and upheld the NFL's right to bar players who had been out of high school less than three years.

    Williams attempted to return to USC for his junior season, but the NCAA turned down his request last August. He was relegated to working out on his own until Friday morning, when the Lions opened a minicamp.

    ``It's a lot of fun to just be a part of a group again,'' said Williams, the 10th pick in the draft. ``I definitely didn't feel rusty or out of place, like you think I would.''

    After some light running and stretching, Williams stood and watched the first 10 plays during a drill before getting a chance to run a route.

    Later, he lined up as a slot receiver in a four-wide set alongside Roy Williams, Charles Rogers -- first-round picks the two previous years -- and Kevin Johnson with Joey Harrington at quarterback.

    Detroit cornerback Dre Bly said it reminded him of practicing against the St. Louis Rams.

    ``For opposing defenses, it can get ugly,'' Bly said.

    The knock against the 6-foot-5, 229-pound Williams has been his lack of speed. He ran two 4.59 40-yard dashes at the NFL combine.

    But it didn't take him long to show Bly he's fast enough for professional football, running past him on an inside route.

    ``I wasn't expecting him to get out of his break like he did,'' Bly said. ``He was so explosive -- so fast. He had me flipped and turned around. It kind of caught me by surprise.''

    Williams said he doesn't pay attention to critics who have him pegged as a tight end in the NFL.

    ``I might not run fast on a track, but I play fast,'' he said.

    Williams played two years at USC, catching 81 passes for 1,265 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman, then making 95 receptions for 1,314 yards and a school-record 16 TDs in 2003.

    ``He's a huge target,'' Harrington said. ``He uses his body and hands well.''

    The Lions usually reserved their three- and four-receiver sets for third downs, but Lions coach Steve Mariucci envisions using those formations more on first and second downs this season.

    That's assuming Rogers is healthy for the first time in three seasons.

    The second pick overall in 2003 played five games as a rookie before breaking his collarbone, then broke it again in the season opener last year.

    ``He's got to be more comfortable -- not just physically, but mentally,'' Mariucci said.

    Though he was limited to non-contract drills, Rogers insisted he's healthy.

    ``I feel good,'' he said. ``Everything is going great.''

    With a potentially explosive receiving corps and promising running back Kevin Jones, many have said Harrington will not have any excuses during his fourth season in the NFL.

    ``I always put more pressure on myself than anybody from the outside,'' he said.

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    Lions Defense Has Talent - Coaching Is Worrisome

    Doug Warren - Scout.com

    April 29, 2005 at 3:37pm ET


    The Detroit Lions have the talent and speed on defense, writes columnist Doug Warren. But it is up to defensive coordinator Dick Jauron to employ a defense that can take advantage of its strengths. Analysis inside.

    I find it a bit funny that many observers and fans alike see the Lions decision to ignore their defense with last Saturday's first round selection as a mistake. For the first time in a decade, the Lions went into the draft with the ability to select the best available player on the board.

    Contrary to what many believe, outside of the free safety spot and possibly quarterback, the Lions no longer have any glaring weakness on the roster. With the health questions surrounding Charles Rogers and the butterfingers of Az Hakim, the selection of Mike Williams shored up one of Detroit's biggest pre-draft need; which was to find a solid complement to current #1 receiver Roy Williams . With Mike's arrival, and last week's free Agent signing of veteran wideout Kevin Johnson , the Wizard of Az was sent to Kansas to find Judy Garland and Toto Monday afternoon.


    Texas OLB Derrick Johnson was the nearly unanimous mock draft selection for the Lions last week. When all was said and done, Johnson had slipped to #15 where he was chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs . Johnson is a very good player, and would very likely have been an upgrade for the Lions at weakside linebacker (WLB). Nevertheless, while I agree that the Lions have some holes and depth questions defensively, the linebacking core wasn't one of them.

    Boss Bailey is expected back at 100% to man the Lions' SLB spot. The underappreciated Earl Holmes will be back once again at MLB, and the young trio of Teddy Lehman , James Davis and Alex Lewis are currently expected to battle for the starting WLB spot. Throw in Wali Rainer and Donte Curry as sold reserves and special teamers, and it is clear that Detroit's LB core is a strength rather than a weakness.

    With or without a top-ten defensive pick last Saturday, the Lions' defense will be better this season. It has to be when you consider that the Lions will add three players who were picked, at one time or another, in the first two rounds of the NFL draft (Kenoy Kennedy , Boss Bailey, Shaun Cody ) next season.

    Bailey and Kennedy of course will be starters. Cody could start as well, although I expect him to be worked into the starting lineup slowly; as he will fit nicely into the DT rotation with the veteran trio of Shaun Rogers , Dan Wilkinson and Marcus Bell .

    The pass defense should be stronger too. Don't be surprised if we see the emergence of two young players this season in the Lions' secondary, safety Terrence Holt and cornerback Keith Smith . Holt will likely be the opening day starter at free safety. Many Lion observers have wondered why this development has taken so long; being that he had shown the ability to make things happen during his three years as a reserve. With the release this week of veteran Brock Marion, the Lions' starting FS spot is seemingly Holt's job to lose. If Terrence takes control of the job, he and SS Kenoy Kennedy could make a tremendous impact on the Lions' defense next season.

    I like Keith Smith too. This kid, like Holt, showed the ability to make plays last season as a rookie cornerback. He is a hitter with good size and speed. If number-two corner Fernando Bryant 's struggles continue next year, look for Smith - the second year player who hails from Joe Dumars' alma matter, McNeese State - to become a starter by midseason. With the arrival of 3rd round pick and former Stanford Cardinal CB Stanley Wilson , veterans Chris Cash and Andre Goodman will both be fighting for a roster spot this summer. Both vets have been plagued by injury during their careers, and those problems have zapped much of the speed and quickness they displayed during their rookie seasons.

    Dre' Bly, contrary to popular reports, was a Pro Bowl player last season. While he didn't have the INT numbers of the previous year due to his injuries and missed snaps, he was a very good run defender last season and still collected four interceptions. Maybe I'm blind, but I saw him plenty of times last year come up in the flat and cut a RB at the knees as the D-lineman and linebackers were converging "gang-tackle" style. Bly is a player and a leader, and if he can remain on the field for 16 games next season, the Lions' pass defense will be infinitely better.

    Fernando Bryant had an off year last season, no question. Was it a fluke? We will find out soon enough. I think it had a little to do with injury and a little more to do with Dick Jauron's passive zone defenses. Bryant and Bly would both be more effective if they were allowed to play a more aggressive Cover-2 scheme like Tampa Bay or the New York Jets employ. I really hope that it has been made clear to Jauron that he needs to be much more aggressive with his playcalling this season. There is no reason that all this speed has to go to waste in a chicken$#!+ "bend-but-don't-break" scheme.

    For the first time in a long time, the Detroit Lions are entering a season with depth and talent on both sides of the ball. The time is now for the Lions to make a move into the upper echelon of the NFC and contend for the NFC North crown and their first playoff birth since 1999. The time for patience has passed. The cry of "wait until next year" will no longer be tolerated - and it shouldn't be.

    There is no reason that this team, with relative health and solid QB play, should not contend for a division title, a playoff birth, and even the once unthinkable ten-win plateau. With the draft now over and spring mini-camp now underway, there is a urgent anticipation among long suffering Lions fans everywhere that their team is now talented enough to not only contend, but may even be on the verge of something more.

    Let's hope that Steve Mariucci and Dick Jauron coach and create game plans next fall with the same sense of urgency.

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    Lions' three of kind feel spring in steps

    BY CURT SYLVESTER, FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER



    The moment came and went quite unceremoniously.


    The Lions lined up in a four-wide set, and there they were -- Charles Rogers split on the left side with Mike Williams in the slot, and Roy Williams flanked on the far side of the field.


    The big three of wide receivers. The team's top draft picks of the past three years. Three of the most promising receivers in Lions history lining up together for the first time.


    The ball was snapped, and they were off. Straight down the field in the vertical offense the Lions have been longing for all these years.


    The moment was frozen in time perhaps for those observing from the sidelines but wasted on quarterback Joey Harrington, the man with the football in his hands.


    "Did we complete the ball?" Harrington asked.


    Yes, Harrington completed the pass, but let history show that neither Rogers nor Roy Williams nor Mike Williams caught the ball on this momentous occasion. The pass went to the fourth receiver -- six-year veteran Kevin Johnson, signed last week as a free agent from Baltimore -- who made the catch, running out of the slot position on the right side.


    "Good," Harrington said, laughing. "I wasn't thinking about it a whole lot today. I'm not worried about matchups right now; I'm just trying to get the ball in the offense's hands."


    The day might come eventually when Harrington has to concern himself with which receiver will be the primary target, but not Friday on the first day of the first minicamp of the spring at Allen Park.


    Mike Williams, the 10th player taken in the NFL draft last Saturday, got his first taste of the NFL and admitted he was somewhat surprised.


    "It was a lot more than I thought it would be," Williams said.


    Although he had been warned that the pro game would be faster, he said it was faster than he expected.


    Roy Williams, the seventh player taken in the 2004 draft, practiced for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery to clean up his injured left ankle at the end of last season.


    At one point in the workouts, after catching a deep throw and sprinting the rest of the way to the end zone, he had to stop and catch his breath.


    "I'd run about 300 yards," he explained.


    And Rogers, who started the Lions' run on receivers when they took him with the No. 2 pick in 2003, was getting his first taste of action since suffering a broken collarbone -- his second in less than 12 months -- in the season opener at Chicago last Sept. 12.


    The last thing on his mind was whether there would be enough receptions to satisfy three first-round receivers.


    "I think we'll all be on the same page as long as we don't let egos come into it," Rogers said. "There's going to be times where Roy catches five passes and nobody else catches any. There's going to be times when Mike catches his, there's going to be times when I catch mine."


    For Rogers, the first day of minicamp was about getting back on the field and running plays after missing all except three plays last season.


    "It felt great," Rogers said. "It's kind of hard to put in words, but when you play football your whole life and get back out there on the field, you're just doing something that you love. You're just having fun again.


    "When you're out there, you take it back to when you were a kid, playing on that playground at school. It's kind of hard for me to put it into words, but it's beautiful."


    Rogers was even understanding of coach Steve Mariucci's decision to limit his participation in the minicamp. Rogers took a turn in all of the individual drills and the position drills, but he wore a red shirt as a reminder to his teammates that he is not allowed to have physical contact yet.


    And when the Lions went into 11-on-11 work, Rogers was reduced to an observer -- on Mariucci's orders.


    "You want to compete, you like competition," Rogers said. "So any time you're out there and they pull you out, you might get a little offended, but that's Coach. He knows what's best for you. I believe in what he's trying to do, and I feel like he's got my best interest at heart."


    Rogers said he has gained about eight pounds, putting him at 218, since starting rehabilitation work.


    "I put on a little bit of weight," he said. "I felt like I had to make that adjustment. When things don't go right, you try something different. The weight is holding up pretty good, my speed's still there. I think it was beneficial to me, and I think as I get older my body's maturing to be a complete receiver."


    Rogers said he expects to lose some of the weight as he increases the running he does to prepare for the season. He said he expects to play at about 212 pounds.


    Contact CURT SYLVESTER at 313-222-2621 or sylvester@freepress.com.

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    Kevin Johnson is an awfully effective #4 receiver...even though I suspect they'll use him more as a #3...or even #2 in some sets...not that it will matter...

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    I think Williams was a good pick. Rogers could be awesome if he ever plays any regular season games, and this pick will probably be the "do or die" for Harrington (as if this season wasn't already). If Joey can't get 'er done with the two Williams', then it's all she wrote. The sad thing is they got Garcia.

    I hear Eric Hipple still has a home in Farmington Hills.....
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

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    Let's face it. The Lions are stacked on offense.

    Kevin Jones
    Corey Schlesinger
    Marcus Pollard
    Roy Williams
    Charles Rogers
    Mike Williams
    Kevin Johnson

    They let go of Hakim, who's probably a #2 on some bad teams.

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    The Lions are certainly stacked on offense...but like anyone else...they have question marks...

    Charles Rogers staying healthy...sure...he's got a metal plate...but he has the feel of someone who is going to be battling something all the time...

    Roy coming off surgery...

    Pollard isn't getting any younger...

    KEVIN JONES IS A STUD...

    Mike Williams will be...

    Kevin Johnson is a good pickup...

    but they will need a quarterback by midseason IMO...

    and if Garcia starts...this strange love that Lions fans have for him will disappear...

    They certainly will improve their #30 in the NFL redzone offense...

    but the question remains whether or not their #22 defense will improve...

    with a healthy Kevin Jones all year...3 good receivers...a great tight end...

    they SHOULD be able to hold onto the ball more...and make that D better...

    I still question not going after a Merriman who would have been big for them on D...

    but can't fault them for going after a guy who would have gone top 3 the previous year...

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    I actually think Harrington will have a good year this year.

    I also think the D will improve with the pick-ups over the offseason.

    I'm more confident now than I was before the free agent pick-ups.

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    there really is no precedence for Harrington to have a good year...

    I think the D will improve...but not because of the pickups...because the offense HAS to improve...if not Harrington and Millen will both be looking for jobs...

    Confidence is good...I actually thought that the Lions were going to make the playoffs last year in the preseason...

    then Rogers went down...then Jones...then Roy...then Jones came back...but Harrington was laying eggs...

    and the D wasn't bad...but certainly wasn't that good...

    the addressed some needs for sure...but I really don't see an impact Defensive player signed...

    I loved the Cody pick in the second round...a steal IMO...and Wilson may be a good cover corner in a couple of years...but will more than likely warm the pine this year...because if he starts...that's saying a bunch about what their d will be doing...

    they addressed the offense...and truly have nothing but resigned defensive guys on that D...

    Really the only guy that I can remember them signing is that Kennedy chap from Denver...the DB...and that certainly isn't a defense changer....

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    Johnson and Pollard give Lions a big hand

    Proven pros will have time to help younger receivers adapt to NFL style.

    By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News


    ALLEN PARK --
    Youth will be served among the Lions' receivers, but there is still a place for some good old hands.

    It wasn't by accident that when the Lions lined up in a four-receiver formation for the first time in mini-camp, Joey Harrington's pass down the right seam settled into the sure hands of wide receiver Kevin Johnson.

    Johnson and tight end Marcus Pollard were signed as free agents to add stability and playmaking ability to a passing game that has lacked both in recent seasons.

    Johnson caught 367 passes and scored 25 touchdowns in six seasons with Cleveland, Jacksonville and Baltimore. Pollard has 263 catches and 35 touchdowns in 10 seasons with Indianapolis.

    On April 20, Johnson agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the prospect of working with Roy Williams and Charles Rogers as the No. 3 receiver. Three days later, the Lions drafted Mike Williams of Southern California in the first round.

    Johnson chuckled Saturday when asked about the timing, and if he would have signed with the Lions had the same opportunity presented itself after the draft.

    "One thing about life, you make decisions, you've got to live with them," he said. "It's a great opportunity. Things happen for a reason in life. You've got to make the most of it.

    "It's going to be a good experience. Hopefully, I can bring a lot of different things to the table. Hopefully, I can help these young guys get ready. It's going to be fun.

    "We're going to throw the ball all over the field. I think it just gives me an opportunity to be out there and make some plays on this team."

    Pollard, 33, has played at a high level on one of the NFL's best offenses. In 2004, he caught 29 passes and six touchdowns. He has made his presence felt in the first two days of mini-camp.

    "You can see that he has several great catches," coach Steve Mariucci said. "He's a good route-runner. You can split him out and use him as a receiver-type if you need to. He's a smart guy."


    Drop zone


    Stats Inc., which provides comprehensive statistical information for NFL teams and other sources, gave the Lions 36 dropped passes in 2004, fifth-most in the league.

    Mariucci disputes that total.

    "We had 50-some," Mariucci said. "Maybe we graded harder than Stats Inc."

    Owner William Clay Ford watched the first day of mini-camp with team president Matt Millen. Ford liked how the receivers caught the ball compared with last season

    Millen related this comment by Ford: "We look better. Even our kickers can catch the ball."


    Highlight catch


    Roy Williams made his teammates cheer with a spectacular one-handed catch in the afternoon practice. He was covered by cornerback Dré Bly and had to reach back for a pass. Williams caught the ball with his right hand, pinned it to his back and ran upfield. The players were still buzzing before the next play.

    "Once again, a lucky catch," Williams said after practice, smiling.

    Before practice, Williams said he practiced catching balls launched by the jugs machine with one hand.

    "I dropped all eight of them," he said.


    Lining up


    Kelly Butler, a sixth-round draft pick from Purdue in 2004 who was inactive for all 16 games, was No. 1 in the rotation at right offensive tackle at the start of mini-camp. Right tackle is the only starting position open.

    Butler isn't claming the position. Victor Rogers, drafted in 2002, and Kyle Kozier, a free agent with three seasons of starting experience at guard and tackle in San Francisco, also are in the running.

    "We're rotating now," Butler said. "Nothing's solidified. At the end of the season, whoever's the starter, that's the best thing.."

    Final judgments won't be made until training camp, when players are in pads and there is contact. Mini-camp practices are in helmets and shorts.

    Meanwhile, guard Damien Woody's battle of the bulge -- with his weight -- appears to be continuing from last season. Where does he stand?

    "Ask him," offensive line coach Pat Morris said. "He should know by now."

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    Mariucci not concerned with Garcia's so-so practices

    Monday, May 02, 2005

    By Tom Kowalski



    ALLEN PARK -- Jeff Garcia, the Detroit Lions new backup quarterback, looked good for the majority of the team's three-day minicamp, but there were also times when he looked not-so-good.

    There were times when Garcia threw short to receivers downfield, but head coach Steve Mariucci isn't concerned at all.

    "I think he's practicing right now as well as he has," said Mariucci, adding that Garcia would occasionally throw bad practice passes even during his three-year Pro Bowl run from 2000-02 when Mariucci coached Garcia with the San Francisco 49ers.

    "There'll be practice time where he's not going to have that big arm and shoot it over on a comeback (route) and put it right there every time," Mariucci said. "He'll practice well, and smart, and all that sort of thing. But it's when it's live and he has to run around and make a play and do something out of the ordinary or something that's not in the playbook. His improvise is so special. That's where he becomes a heck of a player, on game day."

    Mariucci also said he isn't worried because Garcia is hardly in full camp workout mode.

    "He hasn't been throwing twice a day, none of these guys have," Mariucci said. "He's not a bad practice player, he's had a good camp. Our quarterback situation is as good as it's been in a long time here."

    Mariucci got a chuckle out of Garcia's listing on the team's roster: 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds.

    "I don't know. I've stood next to him when he was weighing in a few years ago (with the 49ers) and I saw 188 one time," Mariucci said of the 35-year-old quarterback. "I don't think he's got a lot of growth potential. He's not 200 pounds and 6-1 is a stretch."

    Quarterback Dan Orlovsky, the team's fifth-round draft pick, impressed some of the players and coaches with his play during the minicamp.

    "We gave him some good amount of reps, for a rookie. Usually, we have rookies standing over here by the water," Mariucci said. "He showed us some good things, he certainly has enough arm for all the throws that we're going to make in this offense."

    Mariucci was also impressed by Orlovsky's mobility, despite the fact he's 6-5 and 238 pounds.

    "He runs around well enough. He threw the ball on a scramble drill for a touchdown to Adam Herzing," Mariucci said. "He steps into the huddle with a little confidence. Often times, rookies go in there like 'I don't know this stuff.' He was good with his huddle demeanor and his cadences, his on-the-ball procedure was good and he didn't seem to be intimidated by anything."

    The Lions ran their annual beep test on Sunday, but it lacked the same drama it had for the previous two seasons. The test is for endurance as players run 20 yards back and forth, based on a beep sound that increases the tempo as the run goes on.

    Undrafted rookie free-agent quarterback Todd Mortensen won it on Sunday, but many of the veterans didn't take part.

    "We ran it already this week. The varsity ran it already," Mariucci said. "We did it as part of our conditioning one day this week. So I told them 'I need a few rabbits,' because the rookies hadn't seen it."


    Story

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    Lions expectations running high

    Monday, May 02, 2005

    By Tom Kowalski



    ALLEN PARK -- For a team that hasn't won more than six games in any of the last four seasons, the Detroit Lions are a confident bunch.

    "We expect to be in there at the end of the season. Our goal is to win the division, which puts us in the playoffs and than you re-evaluate from there," said Lions quarterback Joey Harrington after the team completed its three-day minicamp on Sunday. "Step one is to get in (playoffs), and that step has never changed since the time coach (Steve) Mariucci has been here. I don't think it is really fair to say that our expectations are higher because our expectations have never been low. On the same end, we have a lot of new guys and a lot of young faces, so we are hoping we pick up on it pretty quickly."

    The Lions' talent level is vastly different than it was last year. Wide receiver Roy Williams was hurt most of the year and running back Kevin Jones turned it on in the second half of the season. Wide receiver Charles Rogers missed all but three plays of the season and linebacker Boss Bailey never took a snap. Add in free-agent additions such as strong safety Kenoy Kennedy and tight end Marcus Pollard and rookies such as wide receiver Mike Williams and defensive tackle Shaun Cody and the Lions have a lot different look.

    "Well, it was kind of an interesting weekend in the meetings and in the lunch room," Mariucci said. "There's a certain hunger, or eagerness, with this bunch that, not only do they want to be good, because that's always the case, but I think they think they really can be good."

    There's no question the Lions have accumulated a great deal of talent. The next step is bringing those athletes together and melding them into a team.

    "There's a lot more pieces in place now," Mariucci said. "Now, most of the work is going to be the development of these pieces. Putting them together, and getting them to play as a unit, understanding what we do, getting good at it and feeling confident in it."

    Harrington is brimming with confidence already.

    "As I look at us through our first few days of practice, it makes me feel pretty good. I am excited to see what we can do," Harrington said. "Our talent pool is bigger. We have more talent out there than I have seen in my last three years of being here. It is exciting to look out there and see those guys, knowing that if we get things on the same page we could have some fun."

    Some of that fun came on Saturday afternoon when Roy Williams made a spectacular catch on a long throw from Harrington. Despite great coverage from cornerback Dre Bly, Williams snared the pass with just his right hand and then brought it behind his back where he grabbed it with both hands. Without breaking stride, Williams raced into the end zone.

    Williams described it as "a lucky catch."

    Mariucci said he watched the play several times on the practice film.

    "The camera followed him all the way into the end zone," Mariucci said. "And then Roy, you could see through his Darth Vader visor, he was smiling, and the camera started shaking, because even the cameraman started laughing. Everybody in the building started laughing, because it was such an awesome catch. He does that, he makes lucky catches like that a lot."

    "It was a great catch," Harrington said. "But, really, I expect to see more of those from him."

    "Like I said earlier, not so much 'want' to be good, but I think the general feeling is they think they can be good and will be good," Mariucci said.


    Booth Newspaper Story

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    Lions sucks, Vikings rule!
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    Joey Harrington...muuuuhaha...lol

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    I hope I live long enough to see the lions win ONE Super Bowl.

    I doubt it will EVER happen.
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

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    Originally posted by NATEDOG001976
    Lions sucks, Vikings rule!
    That is some deep sports insight there dude ... I'm impressed.

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    Manning was a quick study

    Harrington, take note: Colts quarterback took criticism early in his career and learned from it.

    By Vartan Kupelian and Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News



    Marcus Pollard brings qualities to the Lions that could prove to be invaluable for a team that is trying to climb the standings with young legs.

    The Lions will get leadership from Pollard, a 33-year-old tight end, and he'll add perspective from his 10 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

    Pollard saw the Colts grow into contention twice. He was a rookie on the 1995 team that lost to Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game and an established player when the Colts drafted quarterback Peyton Manning first overall in 1998 to begin a rebuilding project.

    Pollard's association with Manning offers an interesting reference point as Joey Harrington begins his fourth season with the Lions and his third as the full-time starting quarterback. Pollard has been a Lion for two months and a week since signing as a free agent, and he is well aware of the criticism Harrington gets -- some of it for the upbeat demeanor he presents in most interviews.

    What was Manning like as a young player?

    "When he first got there, it was a challenge," Pollard said in an interview this week.

    "He had a certain way that he did it in college. He really got on the guys. He was in their face."

    The fire-breathing, in-your-face quarterback might be popular fodder on the talk shows and with some fans, but it doesn't go over well with veteran players. The Colts' veterans had a sit-down with Manning and told him to cool it.

    "With some veteran leaders around, they said, 'Everybody wants to win at this level,' " Pollard said. "'You don't have to be so demanding. You don't have to be in guys' faces.' A lot of guys don't respond well to that."

    Manning is a quick study. He has learned more than how to read defenses. He took the advice to heart.

    "He really took that criticism and learned from it," Pollard said. "Now, he's amazing."


    Cash & Carry


    Harrington's contract situation has created a buzz. He will be in the fourth year of a six-year contract in 2005, and a bonus payment of $3 million is due next month. His base salary for 2005 is $4.95 million.

    Before the end of last season, Harrington said he was willing to restructure his contract if it gave the Lions any salary-cap problems.

    Apparently, that won't be necessary. The Lions are prepared to carry Harrington's contract as it stands, president Matt Millen said.

    "It's not an issue," Millen said. "We've already budgeted it."


    The Detroit News

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    Lions rookie is Marshall anomaly

    BY CURT SYLVESTER, FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

    Mention Marshall University in the NFL, and the response is predictable.


    "They usually say, 'That's the school that Byron or Chad or Moss went to, right?' " said Lions rookie linebacker Johnathan Goddard. "Marshall's usually offensive guys, so they're like, 'What's going on?' "



    Goddard gets that response because he plays defense, not offense.


    Byron Leftwich, quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars and a first-round draft pick in 2003, is the most recent of the Marshall offensive whizzes.


    Before that came New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, a first-round pick in 2000.


    Wide receiver Randy Moss, recently traded by Minnesota to the Oakland Raiders, started the current run of Marshall players when he was drafted in the first round in 1998.


    Now Goddard is hard at work with the rest of the rookies, hoping to show the Lions that Marshall defensive players are good enough to play in the NFL, too. He already has some evidence of that.


    Rogers Beckett, a second-round draft pick out of Marshall in 2000, is a strong safety with the Cincinnati Bengals, and Chris Crocker, a third-round pick in 2003, is a free safety with the Cleveland Browns.


    "There are some other ones," Goddard said. "They weren't big names like Leftwich and them, but they were good players."


    And their presence in the NFL is encouraging to Goddard, who has set his sights on the NFL since he began playing Pop Warner football in Jacksonville, Fla., when he was 6 years old.


    "It just shows you can do it if you work hard at it," he said. "It doesn't really matter what kind of school you go to as long as you show them you can go out there and play hard, keep it going. They'll come after you."


    The Lions came after Goddard, but as a sixth-round pick and the last player they drafted, he faces an uphill battle to make the team.


    Although he led the nation with 16 sacks and 28 1/2 tackles for loss as a defensive end in his final season at Marshall, Goddard will have to switch to linebacker with the Lions.


    At a trace taller than 6 feet and weighing in at 238 pounds, Goddard doesn't have the size to battle 350-pound offensive tackles on the line of scrimmage.


    He will have to use his quickness as a linebacker and a special-teams player.


    In addition, he is being thrown into competition with a solid group of promising young linebackers the Lions have put together in the past three drafts.


    Goddard thinks the most difficult adjustment will be handling pass coverage assignments as an outside linebacker. He said he had occasional coverage responsibilities at Marshall, but it was always part of a designed defense.


    With the Lions, he will have to make instant decisions about whether to drop into coverage or handle other responsibilities.


    "There's a lot of different things you're seeing now, different things you have to look at," Goddard said. "More people to read, dropping back in coverage.


    "It's a little tough. I've got a good coach -- Johnny (Holland) -- and the rest of the linebackers are helping me out to make sure I get everything. It's a big adjustment, but I think I can get through it."


    If Goddard fails, it won't be because he didn't give it his best shot. He started preparing last fall at Marshall.


    "I studied the game a lot more than I had in the past," he said. "That helped me a lot -- going out there knowing what's going on with the cadence and the count. That helps a lot, helps you get off the ball quick.


    "That was me wanting to go to the NFL, knowing I've got to study and get better at it, get better than I was already."


    And he works at it, he said, because the game means a lot to him.


    "It's real important to me," he said. "It's always in my dreams. I've been playing football since I was 6. I love the game; I don't know what I'd do without it."

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    Red Zone Production A Focus For Lions' Staff

    Scout.com - Scout.com


    May 23, 2005 at 2:04am ET


    (ALLEN PARK) -- One of the areas coach Steve Mariucci and offensive coordinator Ted Tollner will be focused on as the Lions begin preparations for the 2005 NFL season is the team's red zone production.

    Only two teams -- Jacksonville and Chicago -- were less effective than he Lions in converting its red zone possessions into touchdowns during the 2004 season.


    The Bears converted only 16 of 38 red zone opportunities (42.1 percent) and Jacksonville was only slightly better with 19 touchdowns in 45 opportunities (42.2 percent).

    And, the Lions -- at No. 30 among the league's 32 teams in red zone conversions -- turned just 44.2 percent of their opportunities into touchdowns. They had 43 red zone possessions but managed to score only 19 touchdowns on their way to 186 red zone points (including 18 field goals).

    The Lions figure to improve on last year's performance with a more experienced running game (Kevin Jones is in his second season) and fewer drops by their receivers than the 50 recorded by the Lions coaching staff in 2004.

    The Lions obviously have a long way to go to join the teams at the top of red zone efficiency -- San Diego (69.8 percent conversion) and Kansas City (67.8 percent).

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    Rookie's head swimming at WR

    Williams learning difficulties of NFL

    June 16, 2005


    BY CURT SYLVESTER
    FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER



    After three weeks of minicamps, Mike Williams is getting the hang of it.


    "The first minicamp I was probably in that playbook maybe 15 minutes," Williams said. "The second minicamp I was in that book maybe 20 or 30 minutes. The (last) minicamp, an hour or an hour and 10 or 15 minutes. And you're still messing up."


    Welcome to the NFL, rookie.


    Williams, the Lions' first pick in the draft, is learning just what's involved in playing any of four wide receiver positions in the NFL. And there's a whole lot more involved than meets the eye.


    Although coach Steve Mariucci has him listed as the backup to Charles Rogers at the split end position, Williams is also learning the plays as the backup to flanker Roy Williams and he has also run plays from the slot position on both sides of the formation.


    He has no complaints about his work load.


    "It's kind of good that you put yourself in a position to play more," Williams said. "The more you know, the more coaches feel you can help them."


    There is a frustration factor involved, however.


    "You're playing as hard as you can and doing what you can do, and you're going the wrong way," Williams said. "When you're in practice they don't care that you mixed this play up with another position, because you're wasting everybody's time, you're wasting a rep.


    "But when you get into the meeting room, they're like, 'Ah, we know you're still learning.' But I'd rather be where I'm at now. I'm glad I've had to learn so many positions and so much at one time."


    Williams is making the adjustment to the NFL after missing a full year of football. He played just two seasons at Southern Cal and left school after the 2003 season, expecting to join running back Maurice Clarett of Ohio State in an early entry into the NFL.


    When the courts ruled that Clarett could not be drafted, Williams also was excluded. He spent a considerable amount of time working with former Minnesota receiver Cris Carter in Florida, but the Lions' post-draft minicamps marked his first real training since his final game at USC.


    Although it has been an adjustment, Williams might take comfort in knowing that his efforts are appreciated.


    "You see flashes but there are mistakes made out there," quarterback Joey Harrington said. "That's to be expected. But, like I've said all along, what I really like is that the young guys are making an effort to learn from it.


    "They make a mistake, they know they messed up and they come back and figure out what they can do better, then go out and fix it the next time. That's what you love to see. The young guys are working hard. I'm very encouraged by that."


    Harrington is one of the teammates who helps the rookie receiver when he gets the chance. Fellow receivers Roy Williams and Rogers, who have been around only slightly longer than Mike Williams, also supplement the instruction he gets from receivers coach Fred Graves and offensive coordinator Ted Tollner.


    "Coach Graves is on me," Mike Williams said. "He's that guy, he's on you like, 'You do this, yada yada yada.' Coach Tollner is like, 'C'mon, Mike, let's go.' And Roy and all those guys, you watch them do it and when you don't do it right, they pull you aside and say, 'Oh, you've got to do it this way.'


    "When you're trying to learn, trying to do well, you've got to be receptive to every form of criticism from every angle. You get to the point where (cornerback) Dre' Bly will be like, 'You're open but you'd be more open if you did this.' It's a good situation to be in a good group of guys that want you to do well."


    There's no doubt that his Lions teammates want Mike Williams to do well. Harrington already is visualizing Mike Williams, Roy Williams and Rogers in action when the Lions get into scoring territory next fall.


    "Big targets," Harrington said. "I think it'll be good for us because they're big targets down in the end zone.


    "We've struggled at times; we've had to settle for field goals sometimes when we didn't make plays down there. And having guys like that -- who can screen out the defender and you can throw a high ball to -- will really help out."


    Mike Williams might not be there yet, but he's getting the idea. Check back in September; the Lions expect he'll be ready to go.

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    Their red zone offense should be incredible with Williams and Pollard and really Rogers...added to the mix...

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    Roy and Mike Williams ... Pollard ... a hopefully healthy Rogers ... Kevin Johnson .... and RB Kevin Jones ....

    I know I'm freakin' STOKED.


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    I do hope for your sake that Harrington can look good now...because if Garcia is your starter...I still contend that there will be trouble afoot in Lion land...

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