Detroit Lions Weblog

Training Camp Begins!!!

The Lions training camp, like so many other NFL teams around the league, begins today. This promises to be one of the most challenging and heated training camps in the recent history of the organization. Rod Marinelli, new Lion’s head coach, has stated that most of the camp under his direction will take place in football pads, as opposed to previous camps where players were not expected to wear full gear. It also appears that he and his assistant coaches, Mike Martz and Donnie Henderson, intend on ratcheting up the intensity of drills and intra-personnel competition. The staff is determined to change the losing culture that has permeated this team in recent seasons. You can rest assured, the team will no longer have “easter egg hunts” (Mariucci’s term for tossing bottles of Gatorade all over the practice the field) during water breaks for the players.

Obviously, with the imminent raised level of expectations for the team, one has to wonder how the players who return from previous seasons will perceive these changes and how they will respond to them? Will they take to the new direction of the team and be inspired by it? Will they resist the new direction of the coaching staff as they battle for their jobs? So much has been made of how tough camp will be, will the implementation of the team’s new offensive and defensive system’s go smoothly as expectations are geared up?

Their will be many intriguing roster battles that will play out during camp that should positively impact the team. First off, the offensive line will be among the most contentious and deepest battles for roster spots in recent team history. There are 20 O-Linemen in camp and with three starting positions cemented (assuming there are no serious injuries), that leaves two more starting positions and several back-up spots among all of these players. It is an intriguing mix of veterans (Rex Tucker, Ross Verba, Barry Stokes) and youngsters (Kelly Butler, Johnathan Scott, Fred Matua, and Panamanian Frank Davis) who will wage battle for these positions.

Also worthy of interest, the running back roster battle after returning starter Kevin Jones will also be very heated. Will the Lions keep a fullback? Will the versatile Shawn Bryson be asked to and be capable of serving a dual role as occasional FB and 3rd down back? Who will remain on the roster between Arlen Harris and Artose Pinner? Will Brian Calhoun make enough of an immediate impact that neither will matter?

The team’s personnel situation at Wide Receiver also should be noted. With Roy Williams expected to be poised for a breakout season, will the compliment of disappointing players like Charles Rogers and Mike Williams step up and meet some of their past expectations? Will journeymen like Mike Furrey, Corey Bradford, and Scottie Vines render them non-factors? What hilarity will ensue if Mike Williams shows up at camp weighing 235+ Lbs., again? Of all of the team’s personnel positions, this one has the potential for being the most volatile and attention-grabbing.

Finally, with the defensive system change (Tampa Style Cover-2 Zone), will the team’s returnees be able to adjust and flourish with their new coverage responsibilities? Dre Bly, a past standout, is not exactly the prototype big, physical cover-2 corner. Disappointing Fernando Bryant returns again, hopefully he can remain healthy enough to be a contributor. Will young players like Keith Smith and Stanley Wilson, Jr. become a stronger component of the playing group? Are Kenoy Kennedy’s coverage abilities going to be strong enough to play a deeper cover-2 safety, as opposed to his former role (better suited?) of walking up closer to the line of scrimmage and loading up the box and providing punishing run support. Can Daniel Bullocks immediately contribute at the other safety spot?

This will be one of the more closely observed and hopefully productive camps in the team’s history. Not every player will be enthralled with the team’s new direction. I feel strongly that among those players who buy into the new coaches system and coaching styles, may finally lay that the foundation that could conceivably alter the interminable rebuilding project that has been the last 10 years of Lion’s football