Latest from the Lions OTA’s in Allen Park today!

May 30, 2007 Latest from the Lions OTA’s in Allen Park:  Dan Orlovsky: I have intently watched and through the mini-camp and OTA’s he clearly has had the

May 30, 2007

Latest from the Lions OTA’s in Allen Park:

 

1. Dan Orlovsky: I have intently watched and through the mini-camp and OTA’s he clearly has had the best off-season. There is no QB controversy, although someone will try to make one I am sure, but his passes are crisp and he has had the fewest mistakes. Anyone who thinks that Kitna is not the man simply is taking the lazy road of creating a scapegoat, but the point is that anyone who writes off Orlovsky just doesn’t have a clue about the metamorphosis of this team. Dan is smart, he has a cannon and one area that he is better than Kitna at is accuracy and that is just the facts. We all know that there are a lot of other qualities than just accuracy and Kitna is clearly a more rounded QB, but the coaches like Dan and he still has a future here in the D. One of you emailed me and asked me to find out if the Lions are content with Orlovsky, as a backup should Kitna not be able to have another injury free season. I did today and a member of the staff told me, “without a doubt Dan can do it. You watch practice you can see it. He gets it and if you look to the future how bright is that with Dan and Drew?” I say very bright. Many of you have emailed asking me what I think and I think that clearly if something had happened to Jon last year he would have gotten the nod of McCown. Before you doubt that, I can tell you that a senior member of the Lions leadership team told me that last year. In fact he told me early last year, “Josh is a good QB, he should be a starter in this league, but I can tell you that if Kit (Kitna) goes down Dan would get the shot.” Now I also know that there is a lot of people who can’t handle anything positive (and I feel for you) that will say, “Then why did they select Stanton?” Simple. Dan can be a very good and functional QB in the NFL. Stanton has stardom all over him and you have to have two good QB’s in this league. Odds are that Kitna or any QB cannot sustain an injury free season so anyone that doesn’t want two good QB’s is a moron.  Hey Atlanta, how excited are you to have Joey as your starter….grrr…. I mean backup.Â
2.  I have told you many times about CJ’s tendency to have a WOW moment in each practice. Today was a good day for him but he was a part of a WOW moment and it was against him. CJ made a post move to the back of the end zone and Stanley Wilson went up and not only stopped the promising rookie, but he made a play that I would have put up against anyone in this league. It was athletic and it was yet another reminder of what this staff and management wants out of him and believe he can do. I have gotten a lot of hate for telling you people that he is the real deal and he is still young, but you will see him give up some plays as you will against any CB, but you will be shocked also now that he can actually use his skills and do what he does. I asked him about it and he told me, “I really love what is happening here. This defense suits me and I know it now and that makes life a lot better for me and this team.”
3. It is normal for rookies to struggle and as good as CJ is he is going to have his and he is. Right now he is struggling with picking up the audible and assimilating the information. Trust me, that is expected at this point but it will be something to watch.
4. Hey, we all know that it is May and there is a long way to go. With that said Mike Furrey made a TD catch today (there were NFL officials in attendance at practice) and he came down with his toes just inside the lines. When other NFL players take it easy because these are OTA’s, Furrey is acting as if this is the playoffs and that sends a message. The players were talking about it after practice and one even called me to ask if I saw it. Yes I did and that attitude is not only out there by Furrey, it is the same attitude that permeates the entire team and unfortunately the fans don’t get to see it.
5. Casey FitzSimmons made three WOW type catches today. On one, he placed himself so that the ball, if thrown well (and Kitna did), could only go between him and the side of the end zone. The pass was perfect and he caught the ball beautifully with his hands. One thing a casual observer may have missed was not only his perfect catching technique but his feet and body placement were perfect also. They should sell that video to anyone that wants to see how it is supposed to be done. He got a rousing cheer from his teammates and even a slap on his can from a defender (something you would never have seen before) and that was only one. He is going to fit well as a H-back and is yet again another offensive threat. You may remember my report from last year that Martz really loves that guy and I can tell you that they want to find ways for him to get involved.   As a H-back they can put him out on the line as a WR in a shift where he will clearly be at an advantage on an OLB or out of the backfield on a safety. They even salivate when they think of a zone blitz team dropping a DE to cover him.
6. Johnny Baldwin struggled at first, but finally got up to speed after the first third of the practice. Although the adjustment period has been tough on him, by the end of practice he was getting some reps with the first string (no, don’t read into it) and looked very good. You have to expect him to struggle and that is O.K. One thing that really got me excited was to see his athleticism today and he looked very good in pass coverage and in the last several plays, the Lions QB’s went away from him in the middle with his great coverage. I know that some of you think I give too many details but I like to watch how Martz and Barry work the chess match. That allows you to really read a players progress. Both are among the best in the league and after three good plays, they stayed away from Baldwin and that tells you all you need to know at this point in the young LB’s development. They certainly don’t fear him but they respect him and his speed.
7. Boss Bailey continues to show flashes of his rookie season. Today he had Tatum Bell covered like a glove, but leaped into the air to block down a pass that was sailing over him towards another Lion receiver. I have to see more with pads but I can tell you that he looks great athletically and has no signs of injury.
8. Travis Fisher is not an option as the Lions starting CB (a FACT I have told you since BEFORE they signed him) but he is solidly the nickel back and if Fernando and Stanley stay healthy he will stay there. Now obviously if Stanley or Fernando take a crap then he could step up but that doesn’t appear to be in the cards.
9. Fernando doesn’t do interviews. We talked today and I will have one with him for you all to see next week.Â
10. Keith Smith continues to play well. He seems to be playing football more than trying to think. Whether it is peewee or the NFL means nothing. This game is played and when you are trying to think too much it is evident. Keith has the ability, but now that he is starting to play I think he could shine. Again, there are no pads so let’s wait and see, but I can tell you that he has never looked this good before.
11.  Shaun Cody sure is light on his feet. I talked with him today about it and he agreed that being back and having the toe fixed is really opened him up. “It was hard last year and all, I didn’t feel like I was part of the team. They needed me so bad and I wanted to be out there so bad it really hurt.” Also, he and I have a nice little bet going. He can’t get those ugly cornrows back and he if doesn’t I have to buy my boy dinner, if they ever adorn his head again then he buys for me. A bet I am sure he doesn’t want. Sorry Shaun I had to get that out there so you can’t tell me you forgot!
12. KJ went from just jogging to running (half speed) and making cuts today. He looked super good and strong. I can tell you that if he is healthy then the Lions will have the best RB group in the NFL. I talked with a defender who is a very good friend of mine from an AFC team today who told me when we talked about the three “there ain’t no better than that. My team is good but that is it bro.”
13. IAF continues to workout. He continues to run and work the hands and I can tell you that he is chomping at the bit to get in. He has some incredible feet. For all of the pundits that think the Lions “missed” a speed rusher in the draft, I say you need to watch film.
14. There was 100% attendance today. Roy was late, but he had weather issues on a plane connection from Houston. I talked with him after practice and he was on his way to the weight room. He had a hamstring injury (very mild at best) during the mini-camp but started practicing last week. They had one rookie that can’t be there because of NFL rules about college exams and of course Redding can’t participate until he signs his deal.
15. O.K. let me mock myself for a moment. Joe Barry had his two boys at practice. His two sons are just wonderfully adorable boys and they were wearing Ronaldo’s soccer jersey. So I asked Rod about his grandsons wearing soccer jerseys and not football. He laughed and said that he doesn’t get involved in dressing decisions. Anyways, I walked over to Joe who was playing on the ground with his boys to joke with him about it and he told his oldest son to ask me if a guy wearing a pink shirt (I had a short sleeve pink shirt on) should mock him. It was a lot of fun. Later when I was in the hallway with Kenoy Kennedy he told me he expected to get it from me. In case you’re wondering, it is nice to see coaches that work so hard, but have a great sense of commitment to family. I am proud of you, Joe, for being such a highly respected DC, but I admire you for being able to balance being a great Dad. By the way brother, I am getting you a pink Hondo’s House shirt. By the way people I will get video of that when I give it to him.

I will have more all week, as well as, some great interviews on the site.