Daily Lions update and transcript of Rod Marinelli

The Lions completed their eighth day of two-a-day practice sessions today at the team's practice facility with morning and afternoon workouts. Both practices

• The Lions completed their eighth day of two-a-day practice sessions today at the team's practice facility with morning and afternoon workouts. Both practices took place on the outdoor fields. The team worked out in full pads in the morning and in shells (helmets and shoulder pads) in the afternoon.
• The team had nearly 20 alumni in attendance for today's morning's practice for Detroit Lions Alumni Day. Among them were former Pro Bowler QB Greg Landry (1968-78), RB Horace King (1975-83), G Bob Kowalkowski (1966-76), LB Scott Kowalkowski (1994-2001), DB Gary Lowe (1957-64) and B Wally Triplett (1949-50).
• WR Devale Ellis, RB Kevin Jones and DT Shaun Rogers remain on the PUP list and did not practice today. 
• The Detroit Lions will hold an open practice at Ford Field on Saturday, August 4, 2007. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. The Lions practice is free to the public - no ticket is necessary for entry. Fans can enter Ford Field at Gate A or Gate G. Practice will begin at 5 p.m. and will last until approximately 6:30 p.m. Immediately following practice, Ford Field will broadcast former Lions TE Charlie Sanders' 2007 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on the video boards. Parking will be available in the Ford Field Parking Deck on St. Antoine St. for $6.00 until 6 p.m. or until the deck is full. Autographs will not be available at the public practice.
• The team will also open three days of training camp practice sessions to the general public Friday, August 3, Monday, August 6 and Tuesday, August 7 at the team's Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park. Practices at the training facility in Allen Park will be limited to the first 500 fans per session. Fans can check http://www.detroitlions.com for more information.
• Tickets are still available for the Detroit Lions 2007 preseason home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday, August 9. The preseason home opener must be sold out by the NFL-mandated deadline of 72 hours before kickoff in order to lift the local television (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo markets) blackout. If a sellout is not reached by the deadline, the game will not air live in the blackout areas, including WKBD-TV CW 50 in Metro Detroit. Fans who purchase 2007 preseason individual game tickets can then purchase an equal number of regular season individual game tickets prior to the public on-sale date of Friday, August 31, 2007. To take advantage of this exclusive offer fans must call TicketMaster by phone at 248.645.6666. Fans can buy preseason game tickets through other outlets (in person at the Ford Field Ticket Office and TicketMaster outlets; online at Detroitlions.com and Ticketmaster.com); however, the regular season individual game offer is only available by placing TicketMaster phone orders.

 

LIONS HEAD COACH ROD MARINELLI
Opening statement: "Just a normal training camp day again. We came out, I thought there was pretty good energy this morning, and yesterday we had a walkthrough and then went no pads in the afternoon. I think they responded a little bit. They're tired, they're fatigued, but the biggest thing I just keep emphasizing, it's not the physical toughness, it's the mental toughness: doing things right when we're tired. Everybody in the league is feeling the same way right now; it's the teams that can do things right under duress. (Those are) the things I keep emphasizing and I think we'll be okay."

On DE Kalimba Edwards and the defensive line: "He's having a good camp, I feel good. Before Dewayne (White) got banged up, he was coming along as a good rusher. Jared (Devries) can rush, Corey (Smith) can rush, and then it's not just the one-on-one stuff, it's to be able to run pass-rush games, and the intelligent part of the rush, and some of those things. We'll see; the tackles have to really start to push this pocket for us. They've got to be able to take advantage of those singles."

On how dominant the offense can be: "It's good. Mike Martz, obviously, he's got a great background with offense. Obviously, we know that. I think we've got the right tools, but, more importantly, right chemistry right now. The energy, they're playing at the tempo we want. They've got good skill, good skill athletes, good skill at the runners, the tight ends, the O-line's coming through very well right now. They're getting coached very well. It's got a chance to be as good as we want to be. It's just about being on details now: it's just doing things right."

On the offensive line: "I think we brought (George) Foster in, I mean that's been a nice addition. (He's) a very (talented) veteran offensive lineman in this league. Edwin (Mulitalo) came in, and he's got a background with Jim (Colletto) at Baltimore, so that was two nice additions. Some of those young players from a year ago: Jonathon (Scott), Frank Davis, and (Stephen) Peterman all played last year for us and started. So that adds the depth. Throw Manny (Ramirez) in there, a rookie, and then you bring in (Dominic) Raiola, and Stokesy (Barry Stokes), and Jeff (Backus), and (Rex) Tucker. So, the competition, the age in the group, is perfect. You've got three or four young guys, some middle guys, and a couple of older veterans. You've got to mesh together. In this league, it's just about if guys will play together, know what to do - especially in that position, - get the hat on the right guy. Then you've got to execute, and we'll be fine."

On the secondary: "Boy, I like our safeties right now. I mean, Daniel Bullocks has really had a heck of a camp now. I mean, he's a big, fast, physical player. Kenoy (Kennedy) is a pro, and we've got the two other guys. We're two deep at that safety position, I really like it right now. Keith Smith is having a very good camp. We've just left him at one spot, doing one thing, and he's playing well. Stanley (Wilson) did some nice things for us last year, he's stepping up. Fernando's a pro, and you've got Travis Fisher, he's a good player now, and he's playing nickel for us. So, like I've said from the very beginning, kind of a no-name group. They've just got to do what we do. They're working hard at just playing the system. If they play the system well and the front gets a rush, we're going to be fine."

On an update on WR Calvin Johnson: "No. One day I say, 'Oh.' And the next day, it's 'No.' So, I don't know. I just line up and coach who we've got."

On any other injuries: "Oh, we've got a stinger; Joe Lobendahn had a stinger (that) I don't think will be very bad. Maybe, good chance he'll be back tomorrow. We've just got to get some of the other guys - we've got some hammies out there. And, what happens is, you get two or three guys at one position with hamstrings or something, then those other guys get worn down. And we keep the pace going, so we've just got to be smart with it."

On WR Eddie Drummond: "He's just (got)a hammy and hip flexor right now. So, we've got a few hammies, which, at that position, it's either the d-line or the wide receivers, because of the running those guys do. So hopefully we'll get a couple of these (guys) back to take the pressure off those other guys right now."

On when LB Teddy Lehman is expected back: "It's week-to-week, for sure. We'll evaluate every week, but it's just going to need time to heal. So he's going to be fine."

On DE Dewayne White: "I think they just want to be a little bit cautious with him, but I'm going to hope maybe early next week. I think early next week he's got a chance. He's been running now, and once that starts, then the healing process comes along pretty good."

On if White will play next Thursday: "I've got to see where he's at. I don't want to push that yet, I just want to be smart. Make sure he's healthy, and then we'll get him going."

On opening the practice up to the general public tomorrow: "Oh, that was important to us. We sat down and talked; I just thought that was really key for us. Sometimes, some people may not have that opportunity to ever come out and watch this team play or practice. So we just want to extend it and just have people come out and have a chance to see this football team, part of this community."

On G/T Barry Stokes: "He's great, he's a pro. How he prepares every day, (he's) in shape, all those things. He's great. You just love having him out there. Every day he's got high energy and has a lot of fun."

On if coaching the defense is work or fun: "It's fun. I just, enjoy it. I'm lucky. I'm very fortunate and very grateful that I can have the opportunity to have done what I've done my whole career: to coach ballplayers, be around ballplayers. That's where, like I was saying the other day, all of us just kind of take it for granted to come out to practice, to watch an NFL practice every day or be involved in it. These people here are just awesome. I mean, this is special to these people coming out. But every day is a good day."

On why Drummond didn't work out at receiver last year: "I just think just learning the position. The complexity, sometimes, of this system is enormous. You've really got to be grounded in it, it's something you've got to love and have a great passion to do it. Then you start moving guys around, where you're learning more than one or two spots, that's when the enormity of it comes into play. So, it's just learning. He had to move around."

On if it is better for Drummond to focus on returning: "Yeah, right now, we're just having him out there, and make sure he's got to still know what to do on offense, and then hammer away as a returner."

On how the QBs are looking: "(Jon) Kitna is on it right now, and it's just a nice, real good competitive situation with that second group between Dan (Orlovsky) and J.T. (O'Sullivan). So, they're picking up the offense, they're grasping the offense, they're executing it. So, it comes down to getting the preseason games here. In the 7-on-7s and some of those things - it's just knowing what to do. That's what you look for in practice: what to do."

On if they're preparing for Oakland: "No, we're just working on what we do. And it'll be that way when we start regular season: just work on what we do."