DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE AFTER THE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2006 PRACTICE

DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2006TODAY'S NEWS

The Lions had a full-squad practice today on the outdoor fields at the team's headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park. The team worked out in helmets and shorts.
TE Dan Campbell, LB Teddy Lehman and WR Scottie Vines remain on the PUP list and did not practice today.
LB Boss Bailey, TE Casey FitzSimmons, S Jon McGraw, WR Charles Rogers, DT Shaun Rogers, RT Barry Stokes, RT Rex Tucker and RG Damien Woody also missed practice today.
The Detroit Lions will open the road portion of their 2006 preseason at Cleveland Browns Stadium Friday, August 18 at 7:30 p.m.Â This week's game marks the 38th time the two teams have faced each other in the preseason, in what has become known as the Great Lakes Classic. The Lions will enter the game trying to build off their preseason opening 20-13 victory against the Broncos. Cleveland will host Detroit after falling to the Eagles 20-7 at Philadelphia in their first exhibition game.
Friday's game will be televised live in Metro Detroit on WKBD-TV UPN Channel 50 with Frank Beckmann handling play-by-play, former Lions DT Kelvin Pritchett adding color commentary and local sportscaster Steve Courtney reporting from the sideline. The games can also be viewed throughout the state of Michigan and portions of northwest Ohio on: WBKB-TV CBS Ch. 11 (Alpena); WFQX-TV FOX Ch. 33 (Cadillac/Traverse City); WJMN-TV CBS Ch. 3 (Escanaba); WXMI-TV FOX Ch. 17 (Grand Rapids); WSYM-TV FOX Ch. 47 (Lansing); WNEM-TV CBS Ch. 5 (Saginaw/Flint/Bay City) and WNWO NBC Ch. 24 (Toledo, Ohio).
The Lions preseason game at Cleveland is scheduled to be re-aired Saturday, August 19 at noon on WKBD-TV UPN 50. Viewers, especially those outside the Metro Detroit area, will also have the opportunity to see Friday's game replayed on the NFL Network August 19 at 4 p.m.

LIONS HEAD COACH ROD MARINELLI
Opening statement: "It was just a day of good preparation. We put a lot of work in on the field - a lot of running. The biggest thing is the execution; it's vital, so (hopefully) I can say that everyday. I'm very pleased with their preparation. (To be) this deep into camp and to run like they're running is impressive. We're starting to get into pretty decent shape. We've got to get better at it though.

"Injury wise, I think we're fine. Charles Rogers' knee is sore, no big deal. We're just waiting on that to heal up. Jon McGraw, we held him out; his knee is sore. Boss Bailey, we're just watching the hamstring and being smart with that - until he feels right. Other than that I think we're getting healthy. These guys are ready to go."

On what he's looking to accomplish in the second preseason game: "The same as the first: win each snap. That's our goal; to come out and every man that goes out there continues to play and we improve our system and we improve our players. They understand they're getting evaluated. That's the goal every snap."

On what it will mean to the Lions defense to get LB Boss Bailey back at full strength: "To get a special guy like him (back), there's no question it's exciting. I'm excited to have that. That's why we're pacing him just a little bit and to make sure he's totally healthy. The guys that have been in there are doing a great job. We'll just play with who we have."

On whether it concerns him that he hasn't had all his defensive playmakers practicing together: "Of course. I can't wait to get Shaun (Rogers) back. Boss (Bailey) is in there a lot. He gets a lot of the 9-on-7, so he's getting the work; not enough, we'd like more but really it's only those two."

On whether he's starting to reach a comfort level with his football team: "I guess I haven't thought about it. I'm just coming out day-to-day, wanting to reach a certain standard and trying to hold them to the standard they want to be held to - (as far as) our speed and our tempo. One thing I appreciate is how hard they're going at it. Everyday they come out and I'll be honest: we have not had a bad practice this camp. We have not had a practice that lacked effort this camp. Sometimes we could have caught the ball or made assignment errors or got knocked out of a gap, but the effort and the intensity and the angles and the willingness in the meetings and the walkthrough - I've been very impressed. We've been very tough on them; very, very tough on them. They're responding very well."

On whether he can say which quarterback will play after QB Jon Kitna: "We're going to meet tonight. It's Wednesday and we have our 10 o'clock staff meeting on rotations and how we'll look at this game."

On RB Arlen Harris: "He did a nice job in our first preseason game. He's got some nice versatility where he can catch, he knows he can block; he's got some ability to do some nice things in terms of running the ball. We'll just wait and see but it's been a good start for him."

On whether Harris' experience in Mike Martz's offense allows him to help his fellow backs: "Yes, I think so, but we've been together now since March and we've gotten a million reps. You can see the pace we go at; we picked up a hundred reps today. Hopefully by paying attention in meetings and doing these reps we should be getting it."

On whether he's beginning to feel like he can trust most of the guys on the roster that he has now: "To this point, yes. We're still in the process of learning everything. This week has changed a little bit and next week will be a drastic change - we'll get a full week of game preparation. (Today) was like a Wednesday or Thursday practice for a game week so you can see the schedule is completely different; the periods are different, the cards and all of those things. They adapt to that very well. Everything is going to be a little bit different and you're going into kind of a gray area. They've just responded. The thing we have to - it's not just them, it's us. We have to make it clean and clear to them and communicate exactly what we want and how we want it done. Trust is a two-way street."

On the importance of conditioning in football: "You want to be a physical team and to be a physical team you have to be in shape. You might hit really well; you might be a very physical, good hitting football team but without great conditioning you can't hit in the fourth quarter. You lose your ability to hit and tackle and pass rush and run-block and all of those things. Being in great shape is the key. You've got to be in tremendous physical shape."

On whether this team has the 'stamina' he wants them to have yet: "We're trying to raise the bar; just keep working at it every week. They are in good shape, I believe that right now. I sensed that last week but nobody played a full game either. A couple guys got in for 30-some snaps."

On when he thinks he'll have a better feel for this team's conditioning: "Maybe after the opener (laughter). That's when you've got to zero it in but everything is pushed toward that. Just a day like today is a tremendous amount of running. They seem to be getting used running and that running is good."

On whether it's difficult for players to catch up if they're out of shape: "I think it really is. The pace of the practice will determine our conditioning. We won't run wind sprints and do those things. I love just practicing football fast. (We've had) pursuit drills. I would be surprised if we're not in really good shape with as much running as we've done and the way they responded to it. If you have them put the work in camp, if you have a conditioned, hardened and physical team - don't expect to get it half-way through the season. Once you don't get it, you'll never get it. You can't get it during the season."

COURTESY OF THE LIONS

Add us as a preferred source on Google