DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE HEAR FROM SARGE, LOVIE AND URLACHER

TODAY'S NEWS The Lions practiced on the indoor field in pads today at the team headquarters and training facility in Allen Park. The following players have been

TODAY'S NEWS

• The Lions practiced on the indoor field in pads today at the team headquarters and training facility in Allen Park.
• The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions' injury report: WR Shaun Bodiford (knee) and TE Casey FitzSimmons (wrist) are out. LG Ross Verba (hamstring) is questionable. Bodiford, FitzSimmons and Verba each missed the team portion of practice.
• The following players have been listed on the Chicago Bears' injury report: WR Justin Gage (rib), S Chris Harris (ankle), DT Tommie Harris (ankle), LB Hunter Hillenmeyer (head), DE Israel Idonije (ankle), TE Gabriel Reid (back) and RB J.D. Runnels (ankle) are questionable. Chris Harris and Reid each missed the team portion of practice.
• Detroit will play their first divisional opponent this season when they travel to Chicago to battle the Bears at Soldier Field. In the last eight meetings between the two teams, six games have been decided by six points or less with each team winning four games. This week, Detroit will look to rebound from a heartbreaking 6-9 loss to the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks while Chicago looks to win their second straight NFC North matchup after shutting out the Packers, 19-0, last week at Lambeau Field.

LIONS HEAD COACH ROD MARINELLI
Opening statement: "Out will be (Shaun) Bodiford and Casey (FitzSimmons). Ross Verba, who came back and had a good work day, (is questionable). We're trying to get to know this team right now, the Bears. Everything we've talked about is getting back to what we do and the non-talented issues. That's the whole thing; it's how fast and hard and efficient we can play for four quarters. So that's the goal: to get back to fundamentals, to understand this opponent and more importantly to understand ourselves."

On if TE Casey FitzSimmons and LG Ross Verba will be ready for Sunday's game: "We got him (Verba) in but it's going to be close and no, he's (FitzSimmons) is just getting that thing right now. I think within two weeks (FitzSimmons) should be in pretty good shape. We'll se how Ross does and we'll go from there."

On how the signing of WR Az-Zahir Hakim will affect the wide receiver rotation: "Well, right now we just got him in there the first day. We are just trying to get him in and get him work and see where he's at. He's got a good history with Mike (Martz), so we just have to see how this whole thing works this week as we go in practice - we'll wait and see."

On if he thinks Hakim will be ready on Sunday: "It's the first day he's really run in pads. We have to go and watch his tape today and see where we're at tomorrow and see how this whole thing unfolds this week."

On Hakim's familiarity with the offense: "He's really got a good history with Mike (Martz). He understands this offense, the speed and the pace it's played at; he's had a lot of success in it. I thought it was wise for us to go out, grab him and take a good look at him."

On whether RT Rex Tucker will be ready for Chicago: "Yeah, he should be ready to go."

On if Tucker will start: "I think he has a great chance to start this week. It looks like he's just about full (strength). When I looked at him again today he was running around pretty good"

On how much Coach Marinelli will talk to Coach Martz regarding Lovie Smith's game plan: "We talked last night a little bit about it. You have to remember he also played Lovie every day in practice for three years too. He has a good feel, but he's going to do what he does, just like we do. We're going to do what we do and try to do it very well. Yet a guy like (Offensive Line Coach Larry Beightol) who has played him the last four times; Mike is very familiar with him. I'm also very familiar with him. So we'll talk, but sometimes though you can get too much information and you just have to go back and do what we do; how we do things and I want (them) to pick up the pace all the way as a team. Our tempo and our pace just has to be a little bit better."

On his reaction to WR Roy Williams' supposedly guaranteeing a win Sunday: "The thing I always tell him, he's got to go do it in pads. Put the pads on and we go play."

On if he was bothered by Williams' guarantee and how he handled it with the team: "Well, we just talked in the team meeting, we'll just leave it at that."

On the thought of playing Barry Stokes at left guard: "What it does, Stokes has a chance to play both sides; both tackle positions too. He has the ability to play just about every spot for us as we get going. We have the young guard out there and he obviously has to get to know what he's doing. It's going to be a heck of a challenge for us; it's going to be fun. It's a very good defense up-field; it's a fast explosive defense and we have to do what we do and counter that and our defense has to show up and play. It's going to be an exciting game."

On if he wanted to practice outside today: "One of the days I will. I'd like to try tomorrow. I have to get the big men, their feet used to grass again, the balance and all of those things. Hopefully we'll see if we can get out a little bit tomorrow."

On what he likes most about Hakim: "The one thing is, he has a great feel for this offense the details of this offense; the speed that you have to play; the cuts, the breaks and all of those things. He's done it in this offense and he's got really good quickness. I think he brings a veteran presence to this group, which we need also, that's good. Now, we just have to se how he works out during the rest of the week."

On if WR Mike Williams is going to see the field Sunday: "We'll have to talk about him and watch the tape. Its (about) speed and details and he's working. So we have to find that right mix and put the right guys on the field and play at the pace we want to play at."

On how much player-coach connections matter: "It's like, Tyoka Jackson - when I brought Ty here with me. Different guys that you have, they really understand sometimes exactly the picture you're trying to create. It may be at practice, the speed and the tempo. It's the exact detail sometime when you've been with a guy for awhile and it's always good. The veteran guys, I like those veterans who can play; the guys that can really understand and bring something to the team."
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On if that creates a picture for everybody else: "Sometimes that does. You can just see the: 'oh wow, I see why you're doing that.' So you're in the process of just continually teaching, teaching, teaching with the idea the tempo, the pace, the physicalness - all those things you have to have. That has to just keep surfacing for me. I want to be physical; I want to tackle - all of those things."

On LB Boss Bailey's performance vs. Seattle: "He got better as the game kept going. Right now we have a nice mix of four guys rolling in there. They are all playing about the same snaps and I like that. You can see him getting better and better. His speed is coming back right now and that's really a fast, fast group of linebackers. As hard as I want them to run, the rotation will be good."

On how often he and Lovie Smith talk to each other: "I'd say about every other couple of weeks, two to three weeks."

On if he talked to Smith this week: "No, no this week. We just have to go get our work done."

On if he would have went to Chicago in 2004 if Tampa Bay would have allowed him too: "Yes."

On if the position in Chicago was a defensive coordinator: "Yes, when Lovie first got the job - we were very close and it was a job at that point."

On if it's more fun or more difficult to coach against your friends: "What's fun about this is: I know how detailed he is; I know how hard that team is going to play. Not anything's going to surprise me in terms of intensity, the speed and the fundamentals. Those are going to be there. So, yeah its fun to do those things and to compete against that; I know what's on the plate and I know we have to be bringing our stuff."

CONFERENCE CALL WITH BEARS HEAD COACH LOVIE SMITH
On what he thought of WR Roy Williams guarantee of a win on Sunday: "The game will be won on the field, we don't really get into a lot of that. We're just anxious to play them like they are us."

On how pleased he was on their win against the Packers: "We're pleased with our efforts in all three phases for an opening game. Preseason to me is a glorified practice; you really don't know until you get to that first football game to truly set the bar and see where you are and go from there. We've made progress each week, which is good. We have a long ways to go - we made a lot of mistakes in that game."

On how his relationship with Rod (Marinelli) and Mike (Martz) will effect the preparation for Sunday's game and who has the advantage: "I don't see who has the advantage on that. I mean, Tony Dungy's tree going back to his - there are so many of us out there right now and we're going to play against each other from now on it seems like. I've known Mike for a long time; he knows us. I think games are still won based on execution. For us, it's about the most physical team; the team that plays the hardest and makes the fewest mistakes. I think it's as simple as that. You look at the tape and you have an idea of what everybody will run against you."

On if he was surprised the Lions couldn't get on track last week, knowing Mike (Martz) as well as he does: "It's one game. I don't put a lot into what happens in one football game. Mike has a proven success rate with his offense and with what he gets done with that. So, again, I watched the tape and they were very close to scoring a lot of points."

On if he can tell this team has Rod Marinelli's 'thumb print' all over it: "You guys know Rod right now; I don't have to tell you an awful lot about what Rod's team will look like. I think it's fairly obvious what Rod's team will look like - does it have his stamp on it? Yeah, I would definitely say so."

On if he had originally wanted to hire Rod as his defensive coordinator, but the Buccaneers wouldn't let him out of his contract: "Yes, that's exactly what happened. Rod, again, is a great coach. If he had gotten his job before I got mine I would hope he would want me to come on his staff and I definitely wanted him to be on mine."

On what he thinks of the NFC North seemingly running the same defense: "Well, what I think about it is that it's a simple approach to playing good, hard-nosed football. With free agents and new guys coming in - they come and they go - and you have to have a system that guys can adjust to fairly quick and with our philosophy based on trying to get as many athletes as you can on the football field - guys with speed, that play fast and things and like that - what we've found is a brand of football that players like to play. So, of course I'm biased and I really believe the system (I've coached in) every year that I've been in the league, so of course I believe in it quite a bit."

On how long it took his team to execute the simple defense in a way that he was happy with: "Well, we're still - this past week we weren't happy with everything we did then. I think all systems are a work in progress and you never stop trying to improve them. But, I think you can make a quick jump in it - just look, Detroit played great defense this past week; Minnesota did; Indy did - most of us in our system played pretty good defense. When I went to St. Louis on Mike's staff we made a big turn around fairly quickly with what we were doing."

On how last year he had said he wanted to build on one side of the ball first and made a conscious effort to go with defense. Does he think what he did last year and what he's doing now validated that building process: "Well, I hope so. Because as a head football coach, I think when you do get your opportunity you have to go with what you believe in and I got the job because of what I knew on the defensive side of the football. I think most head coaches - if you're a head football coach and you've been hired because of your expertise, you need to keep it that way. We started with that, but at the same time you know that you have to be able to score points to win and even though we concentrated on the defense early, we put a lot in our offense also."

On even though he lost in the first round of the playoffs last year, what does he think the value of the experience was: "I think you have to validate what you've been telling your players and what you've been saying about your systems as you come in. I think the only way to do that is to win and that's what we were able to do last year. We set a bar when we first got here and we've made steady improvements from that. Even though - and I think when you come in new, most of the time you don't jump up to the top right away, I'm talking about in winning a world championship - it's a process and that's what we preach to our players. It's about individual improvement and for us as a football team to just improve each step of the way. We're taking steps right now and that's all I want the team to do."

On if he has a predetermined plan of how he wants to use his running backs going into the game or if he let's that be a 'feel' as the game is going on: "Yes, we have a predetermined plan. Would you like for me to tell it to you right now? I figured you would - you and Rod, too. I think it's just like a game plan. You go into the game with a game plan, but you always adjust as the game goes along and that'll be our plan with all of our personnel moves that we go through, through a game."

On the value of having QB Brian Griese and if it's helped QB Rex Grossman: "Competition helps everyone. There's nothing like having, you know, competition that everyone knows about. Brian, yes he did bring quite a bit - not only to our quarterback position - but, to our football team. He's played a lot of football at a high level. He's been great for Rex. Our quarterback position is in the best shape it's been in, of course, since I've been here; and again, Brian has come in and been a great teammate and helped quite a bit."

On how important it was right away to eliminate the controversy and say that (Rex) Grossman is going to be the guy: "I really don't try to eliminate controversy or adversity and things like that. I think it's great for the team to go through it; but, in the end the cream always comes to the top and to me it's easy on who you go with at the end of the day. Players always tell you who should start and who should play and as a head football coach and as a football coach I've always listened. I watch what they've done on the field and it always works its way out."

On if he has Marinelli's same philosophy that the tape tells the story: "Yes, I would say that. In Chicago we say that it's our philosophy. Is Rod saying that too? Hey we came from the same family so we definitely do."

On when the last time he and Rod spoke: "We talk. Rod is a life long friend, so I'll just say that. We won't be doing a whole lot of talking this week, he didn't call me and of course I don't plan on talking with him this week; but, again our relationship goes a lot further and a lot deeper than that."

On if it's rare for a week to go by that they don't talk: "I'm just going to say that Rod is a good friend of mine and we communicate often, how's that?"

On if he has any bet on the game: "Oh, no. I'm just excited about a good NFC North division game. We're excited about playing at home, you can believe that; but, again I've heard a lot about how weak this division is but I'm not a believer in that, I think it will be a strong division once it's all said and done and this is a great game that both of us are looking forward to."

CONFERENCE CALL WITH BEARS LB BRIAN URLACHER
On what he did to the Packers in their shutout Sunday: "We just played hard, you know, we didn't make that many plays we just played solid defense and we got them in some bad situations on third-and-long and our offense controlled the ball - we had like 18 plays in the first half, which is pretty big for us and it just gave us a chance to rest."

On if he expects a lot of changes in the Lions' offense, now that it's no longer the west coast: "Yeah, I mean it's pretty much been the same since I've been in the league - except for this year, since (Mike) Martz got there. We expect a lot of shifts and motions and all that good stuff - stuff they did in St. Louis."

On how much different it is in terms of structure since he's been around the past five years: "Just pretty much the same thing that the Rams did. Like I said earlier, different personnel - now, they don't have quite the receivers that the Ram's had - but, it's more pass and I think in the past they (the Lions) tried to run the ball for the most part. This year it seems more pass oriented."

On what his take is on Lions WR Roy Williams guarantee: "Next question."

On why he doesn't want to address the issue: "Next question, please."

On if he's obviously aware of the comment made: "Next question, please."

On what kind of adjustment they made when Head Coach Lovie Smith took over there: "It's a great defense, No.1. If you do it the right way, you're going to have a chance to make a lot of plays. I think the Vikings played pretty well last week on defense, not saying they don't have a good offense - you just have a chance to get a lot of big hits, it's an attacking style defense and you get down hill and back field. If your corners can cover, you get a chance to play about an 8-man front and stop the run pretty well."

On if there's any advantage since Lovie (Smith) coached with (Mike) Martz in St. Louis: "Well if there is I think it's for Martz, because he knows this defense pretty well - especially with coaching with coach Marinelli who is running the same defense. It's got to be an advantage to him, I think, because he can always change his offense up a little bit."

On how long he thinks it took to get the defense down to a point to where he was really effective with it: "Probably like three years. The first year in the system, No. 1, we had a bunch of guys hurt, and then last year we were still learning quite a bit but once we got the hang of it - one thing his defense allows you to do is play fast. You have your key every play and once you read keys you just go. So, probably three years and then this year we're getting better and better every year we're in the system."

On his individual battle playing against FB Cory Schlesinger: "The offense has changed now man - it's not going to be the same. The leads they used to run - they'll still run the leads, but it's a little different running game now so, I just have to adjust. He's a great player to play against. He's been there since I've been here, I think it's his twelve or thirteenth year. So he knows what he's doing; he's a solid guy and he's been around for awhile."

On what kind of adjustments he makes as a middle linebacker in this defense and what is LB Boss Bailey going to go through: "Is Boss playing middle now? Oh, just the Cover-2, man. It's what I said before; it's not very fun when we play Cover-2 for me. The 'Will' linebacker, you know, that's where you want to be when you're playing Cover-2. Just run down the middle most of the time, you got to be slow. There are different variations of the Cover-2 in this scheme and ours is a little different than most peoples but, just run down the middle, try to read the quarterback and not get beat. Boss is a tall guy though, and he has a great vertical so he shouldn't have to get too deep down the middle."

On how he feels going into the season: "Oh we're very excited, we're very optimistic. We had 22 starters coming back from last year's team and a bunch of solid backups. I think we got better in the offseason. We got Ricky Manning, Dante Wes - he's from Carolina; we had a good draft - some real good players and we got healthy and that's the No. 1 thing. We had a lot of guys hurt last season and we got healthy and we know what we were last year, just got to get better this year."

On what the value of the playoff run and experience was: "It was fun until we got to that playoff game and then we didn't do so hot, obviously. I think we learned a lot about ourselves in that game. We can't just go out there and expect to win and not go out there and play. We know what we need to do this year."

On what he remembers about the game they won vs. the Lions last year (38-6): "That was a good game for us. I think we scored on defense, special teams, our offense ran the ball pretty well, I think we had 5 picks - great pressure on the quarterback - just all around good game for us. It was our first win of the season also."

On if that was the spring board for the Bears last year: "No, because we lost the next two games. They put us to 1-1, then we lost the next two, then we ended up winning on the road after we lost those next two. I think we saw what we were capable of doing I think at that game, but we didn't go and do it the next two weeks."

On what kind of challenges QB Jon Kitna presents that perhaps QB Joey Harrington didn't: "Not that Joey isn't smart, but, Jon's been around in the league for awhile and he knows what people are trying to do to him. He won't buckle under pressure, I think he'll take a sack if he has to, he won't throw a pick when he gets pressure on him - not that Joey did, but, you know, Jon's been around for a while, he knows what's going on."

On how bad the Packers were: "I think they had a bad day. I'll put it that way. We played well, man, we could have played better. But we played pretty well in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. We controlled the ball and they just didn't make that many plays."

On what he thinks of the Lions' offensive line this year: "I know they got my man Rex (Tucker) over there. They've got some veteran guys; it's been the same guys basically - with (Damien) Woody, I think it's his third year there and (Jeff) Backus has been there for awhile and of course Dom (Raiola) at center. They've got a pretty good core of guys there, it's just a matter of getting it done and protecting the quarterback which I always thought they've done very well. I know one year they led the NFL with the least amount of sacks. Pressure is a big deal for our defense - they'll try and get the quarterback."

On if he's ever guaranteed a win: "Oh, probably not."

COURTESY OF THE LIONS