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Thread: 2007 - Lions notes

  1. #21
    im like the lardass from stand by me, just gorging on cornbread.

    this is our year baby!

  2. #22
    Mort. Stats Team Upside Int. Total
    10 0 0 20 20 50

    40. Calvin Johnson



    We already can hear you: "The guy hasn't played a snap in The League, and you're putting him in Canton?" In a word: YES. Johnson possesses such an elite skill-set that, barring injury, it's difficult to imagine him not becoming a dominant NFL wideout. The perception is that there isn't a lot of talent in Detroit to help Johnson. But with a solid possession receiver in Roy Williams holding down the other side of the field in Mike Martz's pass-happy scheme, it's entirely possible that Johnson is the missing piece to make the Lions into a formidable offense for years to come -- assuming Detroit gets him into camp.

  3. #23
    Lions are hot, but healthy
    by Brian VanOchten | The Grand Rapids Press Thursday August 02, 2007, 12:01 PM



    A few impressions from Day 8 of Detroit Lions' training camp in Allen Park.



    Hot stuff. So much for the pleasant mid-70s and low-80s temperatures that greeted players during the first couple days of training camp last week. It's sizzling out there, which, of course, makes the coaching staff smile and the players sweat.
    Yep, these 90-plus temps and stifling humidity tells us one thing -- it's football weather. And, best of all, the Lions are much, much healthier at this stage of camp in Rod Marinelli's second season at the helm than they were last year.

    Still missing
    It remains a prolonged waiting game for first-round draft pick and No. 2 overall selection Calvin Johnson to report to camp. The wide receiver from Georgia Tech was a no-show once again Thursday morning despite ongoing negotiations with the Lions to reach agreement on a multi-year contract.

    ESPN's John Clayton reported that Johnson was expected to show up either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. He didn't. Another Web site said Johnson would report Thursday to camp. Nope. So far, no good.

    Hanging out
    Lions president and general manager Matt Millen spent some time holding court with a group of reporters during Thursday morning's practice session.

    He swapped jokes, quoted lines from favorite films and showed he's just one of the guys. I've spoken to numerous TV personalities and staffers from Fox Sports and other networks who still refer to Millen as one of the nicest guys around.

    Yes, he's very approachable. Yes, he's extremely engaging. He just needs to get a handle on that running an NFL franchise thing.

  4. #24
    Glenn's Avatar
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    Lions are hot, but healthy
    by Brian VanOchten | The Grand Rapids Press

    Find a new slant.

  5. #25
    ^Blaha wanna be.
    Phil Wenneck: The man purse. You actually gonna wear that or are you just fuckin' with me?
    Alan Garner: It's where I keep all my things. Get a lot of compliments on this. Plus it's not a purse, it's called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one.

  6. #26
    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn
    Lions are hot, but healthy
    by Brian VanOchten | The Grand Rapids Press

    yeah, there wasn't much to that one

  7. #27
    maybe this will help, it went along with the blog



    nope

  8. #28
    Lions Sign First-Round Draft Pick WR Calvin Johnson
    August 3, 2007
    Allen Park, Mich. - The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed first-round draft choice WR Calvin Johnson to a
    six-year deal. Additional terms of Johnson's contract were not disclosed.

    Johnson (6-5, 239), was taken by the Lions second overall in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech, where he is regarded as this year's premier playmaker coming out of the entry draft. His tremendous combination of size, speed and catching ability have earned him All-American honors on two occasions and have groomed him for a career in the NFL. Johnson was named to the first team All-ACC three consecutive years (2004-06). He was also awarded the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2004. In 38 games, Johnson set school records with 2,927 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. His 178 career receptions rank him second all-time in Yellow Jacket's history.

    In 2006 Johnson tied for second in the nation with 15 touchdown receptions. He set a school single-season record of 1,202 receiving yards on 78 receptions. He led the ACC in receptions per game (5.4) and receiving yards-per-game (85.9). Johnson was named ACC Offensive Back of the Week four weeks during the season (including three of the first five weeks). He showcased one of his best performances during the Toyota Gator Bowl against West Virginia, in which he caught nine receptions for a career-best 186 yards. Johnson was credited with the 2006 Biletnikoff Award given to the nation's top receiver, and named the 2006 ACC Conference Player of the Year. He finished 10th in the nation in balloting for the Heisman Trophy.

    Johnson led the Jackets with 54 receptions for 888 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore in 2005. He ranked second among the ACC in receiving yards per game (74.0) and fifth in receptions (4.5). Johnson was named to first-team all-America by the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA), and to second-team all-America by the Associated Press and Walter Camp. He also unanimously earned all-ACC honors for his second consecutive season. Johnson was a semifinalist for the 2005 Biletnikoff Award.

    In 2004 Johnson set Georgia Tech freshman records with 48 catches for 837 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named first-team all-ACC, only the 11th true freshman to earn such honors. Johnson was named first-team Freshman All-America by the Sporting News and Rivals.com. He was also recognized as the ACC Rookie of the Week on four separate occasions.

    Johnson is highly touted for his athleticism, speed and acrobatic excellence. In 2004 his one-handed grab over the middle (on a ball thrown well behind him) against N.C. State was selected as the No. 1 Top Play of the Day on ESPN. The same play was later recognized as the No. 2 Top Play for the entire college football season.
    and now the bread feast begins


  9. #29
    Blog: Martz gets irritated with offensive sloppiness
    by Tom KowalskiMonday August 06, 2007, 11:34 AM



    Impressions of Monday's morning practice ...



    Offensive coordinator Mike Martz was not in a happy mood and nearly everybody felt his wrath, including the guys working the chain gang on the sideline. After the players had the day off on Sunday, Martz apparently wasn't thrilled with the players' attention to detail on their practice back. Quarterbacks, receivers and running backs all got their fair share from Martz. The offensive linemen didn't hear it as much, but that's only because line coach Jim Colletto lit into them during the 9-on-7 drill.


    Rookie receiver Calvin Johnson was working most of the time with the second unit, but don't read anything into it.


    Running back Tatum Bell looks very comfortable running routes when he's lined up on the outside. A lot of backs look a little lost when they're out in space like that and not just running flares or circling out of the backfield. Bell, though, runs his routes strong and sharp and can catch the ball in full stride.


    Speaking of Bell, he made a terrific move -- a hop/cut -- in the guard-tackle gap during a running play and nobody laid a glove on him. It brought some oohs and ahhhs from his teammates.


    Unlike previous years, the Lions will not be protecting Eddie Drummond in the early preseason games. Drummond might not play in the preseason opener because of a lingering hip injury, but he's going to get plenty of action after that. Drummond has to show that he's still got a lot of spark on special teams -- and not just as a returner -- and needs to win a job.


    The retirement of Eric Beverly could pave the way for a roster spot for Darnell Sanders, who had almost no chance of making the team if Beverly had stuck around. While both Casey FitzSimmons and Sean McHugh can also play tight end, they don't have the size to be effective blockers in the two-tight end sets. If the Lions plan on using enough of those formations, Sanders could stick.


    Cornerback Fernando Bryant made a great play on the sideline, cutting in front of "out'' route and put himself in position for an interception. It'd would've been a tough catch, but Bryant was furious with himself for not coming up with it. Still, it was a solid veteran play.


  10. #30

    ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- With training camp well underway, the task of preparing for the preseason is quickly approaching Head Coach Rod Marinelli and the Detroit Lions.
    This morning’s full-team padded practice did not touch on this Thursday’s preseason match-up with the Cincinnati Bengals, but Marinelli and the coaching staff will begin preparation this evening.
    “It was a good, padded morning,” said Marinelli. “It’s an ‘A’ practice for us in terms of schedule. We hit well this morning, kept them in pads all the way through it. I still want to kind of work on us, what we’re doing. It’s still about us. It’s not about the preseason opponent yet.”
    The team has position meetings this afternoon leading up to a thorough walkthrough this evening. Marinelli is planning to let the players go early so the staff can begin preparation for Cincinnati. Then tomorrow will begin game planning on the practice field.
    “We have to card some things up tomorrow,” said Marinelli. “It’s the first time we’ve done that since last year. So that’s a whole new learning experience. It’s a whole new experience about tempo and that’s my biggest concern: pace and fundamentals. So it’s something we’ve got to deal with as we get ready to prepare.”
    ‘Carding’ is when the coaches write out opponent fronts and alignments and show them to one side of the ball. For the Detroit defense, this will be important in reading Cincinnati’s shifts and movements while the Lions’ offense will work on reading alignments, fronts and coverages.
    It will give players the opportunity to react and ready themselves for Thursday night.
    “I’ve got to emphasize that tonight: understand your role,” said Marinelli. “When you’re running a card team, you’ve got to be exact, perfect. It’s hard to be a good football team without that look.”

    Rookie Impact

    Head Coach Rod Marinelli saw good things out of rookie defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis (known as "Five-O") in today's morning practice, citing his speed and explosiveness.
    Rookie wide receiver Calvin Johnson signed with the Lions just three days ago and he is already turning heads in Detroit. At the team’s open practice at Ford Field, Johnson received cheers and applause with everything he did.
    While Johnson’s natural talent is already obvious, Marinelli and the coaching staff are working to get him caught up physically and with the mental reps he missed at the outset of camp.
    “He’s got to make sure he knows what he’s doing all the time,” said Marinelli. “So that’s on us right now, because he’s still a young player. He’s a young guy and he’s missed a lot. So we’ve just got to condition him in knowing what to do.
    “But he’s got a chance to obviously be very, very special. It dictates coverage problems for people, and once again, he has a chance to open up your running game a little bit.”
    As far as rookie standouts, Johnson has already turned heads but other Lions are also drawing attention for their hard work and progress.
    “Calvin has done some nice things,” said Marinelli. “Five-O (DE Ikaika Alama-Francis) – today it’s just like you’re really starting to see it a little bit right now. He looked faster and more explosive today. That was fun to see. Gerald Alexander –he’s a smart guy; he’s a good, young, solid player.
    “So those three are on course. But they’re (all) making progress, which they should.”
    “We feel a whole lot more comfortable in that aspect,” said Sims. “Last year we were just getting a glimpse of what the Tampa-2 defense is about. This year we’re really moving on it.”
    One of the biggest reasons for that is first-year Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry. Barry’s expertise having coached in the system for six seasons coupled with his likeable personality has defensive players thriving in camp.
    “You can have a good coach that doesn’t have a good personality, but he’s (still) a good coach,” said Sims. “It’s a good addition with him; he loves the game and has a good personality and loves to be around the players.”
    It is just one of the sparks that has that side of the ball eager to begin the 2007 season.
    “We’re feeling really excited about this year; even the coaches,” said Sims. “You walk into the meeting room and everybody’s having a good time. The coaches are excited, everybody is excited – excited to come into the meeting room and watch the tape that we just (made). The coaches are eager to get back on the field and it’s a good environment.”
    The Detroit defense will have its first official test this Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Though it is a preseason game, there is that anticipation of playing a true opponent for the first time since the conclusion of the 2006 season.
    “It should be kind of fun getting a chance to play against an opponent,” said Sims. “I get tired of seeing our own offense and that means I get to go hit somebody on another team.”
    is anybody else reading these posts?

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