Lions Training Camp Preview

Discussion in 'NFC North' started by Vintage, Jul 18, 2008.

  1. Vintage

    Vintage Defeating Communism...

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>2007 season recap
    Squandered potential: The Lions started the season 6-2 and looked like they would fulfill QB Jon Kitna's wish for a 10-win season. The team only won one more game down the stretch and finished the season at 7-9.

    Training camp
    Location: Allen Park, Mich.
    Dates: July 23-Aug. 16
    Official Site: www.lions.com
    For more: Training camp dates
    2008 preseason schedule
    Date Opponent Time
    Aug. 7 New York Giants 7 p.m. ET
    Aug. 17 at Cincinnati 7:35 p.m. ET
    Aug. 23 Cleveland 4 p.m. ET
    Aug. 28 at Buffalo 6:30 p.m. ET

    Key comings and goings

    Veteran additions
    Leigh Bodden, CB
    Dwight Smith, S
    Michael Gaines, TE
    Chuck Darby, DT

    Veteran departures
    Kevin Jones, RB
    Shaun Rogers, DT
    T.J. Duckett, RB
    Kalimba Edwards, DE
    Boss Bailey, LB
    Teddy Lehman, LB
    Fernando Bryant, CB

    ยป Free agency tracker | Transactions

    2008 NFL Draft class
    Rd No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. School
    1 17 Gosder Cherilus OT 6-7 315 Boston College
    2 45 Jordon Dizon LB 6-0 229 Colorado
    3 64 Kevin Smith RB 6-1 217 Central Florida
    3 87 Andre Fluellen DT 6-2 296 Florida State
    3 92 Cliff Avril LB 6-3 252 Purdue
    5 145 Jason Shirley DT 6-5 329 Fresno State
    5 136 Kenneth Moore WR 5-11 195 Wake Forest
    5 146 Jerome Felton FB 6-0 246 Furman
    7 216 Landon Cohen DE 6-3 278 Ohio
    7 218 Caleb Campbell S 6-2 229 Army

    Key camp questions

    How will the offense adjust to Jim Colletto's new system?
    Without Mike Martz's pass-happy philosophy, the Lions will have a smaller playbook and actually use a running game this season, which will take pressure off of Kitna, who has talented receivers but needs time to make good decisions.

    Can the offensive line keep Kitna on his feet?
    Kitna threw for more than 4,000 yards last season, but he was also taken down 51 times, more than any other QB in the league. Detroit drafted T Gosder Cherilus in the first round, and he should help shore up the right side. But with most of last year's core back, the new zone- blocking scheme should make more of a difference than personnel.

    The defense can only get better, right?
    The Lions finished as the worst defensive team in the league last year, and then they traded away one of their best players, DT Shaun Rogers. But they added a slew of help for the secondary, including veteran CBs Leigh Bodden and Brian Kelly. The secondary must improve if Marinelli's preferred Tampa-2 system is to be successful in Detroit.

    Key position battle
    RB Kevin Smith vs. RB Tatum Bell: Bell was mostly unproductive in 2007, running as a backup to Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett. In the offseason Jones was released and Duckett went to Seattle. Bell is a solid runner in the open field, but he'll need to be pushed in camp by the rookie Smith, who can find holes quicker.

    Rookie spotlight
    LB Jordon Dizon: The second-round pick out of Colorado will make an impact immediately. Game sense, quickness and smarts make up for his lack of size.

    Player on the spot
    WR Calvin Johnson: Last year's first-rounder had a lingering back injury, but managed 48 receptions in the Lions' high-flying offense. Despite a renewed commitment to the run, the Lions still expect Johnson's improved health and chemistry with Kitna make him a dangerous threat to opponents' secondaries.

    Fantasy focus
    QB Jon Kitna: Kitna was seen as an attractive No. 1 fantasy quarterback heading into last season, but his proneness to turnovers and the departure of Mike Martz has deflated his value. The veteran should now be seen as little more than a fantasy reserve and worth a late-round selection.</div>

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