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Marinelli's OTAs a step up
Web-posted Jun 16, 2006
LIONS NOTES
By STEVE PATE
Of The Oakland Press
ALLEN PARK - The Lions roster is chock-full of veterans who have gone through numerous offseason training activities (OTA's) in their careers - even in the days when OTA's went by some other name. By any name, the 14-day OTA stretch that ended Thursday was a monster.
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A mere 29 players - better than a third of the current roster - are entering their sixth NFL season or more. Eleven were added this offseason. They are here to testify not all teams run their OTA's the same way.
Dan Campbell, a tough tight end entering his seventh season, has gone through the Dallas offseason programs of noted hard-liner Bill Parcells. The difference under new Lions coach Rod Marinelli? Huge.
"Bill's not a huge believer in OTA's, so even his first year in Dallas we really didn't do that," Campbell said. "He was big into running, lifting, those things. You were required to be there for about a threemonth period in the offseason, and if you weren't there it wasn't a good moment for you."
But the level of commitment this offseason demanded by Marinelli's staff on both sides of the ball, in practices and in the classroom, is far greater than what most players have typically gone through. That's, in part, because of a new staff bringing in new systems, but it's also because Marinelli runs things this way.
Fullback Cory Schlesinger, entering his 12th season as a Lion, said, "This has been a really learning offseason - the most OTAs, more minicamps, more meeting time than I ever have. I think it's good, because now we've got a part of the system in, so when we go into training camp it's a lot more reacting than installing because we know it."
Schlesinger added, with a laugh, "I think the fact that we've stunk it up for the last five years could have something to do with it. I think players realize that, and that's why everyone's here. We're on a path for success this season."
Eight-year veteran Shawn Bryson is learning two positions, tailback and fullback, making his learning curve even higher.
"We had OTA's a little bit when Mooch (Steve Mariucci) was here," Bryson said. "I don't even remember OTA's when I was in Buffalo. These OTA's are more intense, a lot of work, but it's for the best. It's a lot on my plate, but I'll learn it. Come camp, you want to be able to roll."
Tight end Marcus Pollard, entering his 12th season and second with the Lions, has found himself gasping for air on more than one occasion.
"To me, this OTA is noticeably different," Pollard said. "Sometimes, teams just tend to get guys in the right place, make sure they know where they're lining up. But here? It's full-blast. We had a twominute drill today, and it was game speed. It's a little more intense than any OTA workouts that I'm accustomed to."
Even as players take a socalled break for five weeks, the mental and physical conditioning remains key.
"The volume of this offense is such that it's extensive, and you've really got to be on top of it or it can pile up on you," said offensive lineman Brock Gutierrez, a 12-year veteran.
The whole idea is to hit camp, when the pads go on, with a vengeance.
"Every team in the league talks about toughness," Campbell said. "It's just a given that you've got to be a tough team. But in Dallas, the way we were going to beat people was to line up and physically just try to beat the crap out of them.
"Here, we want to do that, but we're talking more about beating people with conditioning - you get into your huddle, get out of your huddle, run your play. Defense, same way. It's running and running and running full-speed. Constantly they're saying, ŒYou're going to be in better shape than you've ever been in. You're going to push yourself harder than you thought you ever could be pushed.' "
Lions add quarterback
For training camp purposes, the Lions added a fourth arm to the roster Thursday, signing Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt. Klatt had been cut recently by New Orleans.
Bailey, Lehman might miss start of camp
Other than a few nicks, the two players who may not be ready by training camp are linebackers Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman, both of whom finished last season on injured reserve. Bailey missed all of five and most of the final seven games with an ankle injury that has required two surgeries.
Lehman (foot/ankle) was inactive the final nine games, never made a start after leading the team in tackles as a rookie and had surgery in February. It's still questionable whether either will be ready by the start of camp, almost six weeks away.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/061606/spo_2006061610.shtml
Web-posted Jun 16, 2006
LIONS NOTES
By STEVE PATE
Of The Oakland Press
ALLEN PARK - The Lions roster is chock-full of veterans who have gone through numerous offseason training activities (OTA's) in their careers - even in the days when OTA's went by some other name. By any name, the 14-day OTA stretch that ended Thursday was a monster.
http://ad.adtegrity.net/click,AAAAA...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHTfkkQAAAAA,,
A mere 29 players - better than a third of the current roster - are entering their sixth NFL season or more. Eleven were added this offseason. They are here to testify not all teams run their OTA's the same way.
Dan Campbell, a tough tight end entering his seventh season, has gone through the Dallas offseason programs of noted hard-liner Bill Parcells. The difference under new Lions coach Rod Marinelli? Huge.
"Bill's not a huge believer in OTA's, so even his first year in Dallas we really didn't do that," Campbell said. "He was big into running, lifting, those things. You were required to be there for about a threemonth period in the offseason, and if you weren't there it wasn't a good moment for you."
But the level of commitment this offseason demanded by Marinelli's staff on both sides of the ball, in practices and in the classroom, is far greater than what most players have typically gone through. That's, in part, because of a new staff bringing in new systems, but it's also because Marinelli runs things this way.
Fullback Cory Schlesinger, entering his 12th season as a Lion, said, "This has been a really learning offseason - the most OTAs, more minicamps, more meeting time than I ever have. I think it's good, because now we've got a part of the system in, so when we go into training camp it's a lot more reacting than installing because we know it."
Schlesinger added, with a laugh, "I think the fact that we've stunk it up for the last five years could have something to do with it. I think players realize that, and that's why everyone's here. We're on a path for success this season."
Eight-year veteran Shawn Bryson is learning two positions, tailback and fullback, making his learning curve even higher.
"We had OTA's a little bit when Mooch (Steve Mariucci) was here," Bryson said. "I don't even remember OTA's when I was in Buffalo. These OTA's are more intense, a lot of work, but it's for the best. It's a lot on my plate, but I'll learn it. Come camp, you want to be able to roll."
Tight end Marcus Pollard, entering his 12th season and second with the Lions, has found himself gasping for air on more than one occasion.
"To me, this OTA is noticeably different," Pollard said. "Sometimes, teams just tend to get guys in the right place, make sure they know where they're lining up. But here? It's full-blast. We had a twominute drill today, and it was game speed. It's a little more intense than any OTA workouts that I'm accustomed to."
Even as players take a socalled break for five weeks, the mental and physical conditioning remains key.
"The volume of this offense is such that it's extensive, and you've really got to be on top of it or it can pile up on you," said offensive lineman Brock Gutierrez, a 12-year veteran.
The whole idea is to hit camp, when the pads go on, with a vengeance.
"Every team in the league talks about toughness," Campbell said. "It's just a given that you've got to be a tough team. But in Dallas, the way we were going to beat people was to line up and physically just try to beat the crap out of them.
"Here, we want to do that, but we're talking more about beating people with conditioning - you get into your huddle, get out of your huddle, run your play. Defense, same way. It's running and running and running full-speed. Constantly they're saying, ŒYou're going to be in better shape than you've ever been in. You're going to push yourself harder than you thought you ever could be pushed.' "
Lions add quarterback
For training camp purposes, the Lions added a fourth arm to the roster Thursday, signing Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt. Klatt had been cut recently by New Orleans.
Bailey, Lehman might miss start of camp
Other than a few nicks, the two players who may not be ready by training camp are linebackers Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman, both of whom finished last season on injured reserve. Bailey missed all of five and most of the final seven games with an ankle injury that has required two surgeries.
Lehman (foot/ankle) was inactive the final nine games, never made a start after leading the team in tackles as a rookie and had surgery in February. It's still questionable whether either will be ready by the start of camp, almost six weeks away.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/061606/spo_2006061610.shtml
