Hostile
The Duke
- Messages
- 119,565
- Reaction score
- 4,544
Lions coach Jim Schwartz keeps players on edge with no depth chart
by Tom Kowalski Sunday June 21, 2009, 1:00 AM
AP File Photo Lions coach Jim Schwartz wants players to strive for daily improvement during the team's three-day minicamp that begins Tuesday.
ALLEN PARK -- Get better every day. That's the message Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz will deliver to his players during the three-day minicamp this week at the team's Allen Park practice facility.
In terms of the depth chart, though, getting better every day won't do the players much good. That's because Schwartz has been adamant throughout offseason workouts that there is no depth chart.
Schwartz wants the competition at each position to continue into training camp before he makes any decisions about starters and backups.
Schwartz is maintaining that position for a couple reasons.
One, he wants to keep his players on edge for as long as possible because there are several roster spots that remain open. Two, by declaring there's no depth chart, Schwartz doesn't have to answer pesky questions from reporters about shifting changes in the lineup.
Here are a few of the more interesting position battles that will be brewing during minicamp, which begins Tuesday:
Right tackle: The Lions drafted Gosder Cherilus in the first round last year with the intention of solidifying that spot for years to come, but that hasn't happened yet. The Lions picked up a couple veteran free agents with a wealth of starting experience -- Jon Jansen and Ephraim Salaam -- who will compete for that position. Cherilus has all the tools to be a good tackle, but the organization has been frustrated by his bouts of inconsistency.
Right defensive end: This will come down to a battle over the experience of veteran Dewayne White and the explosive potential of second-year player Cliff Avril. The Lions believe Avril can be a solid player against the run, but he will have to prove he can be effective on a regular basis before he gets the job.
Safety: Rookie Louis Delmas already has one starting job nailed down (regardless of what Schwartz might say publicly) but the big question is the other spot. Gerald Alexander and Daniel Bullocks have started there in the past, but the Lions are looking for more production out of both of them. The Lions like Kalvin Pearson, but only in a backup role.
If the coaches don't see what they're looking for out of Alexander or Bullocks in this camp, don't be surprised if cornerback Anthony Henry gets moved to safety at some point during training camp.
Cornerback: Phillip Buchanon, an unrestricted free agent, will start on one side, but who will man the other? Henry is at No. 1 (on the depth chart that doesn't exist), but the Lions will need to find a replacement if he switches to safety (or can't keep the job). The top candidates -- of the guys currently on the roster -- would be Eric King and Keith Smith, with free agent pickup Marquand Manuel also under consideration.
Quarterback: While it originally was believed the Lions would take their time with rookie first-round pick Matthew Stafford, he has been so impressive in offseason workouts that the organization is strongly considering accelerating their timetable.
Stafford not only has looked good in the physical aspects of the job, but he's picking up the offense at a quick pace and is beginning to earn the respect of his teammates.
Stafford is expected to get some reps with the No. 1 offense, and Schwartz likely will say it doesn't mean much because they're just "rolling guys in and out.''
He may or may not be telling the truth, and that's precisely the goal he wants to achieve with this minicamp: He wants to keep everybody on edge and insecure in the knowledge that he won't admit to any kind of depth chart.
by Tom Kowalski Sunday June 21, 2009, 1:00 AM
AP File Photo Lions coach Jim Schwartz wants players to strive for daily improvement during the team's three-day minicamp that begins Tuesday.
ALLEN PARK -- Get better every day. That's the message Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz will deliver to his players during the three-day minicamp this week at the team's Allen Park practice facility.
In terms of the depth chart, though, getting better every day won't do the players much good. That's because Schwartz has been adamant throughout offseason workouts that there is no depth chart.
Schwartz wants the competition at each position to continue into training camp before he makes any decisions about starters and backups.
Schwartz is maintaining that position for a couple reasons.
One, he wants to keep his players on edge for as long as possible because there are several roster spots that remain open. Two, by declaring there's no depth chart, Schwartz doesn't have to answer pesky questions from reporters about shifting changes in the lineup.
Here are a few of the more interesting position battles that will be brewing during minicamp, which begins Tuesday:
Right tackle: The Lions drafted Gosder Cherilus in the first round last year with the intention of solidifying that spot for years to come, but that hasn't happened yet. The Lions picked up a couple veteran free agents with a wealth of starting experience -- Jon Jansen and Ephraim Salaam -- who will compete for that position. Cherilus has all the tools to be a good tackle, but the organization has been frustrated by his bouts of inconsistency.
Right defensive end: This will come down to a battle over the experience of veteran Dewayne White and the explosive potential of second-year player Cliff Avril. The Lions believe Avril can be a solid player against the run, but he will have to prove he can be effective on a regular basis before he gets the job.
Safety: Rookie Louis Delmas already has one starting job nailed down (regardless of what Schwartz might say publicly) but the big question is the other spot. Gerald Alexander and Daniel Bullocks have started there in the past, but the Lions are looking for more production out of both of them. The Lions like Kalvin Pearson, but only in a backup role.
If the coaches don't see what they're looking for out of Alexander or Bullocks in this camp, don't be surprised if cornerback Anthony Henry gets moved to safety at some point during training camp.
Cornerback: Phillip Buchanon, an unrestricted free agent, will start on one side, but who will man the other? Henry is at No. 1 (on the depth chart that doesn't exist), but the Lions will need to find a replacement if he switches to safety (or can't keep the job). The top candidates -- of the guys currently on the roster -- would be Eric King and Keith Smith, with free agent pickup Marquand Manuel also under consideration.
Quarterback: While it originally was believed the Lions would take their time with rookie first-round pick Matthew Stafford, he has been so impressive in offseason workouts that the organization is strongly considering accelerating their timetable.
Stafford not only has looked good in the physical aspects of the job, but he's picking up the offense at a quick pace and is beginning to earn the respect of his teammates.
Stafford is expected to get some reps with the No. 1 offense, and Schwartz likely will say it doesn't mean much because they're just "rolling guys in and out.''
He may or may not be telling the truth, and that's precisely the goal he wants to achieve with this minicamp: He wants to keep everybody on edge and insecure in the knowledge that he won't admit to any kind of depth chart.
