Ikaika Alama-Francis News

For a guy who the coaches keep on trying to replace year after year after year, the nine-year veteran is still in the picture - and he's usually on the quarterback's heels.

Lions second-round pick Jordon Dizon, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound linebacker, can play both outside and inside, but he is being groomed for the middle linebacker position.

The Detroit Lions were pretty average in their offseason moves, according to the Sporting News.

The Lions are rated dead last in the Sportsnews.com's off-season position rankings for defensive ends in the NFC.

Last year, the Lions had a revolving door at right tackle. The solution? Another revolving door in minicamp.

One of the first bits of advice rookie linebacker Jordon Dizon has received from the Lions veterans is to slow down.

“He's starting to fill out a little bit. His quickness is very good. I mean, he's running extremely well right now.”

The Lions completed their third off-season practice this morning. Some notes and quotes from coach Rod Marinelli: -- The practices - formally called organized team activities - are voluntary. via Detroit Free Press

“He's really not that much heavier than he was a year ago, he's just filling out -- I call it man strength. He's filling out a little bit. His quickness is really good”

Kevin Smith, the guy who is expected to be the starter, wasn't even there this week but the running back position already seemed a little overcrowded. via Ann Arbor News

“I've become more of a student of the game”

Going into the preseason last season, Detroit Lions safety Daniel Bullocks had already nailed down a starting job and was looking to build on his promising rookie season. via Booth Newspapers

The Detroit Lions still have plenty of problems, but at least things went right for a day. via Saginaw News

Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli sat down for an interview on Sirius NFL Radio with Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan. via Detroit Lions Highlight Reel - MLive.com

“All I do know is, when we talk about it, we're saying, 'Listen, if we make this choice, we're saying this guy's good enough to make our team,' ”

BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA * FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER * April 26, 2008 The Lions are trying to turn themselves around like the Tigers did a couple of years ago, and in a way, coach Rod Marinelli is approaching ... via Detroit Free Press

The Lions' draft is neither getting praised nor panned. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. via Macomb Daily

If the Lions miss out of Tennessee LB Jarod Mayo, then Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart is the likely pick at 15. via Ann Arbor News

“They're hard to get. But I think it's a deep group. Sometimes in that second day, you're looking for a guy with the speed and the movement and all those things that maybe doesn't have the size yet.”

Lions coach Rod Marinelli has a passion for the pass rush. He has been a defensive line coach his entire career, and even now he works closely with the defensive linemen. via Detroit Free Press

This is uncharted territory for the Lions. Barring a trade, the Lions will pick 15th in the first round of Saturday's NFL draft. via Oakland Press

“We're trying to not just bring in that first-day guy”

Coach Rod Marinelli's thoughts won't be far from the draft as he spends most of this week dealing with issues related to the NFL in general at the annual meetings. via Detroit News

So I went on ESPN2 this morning for a mock draft on "First Take," as I blogged I would. via Detroit Free Press

The punch line otherwise known as the Lions' management continues. The Lions drafted 12 players in the first and second rounds in Matt Millen's first five drafts, but only six now remain -- Jeff Backus, Dominic ... via Detroit Free Press

Most of the Lions' picks disappointed or didn't play: RD PK PLAYER THE BUZZ 1 WR Calvin Johnson Disappointing compared with other top picks. via Detroit Free Press