Marinelli: Lions will get a running start against Cleveland
excerpt:
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions will be running the next time they meet a preseason opponent.
The Lions rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Cincinnati 27-26 in Thursday's preseason opener, but the running game was largely ineffective. Offseason acquisition Tatum Bell ran for 11 yards the first time he touched the ball, but little else came from the Detroit backfield.
Coach Rod Marinelli was happy with the team's energy during the comeback, but said the running game needs to produce more when the Lions visit Cleveland on Saturday.
"We want to make sure we're on top of that," he said. "The running game is the issue still. We're going to hammer that."
Detroit got just 59 yards from the four backs it used Thursday. Bell, who did not speak to reporters after Saturday's training camp practice, gained only eight more yards after his first carry.
Marinelli added that he was happy to see the offense generate almost 500 passing yards while allowing only one sack. Starter Jon Kitna was sacked 63 times last season.
The coach also disputed a published report that said running back Kevin Jones would begin the regular season on the physically unable to perform list.
"No decision has been made on Kevin," Marinelli said. "We still have three-and-a-half more weeks, so there's time."
Jones, a starter in all three of his seasons here, underwent offseason surgery to repair a foot injury and has not taken part in drills since camp began. If he starts the season on the PUP list, he would not be eligible to play the first six games of the season. After that, the Lions would have three weeks to place him on the active roster or move him to injured reserve.
Jones went through rehab sessions indoors Saturday and was not on the field, as he has been during past practices.
Tailback Aveion Cason who left the preseason opener with a concussion, returned to practice Saturday.
The Lions scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:55 to play Thursday and watched the Bengals drive to set up Shayne Graham's 48-yard field-goal attempt. Graham missed the kick as time expired, but Marinelli said he never should have had the chance.
Cincinnati had no timeouts, but Detroit twice failed to keep ball carriers inbounds during the final drive. Marinelli said such details would be points of emphasis in coming workouts.
"We won, but it wasn't good enough," he said. "We'll practice two-minute a ton. We need to make sure we're keeping people inbounds.
"The best way to do it is at the end of practice when their tongues are wagging a little bit and they're tired. That's when we want to have a two-minute drill."
Sure enough, it was the last part of Saturday's practice.
Marinelli: Lions will get a running start against Cleveland
Marinelli: Lions will get a running start against Cleveland
Linear Mode
