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Detroit Lions
Location: Detroit, Mich. | Stadium: Ford Field (64,500) | Chairman/Owner: William Clay Ford | President: Tom Lewand
Coach: Jim Schwartz | Super Bowl Wins: 0
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Lions: Five things to know

Lions: Camp report | Freeman

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Observations from Detroit Lions camp:

1. It's impossible not to like Lions coach Rod Marinelli. He's infectious and old school, and old school is just what the Lions need. When I saw Marinelli recently he spent two minutes talking about pad level. He's all football and no flash. Again, just what the Lions need.

2. One thing Marinelli is doing is emphasizing the running game. The Lions departed from rushing the football toward the latter part of last season and it cost them. Detroit hasn't stressed a truly physical rushing game in years. Not even during the days of Barry Sanders.

3. Keep an eye on rookie runner Kevin Smith. The Lions love him and he's the kind of back who really fits Marinelli's plans. He can push the ball up the middle but also has a nice bounce outside.

4. Quarterback Jon Kitna has yet to make any guarantees about how many victories the Lions will bag this year. Last season he predicted 10. He was probably only a year too early. Detroit has a chance to reach that number this season.

5. The Lions have moved on from the fiasco that was the Army's Caleb Campbell decision.

 
For more from Mike Freeman, check him out on Twitter: @realfreemancbs
 

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