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One thing you can count on with the Detroit Lions is that they are never, ever boring. Follow the latest news including injuries, roster moves and more here daily from Oakland Press beat writer Paula Pasche. Plus you'll find regular commentary about the team.

11/26/2008

Coordinator talk

I need to make a quick clarification. During my live blog the other day, I assigned partial blame for Jerramy Stevens' 24-yard second-quarter touchdown to middle linebacker Paris Lenon. Turns out, it was rookie Jordon Dizon, playing on the strong side, who blew the coverage.

“It was a situation where they (did) what we call a reset, they come out in a formation and then they shift to a new formation, so we have to adjust to it as well,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said. “And I think he was a little late with that, getting aligned. And then, bam, the ball was snapped.”

As a strong-side linebacker, Dizon, who spent all of training camp and the first two months of the season learning the middle position, is often responsible for covering the flat of the field. But Barry explained “in the defense that we had called, the flat defender's supposed to carry anything vertical.”

“I think it was a combination of playing quite a bit for the first time, playing a different position and also the situation in the sense that it was a play that was reset, quick count,” Barry said. “There was a lot, but bottom line he's got a responsibility and he's got to do it.”

Still, Barry said that one mistake to keep Dizon off the field Thursday against Tennessee.

“Jordon Dizon's not (not) going to play this week because he had a mishap on one play last week,” Barry said. “He's going to continue to play and you'll see 57 running around tomorrow.”

More coordinator talk from Wednesday:

• Offensive coordinator Jim Colletto said Drew Stanton, as expected, is likely unavailable Thursday, four days after he suffered a concussion against Tampa Bay. Drew Henson, No. 2 on the depth chart this week, hasn't played in four years. “So what else is new?” Colletto said. The Lions have started three different quarterbacks this year.

• Three of the Lions' four best rushing performances of the season have come the last three weeks – with center Dominic Raiola sidelined with a broken thumb. Colletto credited tailback Kevin Smith and fullback Moran Norris for the improved running game, but said backup Andy McCollum, signed during training camp, is holding his own at center. “He might want to ask for a raise in pay,” Colletto said. “I don't think he quite was looking forward to this, but he's done real well for a guy that's been around as long as he has and he really gets them all going in the right place. He's real calm and he's done a nice job.”

• Barry said Tennessee's primary formation is two tight ends, two receivers and one running back. The Titans don't go two tight ends, however, strictly as a way to protect quarterback Kerry Collins, who's been sacked just six times this year. “I think the reason they do so much two tight ends is they want to feature these guys, they want to get them the ball,” Barry said. “They don't want to have them in to block, even though they both do block and they're very able pass blockers. They get in that personnel group because they want to feature those tight ends because they're very good players.” Tight end Bo Scaife leads Tennessee with 47 catches and 490 yards, and Alge Crumpler (18 catches) is a former Pro Bowler.

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