Detroit Lions’ head Rod Marinelli made a few roster changes yesterday, but none of them include Waimea High School graduate and current Lions linebacker Jordon Dizon. Fullback Jon Bradley went on to the injured reserve list, tight end Clark Harris
Detroit Lions’ head Rod Marinelli made a few roster changes yesterday, but none of them include Waimea High School graduate and current Lions linebacker Jordon Dizon.
Fullback Jon Bradley went on to the injured reserve list, tight end Clark Harris and wide receiver Eric Fowler were signed to contracts, and the lineups remain the same.
Despite Dizon’s preseason showing against reigning Super Bowl champions the New York Giants two weeks ago and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, the rookie still remains on the third string.
At yesterday’s post-practice media session, Marinelli addressed why he doesn’t praise his rookies too much.
“(They haven’t earned it,” Marinelli said. “No, I just stay on them. Right now, they just need to get grounded into getting better.”
Even though it is still preseason and the Lions have only played two games, Dizon’s numbers have improved. Sunday, Dizon posted four tackles — three of them in the third quarter and the final in the fourth. Two of his tackles were solos.
In his professional debut, Dizon had two tackles — one of them for loss of yards.
Marinelli also said he doesn’t want his rookies to have a false sense of security.
“For all those things I say I want to look at, I want to see who wants to make our team, too. Who wants a starting job and who wants this? So it’s, let them put it out on tape,” he said.
In his rookie diary for the Lions’ Web site, Dizon wrote yesterday that after watching Sunday’s game on tape, he was able to see what he did wrong.
“Definitely seeing your mistakes on film — not necessarily hearing about it — but actually seeing what you’re doing wrong helps a whole bunch. Watching the tape (yesterday), it just reiterated what I need to work on and stuff like that,” he wrote.
He also wrote that he had a good practice yesterday and that he’s feeling more confident in his abilities as a player.
“For the next game, I’m just going to play. These last two games I was caught up in the moment a little bit and got excited and into all the hoopla and just being in an NFL game was pretty crazy. I’m just going to go out there and just play football now. Just push it all aside and just start to play football.”
The Lions are 2-0 for the second straight year in a row and have two more preseason games to go.
This Saturday, they will take on the Cleveland Browns and on Thursday, Aug. 28, Detroit travels to Ralph Wilson Stadium to play the Buffalo Bills.
Earlier this week, Dizon donated 50 pairs of shoes to his high school alma mater’s varsity football team. Between training camp practices, Dizon was still able to come up with an arrangement with Under Armour — the same athletic apparel line which clothes the University of Hawai‘i Warrior football team and many other pro teams.
