http://detnews.com/article/20110802/SPORTS0101/108020328/1126/
Said Tulloch: "A lot of teams overlooked me because of my size and height. I play with a chip on my shoulder. I love the game of football. I have a passion for it."
Tulloch won't be able to begin practice until the new league year commences, which is tentatively set for Thursday. But, having played the same defensive system his entire career, there will be no adjustment period.
"I understand this defense and I know the terminology," he said. "I've been studying this playbook the last five years. I know it inside and out. I am excited to get started."
Although Schwartz said he would let the process work itself out in camp, it would be an upset if Tulloch didn't start at middle linebacker, with DeAndre Levy moving to one outside spot and another free-agent signee, Justin Durant, starting at the other.
"We are going to put the best combination out there," Schwartz said. "When we draft or sign linebackers, we talk about guys who are multidimensional and can do a lot of different things. There are nickel roles, base roles, short-yardage roles — we will play whatever we think is the best combinations. That's what training camp is for. None of that is set in stone right now."
Regardless, Schwartz is at least glad of one thing: He won't be caught empty-handed at middle linebacker like he was last season.
When Levy was hurt, the Lions ran a parade of six players through there, including Spencer Havner, a tight end who hadn't played linebacker since college.
"Our depth is improved and we can handle a lot of different things," Schwartz said. "You don't just want good players but you want good players who can do multiple things. There's not that much difference in our scheme between outside linebacker and middle linebacker. It's not like the middle linebacker is 260 pounds and the outside guys are at 215. They do pretty much the same thing."
Ashlee Palmer and Zach Follett are going to get every opportunity to make the rotation at outside linebacker. The Lions still are holding out some hope they will be able to re-sign Bobby Carpenter, who started two games last season for the Lions, but their chances grew slimmer when they signed Tulloch and Durant.
"I am not sure what it was like before (at the linebacker position) but I can honestly say, I've been friends with Durant for a couple of years and I watched Levy on tape and he's a player," Tulloch said. "The pieces are here. It's just a matter of putting them all together."
Camp update
Lions training camp practices in Allen Park today and Wednesday start at 9:15 a.m., and are open to the public. Gates open at 8:45 a.m., and access is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
From The Detroit News:
http://detnews.com/article/20110802/SPORTS0101/108020328/Jim-Schwartz’s-plea-to-draft-Stephen-Tulloch-pays-off-—-twice#ixzz1TqXySptF
