After Day One Of Rookie Minicamp, Caldwell Impressed By Focus Of Players

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

ALLEN PARK - Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell liked what he saw on the first day of rookie minicamp, which began Friday and continues Saturday and Sunday.

"I think overall they did a pretty nice job," Caldwell said after practice. "It's a great group of guys, very attentive, very focused, very serious group. Typically you have a little light-heartedness somewhere along the line, but these guys have been serious from the moment they walked in the door. It's been fun working with them thus far.

"Today, just like the next couple days or so, will be strictly for, just to get an opportunity to try to give as much information to them as we possibly can in a three-day period, to see how much they can absorb, to see how much they can apply out on the field, so that's the real challenge, but it's a good group, and we're certainly pleased at this stage," Caldwell added.

Caldwell said in a regular minicamp, there would probably be two team meetings in the span of three days. In rookie minicamp, there are two team meetings per day.

"The sole purpose is to try to get them to understand how we do things, the way in which we like things done, to talk about our core values, to talk about the things that we value most around here in terms of our organization, to talk about what it should look like every single practice when they go out in terms of effort, consistency, things of that nature, so it's an ongoing process," Caldwell said. "A lot of them have been in a system where they never had to get in a huddle before, so all of those procedures are things you have to implement, but the biggest part of it is, from my vantage point, is getting them to the point where they understand how we work, how we prepare, and I think that's something that we constantly do throughout the weekend."

The Lions announced Thursday they signed five of their draft picks and 12 undrafted rookie free agents. That "eighth round," as general manager Martin Mayhew likes to call the signing of undrafted players, has been fruitful for the Lions in recent years, with pickups like tackles Cornelius Lucas and LaAdrian Waddle and tight end Joe Fauria becoming regular contributors.

Caldwell agreed that the success of such players probably makes other undrafted free agents a bit more likely to choose Detroit if they have multiple opportunities.

"That's certainly part of it, that they know they'll be treated fairly, they'll get an opportunity just like everybody else in the room," Caldwell said. "I think that certainly resonates with them, but I think there's a lot of young men that are looking for an opportunity to play in the National Football League and play for the Detroit Lions, so we don't have to do a whole lot of selling in that regard."

Note on James Ihedigbo

Offseason workouts are voluntary until the minicamp in June, but Caldwell would like to see veteran safety James Ihedigbo with his teammates in Allen Park sooner rather than later. Caldwell understands the situation -- Ihedigbo is holding out for a new contract -- but his goal is to produce the best team possible, and he clearly feels having Ihedigbo present makes that more likely.

"Our business, it's unique," Caldwell said. "They have things that they have to look at from their vantage point, what they think is best. My business is to make certain we've got the best team we possibly can, and so my interest is getting him here and getting him here pronto.

"I'd like to have every guy here, but the fact of the matter is it doesn't always happen that way," Caldwell continued. "Guys got to look at things. He's been around long enough and [will] make his own determination and make his own decisions in that regard."

Caldwell said he has talked with Ihedigbo in recent weeks and made him aware of his take on the situation.