On guard: Jansen getting a shot as a starter again
As expected, there were some familiar faces -- a welcome sight for the coaching staff -- back at practice as the Lions returned from their bye weekend. Matthew Stafford, Sammie Hill, Dewayne White and Ko Simpson all were on the field for drills during the open portion of practice Tuesday. Stafford sounded encouraged afterward, as did Calvin Johnson, who did some running on the side. (Tim Twentyman will have more on that online later and in tomorrow's paper.) And coach Jim Schwartz said he was "guardedly optimistic" his team would be at full strength Sunday, though Jerome Felton (shoulder) and Jason Hunter (ankle) both were bystanders again Tuesday.
But also as expected, there were some changes up front on the offensive line. Jon Jansen appears to be the new starting left guard, replacing Daniel Loper, who has moved to right tackle, where he'll back up starter Gosder Cherilus. Manny Ramirez and Dylan Gandy are the backup guards behind Jansen and Stephen Peterman, while Jeff Backus and Dominic Raiola remain the starters at left tackle and center.
"We're just trying to improve as a unit and see what players can play what and just trying to put the best five on the field," offensive line coach George Yarno said. "We just have to find the best combination and try to play a bit better as a unit."
For Jansen, an 11-year veteran who has never started anywhere but right tackle in the NFL, it's the chance he has been waiting for since getting released by Washington in the spring. He started in place of an injured Cherilus vs. Pittsburgh, but now it appears he'll get a chance to hold down a starting job -- right next to Backus, his former Michigan teammate -- beginning Sunday against the Rams.
"He just wanted an opportunity anywhere," Backus said. "I mean, he's made it very clear to the coaches that he's willing to try any position. He has busted his tail to kind of prove to everybody that he's ready to go and he wants to go out there and prove it to everybody throughout the league that he's still got it."
