[CBFF] Lion vows victory

[Steve Behrens]

Lions Lion vows victory

Bears don't scare WR Roy Williams

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http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060912/SPORTS01/609120360/1049

The Lions will beat the Bears on Sunday in Chicago.

Guar-Roy-teed.

"We will win this game," Lions wide receiver Roy Williams told reporters
Monday. "You all can take that as a guarantee or whatnot, but we will win
this game."

Williams backed off a bit, though, when a reporter compared him to Piston
Rasheed Wallace.

"I'm just saying, we're going to go out there and play the way that we're
supposed to play, and when we play the way we're supposed to play, we're
supposed to win," Williams said. "And that's what I'm saying, that we're
supposed to win."

So this isn't like when Wallace makes one of his bold proclamations and the
Pistons are GuaranSheed to win?

"No 'Sheed, no nothing," Williams said. "When we play the way we're supposed
to play, like our defense played the way they played Sunday ... I don't
think there's no team in this league that can beat us."

Maybe a little of Wallace is rubbing off on Williams. Wallace has visited
Lions practices, and he was at Sunday's season-opening 9-6 loss to Seattle.
He was hanging out outside the locker room afterward. Maybe Williams will
show up to the Lions' next game in a Gordie Howe sweater or something.

But what Williams was trying to express was this:

One, he's confident the Lions are on the verge of putting up big numbers on
offense.

"We're really close," Williams said. "We watched film today. It was stupid
how close we were to putting 40 points on the board, and it's ridiculous.
...

"Offensively, we beat ourselves. No defense can stop us, in my opinion.
That's only in my opinion. We are our only defense."

Two, the Lions have a new standard, which coach Rod Marinelli reinforced at
Monday morning's team meeting.

"There were a bunch of cuss words today," Williams said. "Guys don't pout
about it. Guys don't take it (as) offensive. Guys know that we're not the
old Detroit Lions. We're supposed to win, and guys have that mind-set."

The main problems with the Lions' offense Sunday were mental mistakes --
mix-ups and miscommunication. Williams said the receivers were the most to
blame. The miscues weren't totally unexpected. Offensive coordinator Mike
Martz is introducing a complicated new system.

"Anybody who knows anything about Mike Martz's offense knows there's a lot
of volume," left tackle Jeff Backus said. "With a lot of volume, you've got
to make sure you know all the little details. That's all it was, just little
details of each play not getting executed correctly."

The Lions still have work to do.

"This offense is based on so much timing and precision, and we've got to
just keep hammering details with our players," Marinelli said. "Every detail
matters."

Look at Williams.

Williams slowed on a route in the first half because wide receiver Eddie
Drummond was open and the ball routinely went to Drummond on that play in
practice. Sure enough, Kitna threw the ball to Williams, he wasn't there and
the ball fell to the turf.

"That's my fault," Williams said. "I didn't let it happen the rest of the
game. I think they called it two more times, and I was full speed looking
for the ball."

Williams nullified an 18-yard gain by running back Kevin Jones and pushed
back the Lions five yards in the second half, when he didn't line up
correctly and was penalized for illegal motion.

"That was my fault," Williams said. "Kevin had a big run on that play, and I
told him in the huddle, 'You're going to have a breakout run on this play.'
I told him. I swear I told him. And I messed it up."

Williams said he considered himself the team's go-to receiver and he "didn't
go to." He caught three passes for 36 yards. He said he stank all day, that
even his run-blocking was poor.

But against the Bears? It will be different.

Guar-Roy-teed.

"I've just got to improve my game, and it will be done Sunday," Williams
said. "I can guarantee that. I can guarantee that I'm going to show up
Sunday."

*NOTEBOOK:* The Lions waived wide receiver *Devale Ellis*. ... Marinelli
said right tackle *Rex Tucker* (knee) was "doggone close" to being ready to
start, but left guard *Ross Verba* (hamstring) was still questionable for
Sunday.