National Football League

Lions ready to play other teams

Published Aug. 11, 2010 7:51 a.m. ET

foxsports

After suffering through the hottest day of training camp, the Detroit Lions were ready to take out their frustrations on someone else.

Unfortunately for them, they still had several days to wait before Saturday's preseason opener in Pittsburgh.

''When you've been practicing day after day against the same guys, there are things that build up that you can really only blow off by hitting someone,'' linebacker Jordon Dizon said Tuesday. ''That's why we look forward to the preseason games.''

Dizon, though, is one of many players in Detroit's camp that has another reason to focus on the Steelers: trying to win a roster spot and playing time on a team that has lost an NFL-record 30 games in the past two seasons.

''The first preseason game is always a huge measuring stick,'' said Dizon, a second-round pick in 2008. ''When you get out there against another team, you learn a lot about where you are as a player, as a unit and as a team. You don't learn as much playing against your teammates.''

At linebacker, Dizon plays in one of Detroit's most unsettled position groups. The other is the defensive backfield, which returns just one starter from last season.

Lions cornerback Jonathan Wade had an outstanding practice Tuesday, playing tough defense against receivers Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson in one-on-one drills, but he is also waiting for the Steelers game.

''Saturday is going to be huge, because we'll be going at game speed against someone else,'' Wade said. ''Our receivers are so good that they can prepare us to go up against anyone, but you don't really know how far you've come until you go out there and perform in a game. We know we haven't come far enough, but this will let us find out how far we've still got to go.''

Lions coach Jim Schwartz acknowledges Saturday's game is important, but won't let it dominate his decisions about the roster and the depth chart.

''We're going to judge players on their whole body of work, and the games are weighted the same as their performances on the practice field and in the meeting rooms,'' he said.

Schwartz added that he doesn't want to see unexpected performances Saturday.

''If a guy isn't practicing well and suddenly turns it on in the game, that's a bad sign,'' he said. ''On the other hand, if a guy has been playing very well in camp and then struggles in the game, it shows you that you've still got a lot of work to do with them. We expect players to perform in the games like they perform here and to strengthen the opinions we are already developing about them.''

Schwartz canceled the team's morning workout Tuesday, but the lengthy afternoon session still took a toll on players. On a sunny, humid day when the temperature reached the low-90s, defensive tackle Corey Williams had to leave because of dizziness.

''I'm fine now, but I've never had that happen to me before,'' Williams said. ''I grew up in Arkansas, so I'm used to hot weather, but I never knew it got this hot in Detroit. That was tough out there.''

NOTES: Starting guard Stephen Peterman continued to sit out because of a knee problem, but said an MRI showed no serious damage. ''I got kicked in the knee, and it swelled up, so we wanted to make sure there wasn't anything serious,'' said Peterman. ''I'll be back out there as soon as Coach lets me.'' ... Schwartz was pleasantly surprised with quarterback Matt Stafford's performance in a two-minute drill at the end of practice that ended with a touchdown pass to Johnson. ''That's usually a 7-on-7 drill, but we added an eighth defender to make it tougher. He was just surgical, though.'' ... Despite the heat, the workout drew 1,062 fans, the biggest attendance of the summer.