Author: Paula Pasche

While it is just a preseason game, perhaps the Lions will get a better sense of where they stand by facing the New England Patriots, the defending Super Bowl champions, on Friday night at Ford Field. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Since it’s third preseason game look for the starters — including Matthew Stafford — to play at least the first half.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told the Boston Herald that he enjoys playing in the preseason and looks forward to getting back out there on Friday night.

Here are five comments from the Lions on facing the Patriots:

1. Jim Caldwell says it will be fun. “Obviously, any time you get a chance to play against a team that hasn’t lost very many games in the last decade — we’ve been battling against them a long time when I was in Indy for a number of years and even in Baltimore, we obviously had to battle against them as well, and they’ve always been good,’’ Caldwell said. “They make very few mistakes and not only that, they are technically sound as they get in every single phase. I mean, you just look across the board and look at the stats from previous years and they are perennially one of the better teams in our league in almost phase, well at least in the majority of phases. So, that in itself is a challenge for us because you have to be able to play well, so this will be a really good test. Last week we had a really good one with our offensive line, because of the big people they had up front that gave us a real challenge, and this week everybody gets a challenge, which makes it fun.”

2. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin says it will show, to some extent, where Detroit’s defense stands. “Sure, it’s always, those type of quarterbacks, the upper echelon quarterbacks, they’re really going to test you because they’re going to limit the margin of error you have. So, that’s why coming this week, if Tom (Brady) is going to play, which I assume he will, we’ll get an idea if we’re still making strides,’’ Austin said. “It’s not the end of the world, one way or the other. But it gives us an idea of where we are.”

3. Matthew Stafford seems to look forward to it also. “They’re obviously, you know, a heck of a football team. They had a fantastic season last year. Really good defense last year, No. 1 against the pass. No. 1 in scoring, bunch of stuff. So, really a good test for us as well,’’ Stafford said. “Obviously, our defense will have their hands full with the quarterback like Tom (Brady) and that offensive group and some of the weapons that they’ve added. But we have the same on defense. I mean they’ve got, not really good players, but always have a good scheme for each game and do a nice job.”

4. Safety Glover Quin says facing the Patriots will benefit the Lions. “You’re going against the best team, they were the champs last year. Obviously not the same team but Tom Brady is back, actually they’ve added some more weapons. It’s a good challenge for us,’’ Quin said. “It will be good to go against a quarterback like Tom Brady, an offense like that in the preseason, to see where you are, evaluate some things take a look at some things. It’ll be good for us.’’

5. Running back Zach Zenner sees it as a rare chance to face New England. ”It’s cool, I guess, to have an opportunity to play those guys because typically we wouldn’t,’’ Zenner said.”The only chance I believe we have to face them is now or the Super Bowl. To have an opportunity to play against the defending champion is cool and we’re looking forward to it.’’

Hope is certainly not a strategy when it comes to the Lions’ run game which was ineffective for the past several years. It was ranked 30th in the NFL in 2016, 32nd in 2015.

It’s been a point of emphasis all through the offseason. It’s a big reason they signed veteran free agents T.J. Lang to play at right guard and Rick Wagner for right tackle.

Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter (in photo) has been working on it too.

“It’s been a big, big, big point of emphasis for me, myself. So, just dealing with my own background, what I’ve gone through, all that stuff. It’s been a really, important point of emphasis for me this offseason,’’ Cooter said this week. “I think I have personally improved in the run game, how I seen things, how I call things, some of those things. And at the same time, it is a player’s game.’’

Coach Jim Caldwell said the run game will be a concern for him until he is satisfied with it.

“Sometimes it just takes you a while, takes you a little bit longer than what you’d like in some cases. But that’s the way this game is. It’s not an easy fix and you’d like to see it turn around immediately, but that’s not the case,’’ Caldwell said.

He’d like to see 100 rushing yards a game. He’s not greedy, said they don’t have to run for 150 yards, but must be respectable.

Caldwell is optimistic the ground game will improve when the season starts on Sept. 10.

He has two specific reasons to see the glass as half full. Their names are Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick.

“I think I’ve told you on a number of different occasions that when you take a look at the stats, just look at them don’t take my word for it, when Ameer’s in the game, and he’s healthy, and he and Riddick are in the ball game, you look at our numbers,’’ Caldwell said. “And so, those are the things that make us all feel that we can get it done. But not only that, Zach Zenner can run the ball, we got a young guy in (Dwayne) Washington who’s coming along. And they also have to make certain defenses when they see us say, ‘There’s always a passing threat.’ So, when there’s a passing threat, often times that opens up some runs for you just in terms of being able to find some seams.’’

Cooter may be a young coordinator at age 33, but he wasn’t born yesterday.

He’s studied the film, but knows the reality.

“Outside of that (option) type of football, there’s not a lot of magic, creative run plays. A lot of guys are running the same run plays. If you leave this system and go to another system, you might call it some other word, but you know, our six or seven, or eight guys are blocking their six or seven or eight guys in the same pattern,’’ Cooter said.

”It looks the same whether you’re watching our game on FOX, or you switch over to CBS and you watch one of those AFC games back-to-back. So, we’re doing the same thing, I’m excited. I think our guys are getting better, what you’re supposed to do in training camp, and I do think we’re going to be better running the football this year,’’ Cooter said.

Time will tell.

Obviously the Lions need Abdullah and Riddick to stay healthy. Zenner has had a good offseason and there is optimism that Washington will take a leap after his rookie season when his ability to find holes to run through was an issue.

“When (Washington is) able to find the point of attack and hit it, he’s tough to bring down. He runs over guys, through guys, around guys,’’ Cooter said. “I think he is improving with his run reads and where he’s putting the ball. He’s improving in pass protection, which is something that doesn’t always show up maybe to the naked eye, to the fan at home on the TV copy. He’s a young guy that this is a big offseason for him to improve. I see him making those strides. Needs to keep them coming, but I do see him making positive strides, and like I said, really physical guy. I would not want to tackle that guy.”

ALLEN PARK >> If a rookie can learn from one of the best, just make it happen.

The Lions have invited former linebacker Stephen Tulloch back to talk to the rookies including Jarrad Davis the first-round pick who is expected to start at middle linebacker.

“He’s played a lot of football and made a lot of big plays in this league and to be able to come in and talk to a guy like Jarrad (and for Jarrad) to be able to talk to Tully and get knowledge from him, I believe that will be huge for him. It’s one thing for me to talk to him, it’s another thing for him to talk to Stephen,’’ linebacker Tahir Whitehead said.

Coach Jim Caldwell said it’s not unusual to bring guys back to help out.

“Tully is one of the guys that have been taught by Bill (Sheridan, linebackers coach) within the system, so he knows that. He was going to be in town, so we invited him to come on out. So, he’ll be here and he’ll be at practice and be around a little bit,’’ Caldwell said.

Tulloch, who played 11 NFL seasons — five of them with the Lions (2011-2015), can also help with off-the-field matters. He didn’t miss a game due to injury in his first eight NFL seasons.

“I think more so than anything else, the young guys could certainly learn something from the way in which he handled himself on and off the field, and then also how he took care of his body,’’ Caldwell said. “I think he was without question one of those guys that did a tremendous job.’’

Tulloch’s exit from the Detroit Lions was a bit odd and ongoing following the 2015 season. He finally was cut loose and signed with the  Philadelphia Eagles.

But all was apparently well in April when Tulloch returned to the Lions’ facility to announce his retirement (see photo).

On Tuesday morning, Whitehead said he had not seen Tulloch yet.

“I can’t wait to catch up with my guy, that’s my big brothe. I’m looking forward to seeing him,’’ Whitehead said.

Tulloch was at least partially responsible for helping Whitehead develop into an NFL starting linebacker.

“Tully’s great. Any time you can bring a guy back who’s played a lot of football for you he gives a unique insight to the young guys and the guys in that room,’’ defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “All of a sudden he goes from being in that room, now he’s out of it looking from the outside in. I think that helps with the perspective.’’