Lions' Schlesinger to start

[Guest Moose Knuckle Ball Four]

Lions coach Steve Mariucci said Thursday that Cory Schlesinger will start at fullback Sunday against Chicago.

 

 

"Exactly what I want to hear," Schlesinger said. "It's my position, and just because I got injured doesn't mean I should lose it."

 

 

Schlesinger, in his 11th season as a Lion, suffered a fractured left fibula in the exhibition opener Aug. 12 at the New York Jets. He came back Sunday at Cleveland but played only 19 offensive snaps. Paul Smith started.

 

 

Asked if that upset him, Schlesinger said: "Yes and no. It was my first game. Kind of wanted to get back into the roll of it and get out there and get a feel for the game again."

 

 

Asked if he needed to ease in coming off his injury, Schlesinger said: "Well, I'm playing on three special teams also, which is probably more difficult than doing anything else, and if I can do that, I can surely play fullback."

 

 

One of Sunday's marquee matchups will be Schlesinger vs. Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.

 

 

"We have had some great collisions over the last few years," Urlacher said earlier this season. "It is fun playing against him on Sundays because you know that if you can match up with him, you can match up with anybody."

 

 

Schlesinger said: "It's always exciting playing with a high-profile guy like him. If you want to get on TV or really stick out, you've got to hit guys like him, and you've got to hit them really hard."

 

 

Mariucci said Smith would still rotate in for Schlesinger.

[BradtheBold 0]

http://www.freep.com/sports/lions/nfl28e_20051028.htm

 

October 28, 2005

 

BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

[swamp dog 0]

 

he averages one broken face mask a game. two if he's playing urlacher.

[hawk82 0]

he averages one broken face mask a game. two if he's playing urlacher

 

Done that. You have to hit somebody hard to break a face mask. I busted my mouth piece in the process too. And then tried to figure out where the hell I was.