--Quarterback Jon Kitna looked comfortable with newly emphasized aspects in the passing game - roll outs, bootlegs and play-action. He went 6-for-7 for 106 yards and a touchdown with a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

--Balance has been the key word since the Lions fired Mike Martz. In the two series the starters played in the exhibition opener, new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto called seven runs and seven passes. "There's going to be games that we're going to have to be more heavy on the pass, and there's going to be games where we're more heavy on the run," Kitna said. "But while the game is in doubt, like it was tonight early on, we were 50-50. That's a good thing."

--After a recent practice, Colletto called together his players and sent them a message: It's one thing to talk about running the football. It's another thing to do it. "Running the football is hard, hard work," Colletto said. "And it's painful. And it hurts. Both blocking and running and the whole bit. And that mindset has got to be there. Just because we draw it on the blackboard and it looks good doesn't mean everything's going to work right. Those guys on defense get coached, too, and there are guys in this league who will break you in half on defense. Well, that attitude has to be on offense. A good running team on offense is a vicious, violent group of people. They play with a defensive attitude. We've been so used to doing this stuff all over the field. Let's put them in a box, and let's play. Let's have a war and see what happens."

--After two years trying fullback under Mike Martz, Casey Fitzsimmons is a full-time tight end again. "It's where I belong," Fitzsimmons said. "I'm not a fullback. I can do some things that a fullback does, but I've been playing on the line of scrimmage my whole life. It's tough for me to go back there. It's a whole different position."

--The domestic violence charges against safety Kalvin Pearson have been dropped. Pearson was arrested April 26 in Tampa. He was charged with two felonies: aggravated battery on a pregnant woman and domestic battery by strangulation. Assistant state attorney Pam Bondi said Monday that prosecutors decided not to file those charges, but she could not provide details. Pearson still faces a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest without violence. Bondi said his arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 8 and he does not need to attend.

--The Lions put linebacker Teddy Lehman on the injured reserve/minor list and reached a settlement with him because of a strained hamstring. Lehman's injury isn't so serious that he will miss the whole season. But it's serious enough that he will miss at least most of the preseason, and NFL rosters are now limited to 80 players with no exemptions. The Lions could not spare the spot. Lehman left Detroit for Tampa Bay as a free agent in the off-season, but the Buccaneers cut him before training camp and he signed with the Lions on July 26.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Didn't get enough yards." - Coach Rod Marinelli, on what was wrong with the running game in the exhibition opener.