07/27/2006

Kingsley's Kaleita goes camping

Offensive lineman set for Lions training camp

BY MARK URBAN

murban@record-eagle.com

Kaleita

TRAVERSE CITY — Between the Mike Martz playbook and what happened last summer, Tom Kaleita feels like he's in college all over again.

The Kingsley High School and Eastern Michigan University graduate reports to Detroit Lions training camp today in Allen Park.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle — cut on the eve of training camp last year — takes another shot after playing for the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe this spring.

"I'm a little anxious," said Kaleita, who spent part of Wednesday reviewing the playbook put together by the new offensive coordinator. "It feels like I'm cramming for a big test.

"Martz has a crazy playbook; it's the most in-depth. It'll be intense to learn all this.

"I'm going through all my notes. I think we have every protection ever conceived by man."

Kaleita said physicals are scheduled for early afternoon today. He'll report before that.

Then the task for Kaleita is to make the team, under the direction of first-year head coach Rod Marinelli.

"It's going to be a tough battle," Kaleita said. "There's a lot of competition on the offensive line. They picked up a lot of veterans, so it's going to be tough.

"My honest goal is to make the practice roster this year because it'd be a step in the right direction. That's all I can do is give it 100 percent and hope for good things."

That was also the approach Kaleita took as the eve of training camp approached.

"I'm pretty positive it wasn't happening the same way this year," he joked.

Kaleita said he participated in workouts with the Lions for about four or five weeks after the NFL Europe season ended.

"I flew into Detroit on Monday (May 22), they picked me up at the airport and I checked into a hotel," he said. "I took a physical the following day and worked out and I was on the field practicing on Wednesday."

Kaleita, who played left tackle at Eastern Michigan, got most of his work at right tackle with the Lions. Not that he's not ready to make a move.

"We'll see what they want me to do when I come in," he said.

Kaleita played right tackle for Berlin and started all 10 games. He nearly played every snap for the Thunder.

"Our starting guard wanted to play one series at tackle," Kaleita said. "And it was a three and out."

Kaleita said Berlin's front five enjoyed a successful season even though the team posted a 2-7-1 record. It didn't help that the Thunder had 29 players on injured reserve at some point during the spring.

"I improved greatly as a player," Kaleita said. "As far as the record goes, we didn't do well as a team. But the offensive line gave up the fewest sacks in the league and we threw the ball as much as evey other team in the league."

Suiting up for an NFL Europe team was something Kaleita said was a great experience.

"It was incredible," Kaleita said. "It was something I don't think I would have been able to do otherwise. I definitely want to go back just to vacation and see some of the things I didn't get to see."

Now Kaleita will try to add a new professional experience to his career resume.

See related stories:

• Kaleita drafted by Berlin Thunder - January 31, 2006
• Kaleita inks new contract with Lions - January 3, 2006

See related column:

• Kaleita's push to make Lions is a longshot - April 9, 2006