The Lions are starting to "get it"....

The Lions are starting to figure the off-season out. You're either chasing after the top free agents, and leaving yourself vulnerable to the draft; or you're allowing your players to test the open market, leaving the possibilities for extra comp picks in the next draft. In Tom Kowalski's column in MLive, coach Rod Marinelli talks about not missing on players:

"The one thing we've been able to do well, or better, is we're not missing on that first day," Marinelli said. "You've got to have a guy starting for you. Those first-round and second-round picks need to be solid. And then, on the second day, we've just got to find guys who will make our team and eventually be starters for us.

"You understand you're going to miss on guys, but you've got to limit your misses."

Coach Marinelli talks about the UFA's in today's Detroit News...

Free-agent focus

The Lions won't try to re-sign any of their 13 players who will become unrestricted free agents before they go on the market, Marinelli said.

"I don't see it happening," Marinelli said. "I think guys want to go out and test the market. They should."

Damien Woody , who played right offensive tackle the last five games, should get the most attention.

"We'll have to see how the market looks at him," Marinelli said. "He had a real nice run there."

Linebacker Boss Bailey is the only full-time starter who will be a free agent. The others are linebacker Teddy Lehman , running backs T.J. Duckett , Aveion Cason and Tatum Bell , tight end John Owens , defensive backs Tony Beckham , Idris Bashir , Smith and Fisher, offensive tackle George Foster and wide receiver Troy Walters .

Four players will be restricted free agents -- quarterback Dan Orlovsky , guard Stephen Peterman , defensive tackle Langston Moore and Wilson.

Two teams that come to mind that have taken advantage of letting their free agents go and using comp picks wisely are the Packers and the Eagles, who consistently garner extra picks each year, and it allows them to stay away from free agency for the most part. Remember, the Lions are only replacing one starter, so this is a chance to start a roll, and keep it going down the road.