The Harrington Family Foundation

By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News

ALLEN PARK -- It is almost two months until training camp starts, and six weeks after that until the start of the regular season. It is far too early to make any definitive judgments about the Lions, but soon enough to notice a difference in the offense.

Quarterback Joey Harrington can see some changes — good changes from the moribund attack of 2003.

In mini-camp this week, Harrington has gotten a vision on how Charles Rogers and rookie Roy Williams will be twin threats on the outside.

When the offense breaks down, the fun will begin. And Harrington expects the results to show up on the scoreboard.

Harrington made a joke when asked what it meant to have two targets who possess national-class sprinting speed.

“You mean I’ve got to throw the ball a little farther?” Harrington said. “In all seriousness, it takes a little adjusting. Now, if I get in a pinch, I’ve got two great athletes out there who can blow by anybody.

“If I’m in a pinch, give them a shot.”

By pure draft pedigree, Rogers and Williams rank as the top young receiving tandem in franchise history. The Lions drafted Rogers second overall in 2003. They took Williams with the seventh pick this year.

Rogers was on the way to a productive rookie season when his right collarbone was broken in a practice after the fifth game. Rogers missed the last 11 games. He had 22 receptions and three touchdowns.

Harrington was asked how Rogers would react to having another young, talented receiver in the lineup who might compete for receptions.

“Charles? It means single coverage,” Harrington said. “I don’t know how he’s going to be threatened. I saw him after the draft. That’s all we kept saying back and forth — ‘single coverage.’ And ‘I’ll be ready to make a play.’

“That’s a great thing to have two receivers like that. Having two receivers like that is always a positive.”

Rogers laughed at the idea that adding Williams might have a negative impact on him.

“We haven’t been to the playoffs since 1998,” he said. “What are we going to argue about? Who’s getting the ball?”

Since the end of last season, the Lions have added to the offense at every level. In free-agency, they signed guard Damien Woody of New England and wide receiver Tai Streets of San Francisco. Two draft-day trades left them with a second first-round pick. It was used to draft another prospect with speed — running back Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech.

In mini-camp this week, moves were made to change tight ends. Stephen Alexander, who spent the last two seasons with San Diego, signed a one-year contract. Mikhael Ricks was told he could shop his services to other teams.

Any change should be good for the Lions. They ranked last in total yards and rushing yards last year, and were in the bottom six in eight offensive categories.

Something Coach Steve Mariucci has mentioned often stands out in mini-camp. Players are healthy and available to practice. Cornerback Chris Cash, who is recovering from knee surgery, is the only player who is not participating in drills.

“We’re healthy,” Mariucci said. “We seem to be fast. I can’t help but think of last year when we had about a dozen guys standing around watching. We were coaching them in the back as they were on crutches and in ice. Here, they’re participating.

“That’s the first difference, so you look a little better running an offense and a defense with everybody healthy. It’s going to take a lot of time, but Joey and Mike (McMahon) are starting to develop some sort of rhythm and timing with the new bunch of receivers. That’s done over hundreds and hundreds of throws. It’s a good start.”

There is still a long way to go, but the Lions have a start — a healthy, fast start — on improving the offense.

“Our skilled players are faster now, with some big-play potential that what we lacked,” Mariucci said. “We lacked yards after the catch. We lacked lengthy rushing touchdowns. We lacked some ability to make you miss and go an extra 20 yards with our skilled players.

“That’s what any offense needs, and I think we’ve got some of the guys who can do that.”