Macik set for training camp

Ex-Penn star hoping to make Lions At last, the time has come. In the past few months, Miles Macik has signed a professional contract with the Detroit Lions, attended their spring mini-camp and worked out daily at the Silverdome. But all that pales in comparison to Monday, when the former Penn wide receiver begins training camp and starts finding out whether his National Football League dream will materialize. Although Macik was a true superstar at Penn, twice gaining Division I-AA All-America recognition, he knows that nothing comes easily to an undrafted free-agent in the pros, especially one on a team with arguably the best passing offense in the league. "My goal is to make the team," Macik said. "Then, hopefully, once I'm on the team I can reassess my goals." Living in the Greater Detroit area has allowed Macik a luxury rare for most rookies, the chance to spend the past six weeks working out at team-owned facilities, something that only about ten players of any status have been able to do. "I've been going to the Silverdome every morning for a month," the recent College graduate said. "I get over around 7 a.m., then I run and lift." In order to improve his strength, Macik has been working out daily on a regimen specially designed for him by the Lions' Strength Coach, Bert Hill. Monday's camp opening will be the first formal work that rookies have had with the team since a three-day mini-camp in early May. The Lions had scheduled a passing camp for the first week of June, but cancelled it in favor of a camp for linemen. In order to stay sharp Macik has been working out with several quarterbacks, including Lions starter Scott Mitchell. It's as good a situation as a newcomer could have. "It's still kind of weird to go to the Silverdome to work out with Scott Mitchell," Macik said. Three nights a week, Macik has been working out with a quarterback he knows well -- incumbent Penn QB Steve Teodecki. Since the two live less than half-an-hour apart, it is convenient for them to meet at a local high school field, where they alternate running Lions plays and Penn plays. "They're pretty similar [the systems], but some routes are different," Teodecki said. "They run more outs and we run more curls." Before the veterans come in on Friday, June 19, the rookie receivers, who will deal primarily with Receivers Coach Charlie Sanders, at least in the early going, will work on learning the entire playbook, since only part of it could be introduced in May. In addition, many of the newcomers, Macik among them, wil have to learn to do things Detroit's way. "It's different, in a lot of cases, from way I was taught," Macik said. "A lot [of routes] at Penn were run very short and they want you to round them, rolling into the break. Basically it's a matter of changing the things that I'm doing." One of the dangers any young player in any sport faces is being star-struck. Macik admits that in May, he was a little intimidated in the presence of stars like Herman Moore, who set an NFL receptions record last year, and Brett Perriman. But the behavior of the veterans has eased the tension. "Herman Moore was very helpful, telling me what I could and should do -- it's a positive situation," the 22 year-old said. Competition at Lions camp figures to be fierce. Although the team did not draft any wide-outs, they have signed at least five free agents to compete for scant playing time. The Lions already have a fine core of players at the position, although Perriman is holding out. With that in mind, Macik, who owns the Ivy League record for career receptions with 138, is trying to make himself "more marketable" by offering his services as a kick holder, a function he served during his Penn days. But it will all come down to the Lions' coaching staff's opinion of his potential. No one is expecting a non-draftee to step in and be a key man, but teams will stick with a young player if they feel he can grow. As a receiver, Macik offers size and, especially,good hands, but a perceived lack of speed kept him out of April's NFL draft "I think he's going to do fine -- I just hope he gets a chance," Teodecki said. "His strength is consistency and that's hard to show in a camp." If nothing else, Miles Macik is getting a shot at his dream.