ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Observations on the 2003 Detroit Lions from training camp practices:

	Joey Harrington started 12 games last season as a rookie for the Lions.

1. Quarterback Joey Harrington looks so much better than last year when he completed 50.5 percent of his passes as a rookie. He displays good leadership in the huddle. He makes quick reads. His mechanics are good. The balls are thrown accurately. Receivers are making finger-tip catches. Harrington said that he's grading out with about 85 percent completions in seven-on-seven drills and about 70 percent in team drills. He is so much more sure of himself, but it's still a tough learning curve for a second-year quarterback in the West Coast offense.

2. Look for center Dominic Raiola to continue to evolve into one of the best young centers in the league. He's maybe a year away from being recognized among the better NFC centers. He's muscled his body into the 300-pound range, but he is one of the better centers being able to pull to the outside on running plays. He's in the mold of a Kevin Mawae of the Jets and Olin Kreutz of the Bears.

3. Down 30 pounds from March, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers looks as though he can regain the dominating form he had as a rookie in 2001. Rogers, who has ankle worries, had an off season last year because of the extra weight and management thought about trading him during the offseason. Good thing that they didn't. Luther Elliss is out most of the preseason with a torn pectoral muscle, leaving Rogers the lone force in the middle of the defensive line. He'll surely be double teamed, which is why the Lions will be considering former Redskins defensive tackle Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson.

4. James Stewart turns 32 in December and he clearly has a bulls-eye on his starting job over the next year. He's in the fourth year of a five-year, $25 million deal and did things that most 30-year-old backs don't do in 2002. He rushed for 1,021 yards and averaged 4.4 yards a carry. Because he missed 11 starts over the past two years because of injuries, Stewart needs a good first half of the season to groom fourth-round choice Artose Pinner and former Bills speedster Shawn Bryson to challenge him. Pinner and Bryson are on the Physically Unable to Perform list so Stewart's job is safe -- for now.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.