Predicting the Winners of the Detroit Lions' Biggest Training-Camp Battles

The Detroit Lions are boring.

There won't be any national spots on their intense quarterback competition. None of their position battles landed in Peter King's 10 best storylines of the summer. Of course, Ndamukong Suh did.

Despite the loss of Suh, the Lions didn't suffer negative upheaval at any other position. They replaced Reggie Bush with second-round pick Ameer Abdullah. Rob Sims is out in favor of a first-round pick, Laken Tomlinson.

But Detroit's training camp won't be devoid of intrigue. The defensive tackle and outside linebacker contests will have talent and mystery. They aren't, however, the season-deciding clashes that are playing out at other training camps around the league.

And that's a good thing. Click through to see which players should win the little battles that will give nuance to the season—not definition.

No. 3 Wide Receiver

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Combination of Lance Moore and Corey Fuller

The answer to who will be Detroit's third wide receiver is complicated. Tight end Eric Ebron should be the third receiving option outside of the backfield, but the Lions need someone to step up in this role—or some two.

Lance Moore has an early edge. He didn't have to learn much regarding the offense, except for verbiage, since the routes are the same ones he ran in New Orleans.

He knows the tricks to getting open in offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's offense—which, combined with his secure hands, makes him a more reliable option than Ryan Broyles, TJ Jones, Jeremy Ross or Andrew Peacock.

Yet Detroit struggled against press schemes last season. Two of Golden Tate's three worst games in terms of catches came against the Arizona Cardinals (two catches) and New England Patriots (four catches). He burned the Pats for big yards, but he wasn't able to get open consistently, thus the four receptions.

So when the Lions face more physical cornerbacks, they could put the bigger Corey Fuller (6'2", 200 lbs) outside and kick Tate (5'10", 202 lbs) to the slot, allowing for more freedom off the line. This would also make it easier to put Tate in motion.

Backup Quarterback

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

Kellen Moore

There will be a quarterback competition in Detroit for the first time since 2009. Matthew Stafford's rookie year was the last time either the first or second spot was up for grabs, which puts Dan Orlovsky and Kellen Moore squarely on the lukewarm seat.

While practice reports have centered on Stafford, the biggest news about Orlovsky and Moore is that there is a competition. Justin Rogers of MLive Media Group noted that "Moore and Orlovsky split second-team reps during OTA practices and minicamp with neither player standing out in the competition."

Some see the early edge as Orlovsky's, since he's the incumbent and has game experience. Moore has never even been active for a game.

Yet Moore was the only one who displayed an understanding of the offense in the preseason last year, albeit against roster-clingers and camp bodies. If he hasn't improved, though, why would the coaching staff split the reps?

Orlovsky peaked in 2011 for a two-win Colts team. He's fumbled 11 times in 24 career games, with seven of those coming during his aforementioned career year.

The kid gets the edge here because experience doesn't mean much without success. So long as Moore doesn't turn the ball over in the preseason (zero interceptions in 2014), the job is his for the taking.

Nickelback

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Quandre Diggs

Hopefully, the Lions will never use their backup quarterback, but whoever wins the nickelback job will see plenty of action.

Detroit limped through the season in 2014. After Bill Bentley (now waived) and Nevin Lawson went down with injuries, Cassius Vaughn saw 387 snaps, per Pro Football Focus, including plenty against Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

With Bentley gone and Lawson still shelved (foot), rookie Quandre Diggs has attacked the competition with instincts and technique. And he wasn't surprised by his performance, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

"It's what I expected of myself, to go out and compete and make plays," he said. "I wouldn't say I'm pleased with it because in my eyes I can do a lot better, I can be a lot better. I'm my hardest critic and I know I'll continue to get better and I'm just going to go out and prove the player I am."

Diggs' availability in the sixth round was a stroke of luck. Tate described him as "a thicker guy that can run," per Birkett, throwing in that "he's physical." That's what the college tape illustrated, and it's translated well to the next level so far.

While nothing is concrete, Diggs is the early prediction partly because Lawson's health could limit him well into training camp. Veteran Josh Wilson threw his hat into the ring, but his last two years (119 quarterback rating allowed in 2013) haven't been inspiring.

Starting Outside Linebacker

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Tahir Whitehead

The 2014 draft class is having a tough time breaking through. Ebron (first round) and Travis Swanson (third round) seem entrenched at their positions, but Kyle Van Noy (second round) is looking at a future more in line with Lawson's.

Tahir Whitehead was surprisingly stout in place of the injured Stephen Tulloch (knee) in 2014. He slid over from his starting strong-side position, which was then filled by Ashlee Palmer, and played a large role on the league's best run defense.

He pulled down the second-most snaps among linebackers and finished with 29 defensive stops (meaning the play resulted in an offensive failure). Van Noy had one.

Van Noy (6'3", 252 lbs) is a long linebacker who is capable of creating confusion. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin could drop him into coverage or use him as a pass-rusher. That versatility, plus his talent, ensures that he'll crack the defensive rotation.

It won't, however, land him the starting gig over the consistent Whitehead. Detroit will focus first on stopping the run, which means the veteran Whitehead will see the vast majority of early downs.

Starting Defensive Tackle

Rogelio Solis/Associated Press

Tyrunn Walker

Much has been made of Caraun Reid's new look this offseason. Head coach Jim Caldwell said he's "in superb shape," adding that he "looks quicker," per Birkett.

Caldwell elaborated that Reid seems to understand what it takes to compete—undoubtedly a product of working out and studying with Suh—saying Reid knew that his "strength levels [had] to go up."

That's the kicker here. Until the pads are on, it's impossible to know if Reid has learned how to anchor against a power-rushing attack.

Tyrunn Walker is a more known quantity. He put up 11 defensive stops and 18 pressures in just 306 snaps last season. He doesn't have an Ivy League education, but he'll match any other player's on-field intelligence, according to Caldwell, per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com:

"

The thing that also jumps out is the fact that he played all those different positions (in New Orleans). The coaches that he’s worked with before said he knows every single defense, every position, where everybody’s going. I think that happens because of the fact that he has a pretty good insight into defensive football itself.

"

Reid should make it a battle, yet Walker will be the one who wins it.

All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.