Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practice at Allen Park with notes, quotes and observations of interest.

• Today's an off day so I'm keeping it short, but I asked one veteran player if anyone had surprised him so far during training camp. He said, no, thought for a second, then said, "The rookie linebacker." That, of course, is second-round pick Jordon Dizon.

• Incidentally, the player said he figured Dizon was too small at first — the same knock everyone had on him coming out of Colorado — but has been impressive with in way he moves around the field and his nose for the ball. Dizon has worked mostly as the third-team middle linebacker so far, though he'll move up to second string this week if Buster Davis can't go because of an apparent concussion he suffered Saturday.

• The Lions are going to have some decisions to make with their linebackers and soon. Ernie Sims and Paris Lenon are locks for starting jobs. Lenon wants to stay in the middle. Dizon is the Lions' middle linebacker of the future. If Dizon is the third-best linebacker, ahead of current strong-side starter Alex Lewis, they'll be forced to move Lenon outside. That would be best for the team, but it'd make for an unhappy Lenon (and Lewis).

• No word on how bad Teddy Lehman is hurt — he hurt a hamstring in special-teams practice Friday — but if he's out an extended period it will greatly impact his chances of winning a job. The Lions have plenty of capable linebackers in camp, and I'd guess Lehman is eighth right now on a team that will keep seven.

• Dizon will play plenty this year — he's on the kick-return team and may be the personal protector on punts — but I'm gonna hold off anointing him the starting middle linebacker for now. Maybe it happens in the bye week. Maybe injuries mount and a change has to be made out of necessity. Maybe it doesn't happen until next year. I want to see him play in live games and hear reports from coaches and players then.

• By the way, it looks like the Lions will get four starters out of the 2008 draft in Dizon, running back Kevin Smith, right tackle Gosder Cherilus and fullback Jerome Felton. Cherilus might be the only one who starts Week 1, but all will have major roles this year. Felton's won't be as big as the others, but he's a physical run blocker who will impact the running game.

• Last thing, Smith said Saturday his legs "are dead." "I'm going to get in the cold tub as much as I can," he said. "I don't have that burst that I had that first day of camp, put it that way. But in a game, the adrenaline, it'll make up for some of that stuff." Sunday was an off day and Smith said he planned to take full advantage, sleeping, watching movies, eating veal. "I'm going to take advantage of my days off," he said.