Ask Doug Hogue about his growth spurt and he just laughs. The numbers don’t lie.

The Detroit Lions linebacker is nearly an inch taller and 15 pounds heavier than last season when he was a rookie.

“It’s very rare that you see (a growth spurt) with guys who are 22 years old, 23 years old like Doug,’’ coach Jim Schwartz said. “It’s been documented. He was saying he grew and the heights we had from the Combine — it wasn’t quite an inch but it was more than three-quarters of an inch that he grew. We talked about him having a lot of upside and he’s proven it.’’

Hogue, entering his second season, is feeling much more comfortable on the field. After all last season, he had no offseason work due to the NFL lockout.

Now he is taking advantage of the work.

“That’s one thing I had that was a progression for me, diagnosing plays and players and things like that,’’ Hogue said. “Being out here, working with these guys actually getting some team play is working well for me I’m taking great strides right now.’’

He did miss a few sessions of the Organized Team Activities due to a cut on his right arm that took 46 stitches to close.

On Memorial Day weekend he was helping his sister move, carrying a big mirror up the stairs and it fell on his arm.

His first thought was not about the Lions.

“I was thinking I hope my arm doesn’t fall off,’’ Hogue said.

Schwartz told him next time to hire somebody.

Hogue is back on the field working during this week’s minicamp and broke up a nice play on the goal line on Wednesday.

His added height had nothing to do with making the play.

“He didn’t knock it down by three-quarters of an inch,’’ Schwartz said. “Here’s the thing, he was in the right spot. It was exact the same coverage and pretty much the exact same play that we got beat on in the 49er game, that fourth-and-goal play. No. 1, he was in good position, but No. 2 it’s not the fact that he’s grown or gotten stronger, his knowledge of the scheme has really advanced and it’s given him a chance to be in the mix for things. That’s the jump guys going into their second year make.’’