Quote:  Julian Stanford has an uphill battle to be on the Lions 53 man roster but he's probably currently 7th or 8th in the Lions LB pecking order.

 

  Stephen Tulloch,  DeAndre Levy,  and Rookie 2nd Round pick Kyle Van Noy are locks,  barring an unexpected major injury.   Van Noy is still on the 2nd team.   Last year's starter,  Ashlee Palmer,  is ahead of him,  but Van Noy has more potential and versatility.   Palmer likely will stick even though he doesn't start because he's an outstanding Special Teams player.   However,  the one thing that could hurt Palmer is his contract is high for a backup.    Tahir Whitehead,  last year's Lions Special Teams player of the year,  is improving at LB,  and likely will be the # 5 LB.    If the Lions keep 6 LB's,  Travis Lewis probably has the inside track.   However,  Julian Stanford and Brandon Hepburn have a shot.   Special Teams likely will determine whether the Lions keep a 6th or maybe even a 7th LB.    Lewis,  Stanford, and Hepburn are not only competing against each other but are competing against players at other positions.   Including Montell Owens.

 

  Stanford caught my attention on a couple of plays last night.   He didn't play until either the latter 3rd QTR or sometime in the 4th QTR.   He has good movement skills.   Personally,  if the Lions keep 6 LB's,  I prefer Stanford over Lewis or Hepburn because he seems to have more upside potential.

 

  There's actually a 6th former Jags player that's currently with the Lions:  CB Drayton Florence,  who was signed earlier this month.  Florence got into game action in Oakland and much like in his first stint with the Lions in 2012 against the Colts that landed him in Jim Schwartz'  doghouse for the remainder of that season,  he appeared to have blown a coverage assignment.    Unless Florence steps up in a big way in the next 11 days,  he likely will be cut.