Kenny Golladay wasn't happy with the way his first practice of training camp went, and the rookie wide receiver didn't waste any time trying to do something about it.

Golladay, the Detroit Lions' third-round pick, found Matthew Stafford after practice Sunday and asked if the veteran quarterback would throw him extra passes.

"We’re still trying to get a feel for one another," Golladay said. "I feel like I probably didn’t do as good in practice so I feel like I need to do a little more work, and that just goes back to perfecting my craft."

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Golladay said Stafford was happy to spend some extra time throwing and offered words of encouragement, reminding him that things will come together "in time."

"What he really said was whenever you feel like you need something just come to me and I got you," Golladay said.

Golladay has emerged as the favorite for the No. 3 receiver job behind Golden Tate and Marvin Jones after the Lions decided not to re-sign Anquan Boldin in free agency.

At 6-foot-4 and 213 pounds, Golladay has the best blend of size and speed in the Lions' receiving corps. He made a favorable impression in spring workouts with his hands and ball-tracking ability. And even on what he considered a down day Sunday, he shined in one-on-one drills, at one point breezing past undrafted rookie cornerback Des Lawrence on a double move for an easy touchdown.

"I’ve seen steady improvement," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "He’s got a ways to go yet, but he’s got height, he’s got ability. He’s got the drive and work ethic to try and improve each and every day. So we’re excited about where he is now, but this is a time where we’re really going to get an opportunity (for more evaluation)."

The Lions will hold their first padded practice of training camp on Tuesday, and it remains to be seen how Golladay will adjust to the physicality of the NFL.

For now, he's in "the learning process and he's doing well there," Caldwell said.

"My receiver coach alone, he really has high expectations for me and I want to meet his level of expectations," Golladay said. "And it really just goes back to coming out here with your hard hat on and going to work."

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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