Lions' Riddick 'too good to not put on the field'

Dan Orlovsky is doubling down on Theo Riddick.

Last year, Orlovsky, the Detroit Lions backup quarterback, predicted that Riddick would have a breakout second season in the NFL.

Riddick's big year never materialized -- he caught 34 passes as the team's No. 3 running back but had just 20 carries for 51 yards -- and even though the Lions spent a second-round NFL draft pick on running back Ameer Abdullah, Orlovsky said that he expects Riddick to make big contributions in 2015.

"Theo's too good to not put on the field," Orlovsky said after the first day of organized team activities today. "Theo has stuff that you can't coach, that you can't teach, that you're born from God with. He just has an ability to get open better than everyone else."

Riddick played mostly as a backup to Joique Bell and Reggie Bush last year, though he filled in commendably when Bush missed time with a pair of high ankle sprains.

He tied for fourth on the team with 34 catches (for 316 yards), had big games in October wins over the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons, and occasionally lined up as an extra weapon in the slot.

Bell enters camp as the Lions' No. 1 running back, and Abdullah, the 54th overall pick, should push for the starting job at some point this year.

But Orlovsky said that he still expects Riddick to be a big part of a Lions passing game brimming with weapons such as Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate and Eric Ebron.

"I think Theo will probably have, like, 60 catches," Orlovsky said. "He's a pretty good player."

Though today is the first day teams are allowed to practice 11-on-11 (without pads) this spring, Orlovsky singled out two more under-the-radar guys with a chance to contribute this year: receivers Lance Moore and Andrew Peacock.

Moore signed with the Lions this month after being cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent his first nine NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints and is familiar with Joe Lombardi's offense from his time in New Orleans.

Peacock spent last year on the Lions' practice squad, after catching eight passes in the preseason.

Both players play slot receiver.

"I think Lance will be sneaky good for us," Orlovsky said. "Lance or maybe Peacock. I'm a Peacock fan. Kind of the same guy, though, but one of those two guys. And I think you certainly hope for the big jump out of Eric, and from what we've seen. it looks like that's coming along."

Note: Stephen Tulloch, who's returning from a torn ACL, took part in field drills Tuesday. ... Orlovsky said his wife, Tiffany, is expecting the couple's fourth child this October, when the Lions will be in London for their game against the Kansas City Chiefs. "We'll manage it," Orlovsky said. "Probably a scheduled C-section the week before." The Orlovskys had triplet boys in December 2011.

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

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