ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions will report for mandatory minicamp Tuesday afternoon, and the next three days should be elucidating.

For now, here are some musings on where various guys are, including the rookies (plus some thoughts on DeAndre Levy, Theo Riddick and "The Mighty Ducks"):

Which rookie has impressed you the most so far, and why? -- Aron Jurmu

Linebacker Kyle Van Noy. He missed some time the last week of OTAs, but before that I loved the way he moved and how he was used.

The second-rounder was at strong-side linebacker, but also played up on the line in various formations. You can already see a plan formulating, and it includes a ton of versatility and movement.

I'll also say this: I talked to Van Noy at the Senior Bowl, and again at the combine, and again at his draft news conference. I knew exactly what he looked like.

Then I saw him on the field, and was absolutely blown away by just how big this guy is.

Van Noy is listed at 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds. And I'm telling you, he's every bit of it. Looks like a regular dude off the field, but his size truly stands out on it.

Ebron will be a high-usage player as well, including in the slot. But he hasn't been quite as sharp as Van Noy to this point.

Kyle, I know it's your job to talk about this but what is Theo going to show in minicamp that means anything? -- @rfrancis99

You have a point. It's June. We have to be careful how much we cull from workouts in which players have traded shoulder pads for shorts.

On the other hand, though, the Lions are installing a new offense. That means they're going to want to tinker with players to see what exactly they can and can't do in this scheme.

And in that way, I'm interested to see how the Lions line up Riddick during these workouts.

Reggie Bush called Riddick the "sleeper" of the offense. Positive vibes aren't exactly rare these days -- "Everyone looks incredible!" said every player, ever, in June -- but Bush also intimated that Riddick's usage could come in the pass game. That's something worth considering.

These are the last three workouts before Detroit goes on a long break leading into training camp. And I'm curious to see not necessarily how Riddick looks, but where he's used. That could be the best indication of what kind of role we can expect when the games do start to count.

If the Lions seem so committed to Theo Riddick because of his versatility and his role on special teams, how does Mikel Leshoure make the roster, and especially the active roster? I think a lot of fans would like to see what he can do, especially in short-yardage situations. -- Carlos Goodman

Riddick has really generated some buzz among his teammates. His versatility was an asset last year, particularly on special teams, but it seems he's really refined his offensive game as well.

That's particularly true in the passing game, and I expect him to be utilized there.

He's solidly behind Reggie Bush and Joique Bell. But the Saints like to deploy waves of tailbacks, and that likely means Joe Lombardi likes to deploy waves of tailbacks.

Riddick, because he can do so much more in the passing game, is probably that third option over Leshoure.

But it's still possible Leshoure makes the roster in some capacity. After all, the Saints didn't limit themselves to three tailbacks either. They'd go as many as four deep.

The key for Leshoure to carve out a role could be his contributions on special teams. He's never really done much there. When I asked him after last season about doing more on special teams, he said he'd do anything to see the field, but thinks of himself first as a tailback.

He might have to change that thinking, or risk another season of riding the pine.

I know it's early to have any kind of scheme ideas. However, it appears that Detroit may be in a distinct position to do something other teams cannot this year. I was thinking of short yardage or jumbo packages with a 3-TE set, all of which could spread out at the snap and confuse a defense. Any ideas of such a package being installed? -- Paul Pennington

I can't get too specific, per Lions policy, but I can say generally that I have seen three-tight end sets already being implemented with Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron and Joseph Fauria.

This isn't a surprise, either. Lions brass mentioned the possibility of 3TE earlier this offseason, and the Saints ran them with Jimmy Graham last year.

Now they've drafted their own version of Jimmy Graham. Though Ebron dislikes the comparison -- partly out of deference for the All-Pro, partly because he wants to leave his own mark -- it is apt.

Detroit is bringing a lot of Saints principles to the offense. Three-tight ends sets can be expected as a regular subpackage.

Which second year player is more slated for a breakout season, Darius Slay or Devin Taylor? It looks like both could be starters depending on Jason Jones' health. -- thorn143

Excellent question. Both players are expected to play pronounced roles this year, and either -- or both -- could end up starting.

By the slightest of margins, I have to go Slay. Either he's going to start for Houston, who is out right now with an injured toe, or Houston returns to the lineup and Slay starts for Mathis.

Either way, I see him in the starting lineup. He's looked that good this offseason. And I think the new scheme is a beautiful fit for him. It gets rid of the stuff he struggled with most -- zone concepts and lots of thinking -- and features the stuff he's best at -- running like the damn wind.

Taylor could very well start too. He's visibly stronger this year, and everyone I've talked to has really raved about his improvement. But he played pretty well last year, too, especially by season's end.

Slay was terrible for most of last season, which leaves more room for improvement.

I like both players. But if you're talking strictly "biggest breakout player," Slay has a little more room for immediate improvement, and already seems on his way to fulfilling much of it.

Does Jeremy Ross have the talent to be the next Mel Gray? If so, wouldn't that make Reggie Bush and Golden Tate even more dangerous, since they would be healthier by not needing to be on special teams? -- Greg

Ross put up Mel Gray-like numbers last year. He would have ranked first in punt returns and fourth in kick returns if he had enough attempts to qualify. The catch, of course, is he didn't have enough attempts to qualify.

And that's why I'm so intrigued by this guy.

He was lightning in a bottle when he arrived in Detroit last October. But this is also the same guy who was released by Green Bay earlier that season.

If Ross is so special, why was Green Bay -- noted for its development of young players -- so eager to let him go?

It's possible Ross found something in Detroit. Some guys just need an opportunity. Others need a change of scenery. Whatever. There are a lot of variables for why some guys excel after disappointing with someone else.

So it's possible this is the Jeremy Ross we're going to see for the long term. But it's also possible that was a 10-game aberration, and he'll return to earth with a larger sample.

It'd be foolish to compare him to someone as accomplished as Mel Gray this early. It should be enough to say he was a major surprise last season, and has earned the right to prove whether he's the real deal this year.

Any chance the kitties bring back their black uniforms? How about Roy Williams? -- endstrong

Both are about as likely as the Lions taking the field after halftime like this (which I'd fully endorse):

Kyle, my question involves our CBs and how they've been holding up. I'm not as concerned about our outside guys (Houston, Slay, Mathis) as I am about those who will line up in the slot. In your opinion, how has Bentley, and also the newcomer, Lawson held up in camp? -- Steveness22

Really? I'm pretty much the opposite.

Bill Bentley was the Lions' worst-ranked corner last season, according to ProFootballFocus, and worst defensive back overall outside of Don Carey.

But his numbers were bogged down by a dreadful four-game stretch to open the season. He graded negatively in three of those games.

But I thought he got a lot better after that, and the numbers reflect that. He graded negatively just three times the rest of the way, and two of those games were damn near neutral.

He's firmly the starter in the slot. He might not be an All-Pro -- but there's a lot less reason to worry there than what's going on outside.

The longer the Lions maintain their silence about Houston, and when he'll return, and how likely it is he'll return to form, the more I worry about his future.

It's possible he's back in training camp and in the starting lineup for Week 1. But it's also possible he misses action this year.

From what I hear, there is some belief that he might not ever be 100 percent again.

If he can't go or is limited, Detroit will likely start one guy who is 34 year old (Rashean Mathis) and another who was the 92nd-ranked corner during a tumultuous rookie season (Darius Slay).

I like Mathis, and I'm on record as saying Slay could be the Lions' most improved player this year. I also think this scheme is a better fit for the personnel than last year.

But I'm trying to spell out why there is more concern outside than inside, where I think Bentley could be just fine. I liked what I saw late last year, and now he's entering that third season where so many young corners really take off.

Any update on Joique Bell's medical situation? -- realfan

I talked to Bell a couple weeks ago, and he told me he was iffy for minicamp this week, but expected to be ready for the start of training camp in six weeks.

There's no reason to doubt Bell will be available for that, given he was healthy enough to play in Stephen Tulloch's charity softball game over the weekend. He even shared a slice of pizza with Golden Tate in the infield. Team bonding, everyone.

Obviously, though, whether he's good to go today is anyone's guess. But the bottom line is Bell will be just fine for Week 1. No reason to doubt that.

Every team identifies a portion of the roster that it considers its core (long-term starters and playmakers; indespensible-type talents). Outside of CJ, Stafford, and Suh who, on this team, is a part of the core? -- TobleroneBone

I look at this on two levels: Core, in terms of leadership. And core, in terms of ability.

The core leaders, in my eyes, seems to be Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford, Dominic Raiola, Reggie Bush, Stephen Tulloch, Glover Quin and Rashean Mathis.

The core performers, in my eyes, are Johnson, Stafford, Suh ... and DeAndre Levy.

Players already voted Levy as the 59th best player in the league -- ahead of Stafford (100th) as well as Reggie Bush (85th). The top 50 hasn't been revealed, but it can be assumed the only Lions who will be ranked ahead of Levy are Johnson and Suh.

Does that mean he's part of the so-called "Big 3?" No way. Stafford might have had a down year last year, depressing his stock, but he's so much more important to this team than Levy, and also has the raw ability to be better.

But Levy certainly is trending in a direction that could make him among the Lions' biggest stars. Another season like the last, and we could be talking about one of the elite linebackers in the NFL.

Who will sign first: Ebron or Suh? -- meekmonster

Ebron. Just a hunch.

(That, of course, means another veteran restructures his deal.)

Based on Ebron's early struggles, do you think his rookie season will be a bust? And what about beyond? -- 1canadian

Lets pump the brakes on waving the white flag over any player this early in the offseason. That's particularly true considering the scheme change. Guys are thinking an awful lot out there, and are in positions to which they are unadjusted.

Ebron, a rookie who was running around with 19-year-olds just a couple months ago, certainly falls into that category as well.

Drops have been an issue for stars such as Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate during the early portions of the offseason program. I suspect they will improve once they adjust to the scheme, and the same is possible for Ebron.

He's going to play this year. He'll probably start. Just how well he plays is up to him, though I think he has a great chance to be a solid contributor from Day 1 because the system is such an ideal fit for him.

Kyle, who has been getting most of the fullback duties, and from what you have seen so far this year is the team more or less disciplined this year than they were last year? -- elprezidenta

Jed Collins has gotten a lot of reps with the first unit as a blocker, though he's also carried the ball and even been targeted in the passing game. That shouldn't be a surprise.

New Orleans likes to use the fullback in the passing game. I suspect that will be a fixture in this offense as well.

That's why you bring in a guy like Collins, who is physical enough to block but nimble enough to be weaponized through the air. Montell Owens just isn't your prototypical blocking fullback, which isn't the best fit for this offense.

Martin Mayhew insists the Lions could keep both fullbacks, but for that to happen, Owens will really have to be an ace on special teams.

What are we going to do to fill our time from mid-June to the end of July? -- waj8

I'm going to chill in Berlin, and hopefully not get shot in the leg with a flare gun when the U.S. plays Germany in the World Cup. Because, like, I saw that happen to a Danish fan two years ago when Denmark scored a goal against Germany in the European championships. That would be suboptimal.

Justin is going to take some time off, too, in the interest of continued sanity, or at least some degree of it.

You guys are going to be on your own for a little while. Don't burn the house down, aye?