No matter which of the Detroit Lions’ two young quarterbacks comes out of training camp as Matthew Stafford’s understudy, the Lions are taking a big risk on an unproven youngster.

But Jake Rudock’s one year of experience in offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter’s system has given him a big edge in his competition with rookie Brad Kaaya, according to Detroit Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman.

“Playing quarterback in this league as a rookie is tough business,” Twentyman wrote. “Jake Rudock realized that very early last season. He was drafted to compete with Dan Orlovsky to be Matthew Stafford’s backup, but Orlovsky’s experience and knowledge of the offense gave him a clear advantage. Orlovsky ended up winning the job.”

Now the tables have turned, and Rudock’s experience in the scheme gives him a big leg up.

“Rudock’s experience and knowledge of Jim Bob Cooter’s scheme is light years ahead of Kaaya’s right now, and that’s shown on the field in minicamp,” Twentyman wrote. “Rudock appears to have clearly established himself as the No. 2 quarterback heading into training camp.”

Of course, it would have been unusual if Kaaya, a sixth-round pick, had waltzed into OTAs and blown the doors off Rudock, a sixth-round pick with a year’s experience on the squad. But Kaaya’s a more physically gifted quarterback, and if he can improve as quickly within the system as Rudock did this time last year, it could be a much closer race at the end of training camp than it was at the beginning.