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Lions defensive tackle Caraun Reid is looking for more action in his second season.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- Caraun Reid was the fourth defensive tackle on a team that carries four defensive tackles. He barely played.

But that doesn't mean it was a lost year.

Reid spent much of his rookie season with the Detroit Lions observing how Ndamukong Suh went out about his business on the field, and away from it. Suh took to the youngster, too.

And the lessons never stopped, even after Suh signed his record $114 million deal with Miami.

"You don't stop being friends just because a guy signs somewhere else," Reid said.

Suh is known for doing his own thing during the offseason, but he invited Reid to join him on his offseason regimen this year. They worked out together over the course of several weeks.

Reid declined to say where the workouts occurred, only saying they weren't in Detroit. Their sessions included weight training, as well as film sessions.

"I mean, he's the best at what he does," Reid said. "He's the best in the world for a really big reason: He takes everything seriously. He has a great regimen. On the field, he's relentless. There's no one way you can describe him. There's no one attribute. He's just all-around dominant, and he knows the game. He studies the game. He loves the game.

"So that's what I learned from him, and try to emulate."

Reid played sparingly in 12 games after Detroit took him out of Princeton in the fifth round of last year's draft. He finished with two tackles.

But he has been earning all kinds of buzz for his development this offseason. Coaches have been particularly pleased with his physique. And with Haloti Ngata sitting out the past seven OTAs, they've elevated Reid to the first team.

"From a physical standpoint, he's just in superb shape," coach Jim Caldwell said. "I think he committed himself to changing his habits in terms of eating. That's not to say that his eating habits were terrible before, but I think once these guys get in this league, they understand what they have to do in order to be able to compete consistently. That's part of it.

"You've got to eat right, your strength levels have to go up, you have to reduce the amount of body fat. I need to do a little of that, but nevertheless, he's a smart guy and he's done well. He looks quicker, he's running to the ball, he's in great shape, so we'll see if that translates."

But ask Reid where he's improved the most over the past 12 months, and he offers a different tune.

"Some could say my physique, and it is different," he said. "But I would say it's my mind-set. Just the way I approach the game. I feel more in control, I have a better knowledge of the system and I know what to expect."

Reid's ability to study and adapt should not be a surprise. He graduated from the Ivy League, after all, and knows a thing or two about studying.

He used to journal every day when he got home from practices and games last season, marking notes from teammates or coaches, setting goals, evaluating where he was and how far he had to go.

"I learned a lot last year," Reid said. "Had really great guys in the room. Suh and C.J. (Mosley), and being able to learn from them. That was the biggest thing for my development last year. Didn't get to play as much, but the learning I got is something I took hold of.

"Now it's just taking those things away from the notepad, and putting them on the field. That's the biggest adjustment."

Caldwell shared a story about how he used to go for early-morning strolls through the halls of the Lions practice facility last year, and no one would be in the weight room yet -- except Suh.

So he had to do a double-take the other day when he was going for another of his early-morning walks, and saw someone else banging away in the weight room.

"I saw Caraun in there," Caldwell said. "It was pretty early."

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