Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez got some advice from Detroit Lions Legend Chris Spielman when they met for the first time at rookie minicamp in May.
What Spielman told him might have had at least some impact on Rodriguez moving up on the linebacker depth chart faster than projected.
Rodriguez was sent in with the No. 1 unit for one snap during Monday's practice. It was the first day the Lions were in pads.
One snap may not seem like a lot, but it means Rodriguez has shown some promise.
View photos from Day 6 of Detroit Lions training camp on Tuesday August 2, 2022.
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (32) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye (24) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (21) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor (62) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Tim Boyle (12) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Michael Brockers (90) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (59) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (59) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (32) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman John Cominsky (79) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Tim Boyle (12) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Eric Banks (94) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Charles Harris (53), Detroit Lions defensive lineman Michael Brockers (90) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor (62) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Zein Obeid (76) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (21) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor (62) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton (83) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Brady Breeze (15) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Austin Bryant (2) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Derrick Deese Jr. (48) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Mike Hughes (23) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Justin Jackson (42) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Tim Boyle (12) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84), Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (21) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Jashon Cornell (96) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson (28) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (32) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Mike Hughes (23) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Mark Gilbert (29) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Brady Breeze (15) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (59) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Eric Banks (94) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Chris Board (49) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Bobby Price (27) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Chris Board (49) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during Lions Training Camp at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 2, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
"It was awesome," Rodriguez said after Tuesday's practice. "It's one of those things where the coach puts you in. You have to make a play or mess up. I just go out there and try to compete and do my job."
Despite questions about his size – 5-11 and 230 pounds – the Lions drafted Rodriguez in the sixth round because of his production and aggressiveness at Oklahoma State.
Spielman, in his second year as a member of the Lions' front office, talked with Rodriguez about the stigma he would face when the two met for the first time.
"He told me, 'You're not the biggest backer,'" Rodriguez recalled. "You're going to have to work. It's one of those things where you're going to have to outwork people.
"At the end of he day, the film's not going to lie. Just go out there, make plays and work your butt off.'"
Rodriguez had not heard of Spielman at the time. That's understandable. Spielman was drafted by the Lions in the second round in 1988 after a storied career at Ohio State. Spielman played eight seasons with the Lions and two more with the Bills before retiring.
Rodriguez got film of Spielman's career and was impressed with what he saw.
"I've seen his film," Rodriguez said. "That dude – he's a dog,"
Head coach Dan Campbell said the staff had already planned to move Rodriguez up in the pecking order before Monday's practice.
"It's just a little bit of a test to see what he can handle," Campbell said. "'I'll say this – he showed up yesterday. All of a sudden, we go first day of pads, guess who shows up? He's one of those guys.
"You see the competition in that room. You watch. Here he is. Let's give him a rep. There's already conversation. 'Let's push him up to the next group. Give him more reps.'"
