Kyle Van Noy talks about making transition to NFL

It's been a busy first half of 2014 for Detroit Lions rookie Kyle Van Noy. He spent the first part of the year preparing for the NFL Draft, and he ended up being picked by the Lions in the second round. His focus then shifted to life in the NFL with a rookie minicamp, OTAs and a mandatory minicamp. Oh, and he also got married earlier this month.

Needless to say, it's been a whirlwind of sorts for Van Noy, especially since he has two roles to learn as he makes the transition to the NFL. Thanks to the Lions' new defensive scheme, he's not just an outside linebacker, and he actually talked about this very subject in a recent blog post for the team's official site. Take a look:

Trying to learn two roles, linebacker and pass rusher, is difficult in the sense of having to learn the technique for both of them. When you're playing at a high level like the NFL, people master their position. I'm trying to master two. I'm up for the challenge.

I'm always going to go about my business and that's putting the team first. I'm going to put the work in, time in and learning in. I'm going to put all those attributes together and just try to prove that I can play and I belong in the NFL.

Van Noy is projected to be the Lions' starting strongside linebacker as a rookie. Ashlee Palmer is hoping to retain his starting spot, but the Lions didn't draft Van Noy in the second round for him to sit on the bench or be a situational player. They have a clear plan in place for him, and it involves being an every-down linebacker who can make plays in coverage and get after the opposing quarterback as well.