Courtesy Vancouver Province:

It ranks as somewhat of an accomplishment for Jeremy Gibbs that he is two days into his biggest challenge as a defensive tackle and has not exhibited any of the characteristics that put him in the running for a starting spot with the Lions.

For one thing, he hasn’t started a fight.

He also hasn’t been yapping at any of his teammates like he did during his first year with the CFL team, when it was abundantly clear he had not read the rookie handbook on protocol.

At least the page where it is written that first-year players should be seen and not heard.

“I know I talk a lot, but he wouldn’t shut up,” said Aaron Hunt.

They may not be the best twosome in the league, but should Gibbs take the job vacancy alongside Hunt in the interior of the defensive front, the Lions might have the loudest tandem this year.

There is not a brashness that comes though when the 23-year-old from Stillwater, Okla. takes off his helmet, but its pretty clear he gets on people’s nerves at work.

He got into a fight during his first day in pads at the University of Oregon in 2006. Same thing in his first game that year.

He went a couple of months on the practice roster with the Lions last season without a scrap before veteran Kelly Bates couldn’t take it any longer and started swinging.

None of this should probably rank as much of a surprise coming from someone who had a chance to go to the University of Oklahoma but chose Oregon because he simply wanted a broader life adventure.

“I’m not a submissive person,” Gibbs said Monday at camp in Abbotsford.

“If you initiate a challenge I gladly accept. I don’t back down. My mom and dad raised me to be a stand-firm kind of guy. I’m just learning when to tone it down.”

So far, there’s not been a peep out of Gibbs, which may well be the result of lessons learned from the player he hopes to replace this season, Tyrone Williams.

It could also be that Gibbs is properly focused on not blowing his chance.

Without so much as a day of NFL experience and only two years at Oregon, the Lions may end up turning to another undrafted import, Rodney Allen, who fared well in one-on-one drills Monday.

It might be logical to assume the Lions saw some hidden trait in Gibbs last year because of his good Pac-10 genes which made the club willing to cast adrift Williams and sign only a small handful of potential replacements for camp.

The 37-year-old Williams was snapped up by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the offseason. “We saw a guy [Gibbs] who is athletic and has good skills, who is a little bit immature. I think he’s tough, but is he physically tough, because he’s in a man’s world?”

Those would normally figure to be fighting words, but Gibbs seems fixated upon making good on the Lions’ belief his lateral quickness makes him a natural partner for Hunt in more ways than one.

At a camp which has several stories of opportunity that potentially could be authored by former backups and practice roster residents, quiet might be a good thing.

Said Hunt: “[Gibbs] will be able to show why they let [Williams] go.” And if it ends up being a Hunt/Gibbs duo? Pass the earplugs.

- Maybe the Lions think the return of Stefan Logan isn’t far off or they’re comfortable they have discovered a replacement tailback.

But the CFL team hadn’t gone much past its third workout of camp Monday and, not only had it narrowed the field of candidates, it cut an offseason favourite.

South Dakota runner Amos Allen lasted about as long in his second attempt to make the roster as he did last season, as the Lions cut him mere hours after the club released rookie Charles Pierre. Allen was picked up by the Argos.

That leaves Iowa’s Damian Sims ahead of remaining rookie import tailback candidates Emmanuel Marc, Martell Mallett and Nanaimo junior Andrew Harris. Returner Ian Smart has also been impressive.

“The pecking order is getting established quickly and we only need four [backs] said GM/coach Wally Buono. Logan is with the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers but has a likely contract extension and raise awaiting him.

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