Quinn Influenced Benchmarks (QIB) — the study of Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn’s draft tendencies — has been a staple of Lions Wire draft coverage for the last few seasons, but with the COVID pandemic canceling Pro Days, the process and available data took a massive hit.
In yesterday’s QIB study we took a look at how the Lions’ offense could be in for a potential scheme expansion and in today’s article, we shift to the other side fo the ball and examine the athletic markers of the defensive players acquired in the 2020 Draft/UDFA class.
The near-perfect addition
Jeff Okudah (1st)
After the NFL Combine, I examined Jeff Okudah’s measurables and identified, in detail, the numbers that matter to the Lions — spoiler: he checked every box he attempted.
Here are the highlights of his physical attributes:
- Clear 6-0, 190-pounds? Yup, he checked in at 6-1, 205
- How’s his arm length? 32.63″ longest among Lions’ CBs
- Sub 4.5 40-yard-dash? Yup, 4.48 is plenty fast
- Vertical jump over 36″? Yup, 41″, best in CB class
- Broad jump over 10′? Yup, 11’3″, best in CB class
- 3-cone under 3.92? Short shuttle under 4.16? Didn’t attempt
And that last two “didn’t attempt’s” in the agility drills is why this section is titled “near-perfect” and not “perfect”. When you add in all of Okudah’s other attributes — intelligence, scheme fit, character, etc — it’s no wonder he was an easy selection at pick three overall. If he’s not the Lions top cornerback at the end of his rookie year, it’d be surprising.
No QIB, no problem
Julian Okwara (3rd), John Penisini (6th), and Jashon Cornell (7th)
A broken Fibula kept Julian Okwara from finishing his final season at Notre Dame and the NFL Combine, so there are no tested measurables to compare for the QIB system. In fact, the only thing we can examine is his physical makeup and game film.
The Lions target two things in the physical makeup of their EDGE rushers, weigh over 250 pounds, and have 34″ arm length. Okwara weighed 252 pounds at the Combine and like his brother Romeo, he has the frame to easily add more weight. Okwara was also one of only seven EDGE rushers in this draft class to check the arm length box, with him registering 34.38″ arms — second to only Austin Bryant (34.63″) on the Lions roster.
Here’s Julian Okwara bull-rushing two OTs that weigh 100+ pounds more than him (Mekhi Becton & Isaiah Wilson) in case you were wondering how explosive he is
pic.twitter.com/RoyVtqJLQG— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) April 15, 2020
On film Okwara’s burst and power jump out and it’s easy to see why many are calling him a steal in the third round.
Expect the Lions to start Okwara out at JACK linebacker and ask him to burn up the edge as a pass rusher while he acclimates to the NFL. As he gets more comfortable, Okwara has the coverage skills and upside to expand his role in the Lions scheme and could have a Jamie Collins-like developmental ceiling ahead of him.
As a nose tackle, athletic expectations were low for John Penisini. He also only had a particle workout at the Combine leaving his QIB profile incomplete. Jashon Cornell wasn’t invited to the Combine and with no Ohio State Pro Day this year, his profile is also incomplete.
UDFA safeties
Jalen Elliott, Jeremiah Dinson, and Bobby Price
The Lions took three fliers on undrafted safeties and while Jalen Elliott was the only one of the three invited to the Combine, all three have measurables as both Auburn (Jeremiah Dinson) and Norfolk State (Bobby Price) managed to get in Pro Days before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elliott ran a shockingly slow 40-yard dash at the Combine (4.8 seconds), but the Lions tend to focus on the explosion and agility score more for safeties, which is to his benefit. Elliot exceeded the benchmarks in the vertical jump, broad jump, and all-important 3-cone (6.87 seconds), while he only missed in the short shuttle but 0.02 seconds. He may not be an all-around athlete, but he’s athletic in the right ways.
Dinson only passed the vertical jump benchmark which puts him at an athletic disadvantage, but if he is going to make the 53-man roster, his elite tackling ability could be his ticket.
Price is the prototypical small school freak athlete who could turn heads when he gets into camp. At 6-3, 216 with 33.25″ arms Price has an impressive build, but also ran a 4.43 40-yard-dash and emphatically checks all four boxes the Lions look for — 43″ vertical jump, 11-foot broad jump, 6.85-second 3-cone, and 4.06-second short shuttle are all the top marks among Lions safeties. If you’re looking for an undrafted sleeper athlete in this draft class, Price is the guy to take note of.