Tag: Brad Holmes

Lions release latest ‘Inside the Den’ episode showcasing first draft behind the scenes

The Detroit Lions release their lastest “Inside the Den” episode showcasing the sights and sounds of their first draft of the new regime.

The transparency of the new Detroit Lions regime is night and day from the old regime, where they kept everything close to the chest in hopes of not reviling secrets to other teams. It is a breath of fresh air to see this regime explain their thoughts and feelings towards how they are looking to build this team from essentially what it feels like from the ground up.

With the latest Inside the Den episode, the Lions take you inside their War Room during draft day to experience firsthand the time, preparation, and excitement that came with this regime’s first draft.

General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell were not as nervous as you would think for two individuals running their first draft. Holmes praised the scouting department and all the parties involved because they felt they were well prepared for any scenario that may rear its head during the draft.

After the Cincinnati Bengals took Ja’Marr Chase, the War Room had a good feeling that Miami would go after one of the Alabama receivers, leaving Penei Sewell ripe for the picking for Detroit. The tension was so strong waiting to see what Miami would do, and even though there were trade offers, Holmes felt comfortable enough to stay put. After it was announced Miami selected Jaylen Waddle, the room exploded with raw emotion and excitement and could not have worked any better for a team looking to build this team back up.

After the Sewell pick, Campbell mentioned to Holmes, “That’s a cornerstone pick right there, Brad!”. Holmes could not agree more.

Offensive line coach Hank Fraley was so excited; he told them, “I’m going to come in there and kiss you guys.” Fraley had a strong previous relationship with Sewell when he tried to recruit him at UCLA and has since kept that relationship and now gets a chance to coach him and build an impressive offensive line.

Opening up Day 2 of the draft, the phone got the better of Campbell, mentioning the Saints probably tried calling, but there are 80 lines to this phone and probably hung up on them or how they heard it was Campbell and hung up themselves. Either way, it was a feel-good moment showing the fun and humor this regime has shown so far in their tenure.

It was mentioned before Holmes was close to trading back into the first to draft Levi Onwuzurike because they felt he would’ve been long gone before the Lions could snag the versatile defensive tackle. Holmes received invaluable advice from John Dorsey, who has had his hand in many drafts and told him to sit tight, trust the process, and let the board come to you.

There was a quiet excitement when the Buccaneers selected Joe Tryon, another Washington defender, instead of Onwurzurike at the end of the first round, leaving the possibility they may have a legit shot on drafting him. Sure enough, the board fell exactly how they wanted, and with a little willing it into existence from Campbell; the Lions selected one of their top players.

With the Lions receiving corps left in disarray, many thought the Lions would’ve walked away from the first two days of the draft with a receiver including Owner Sheila Ford Hamp. With their first third selection and notion Holmes was looking at Alim McNeill, she mentioned to Holmes, “What would we do if we don’t get a receiver out of this draft?” Holmes explained to her, “You know we still have the USC kid. We will still be in a position to get one because of the depth at that position.”  So from the looks of it, it wasn’t only the fans and media concerned about the receiver conundrum.

Heading into their second third-round selection, Holmes and Campbell mention one player who was literally waving and jumping up and down and their draft board. That was Ifeatu “Iffy” Melifonwu. The team was shocked he lasted this long in the draft, thinking he would’ve been gone in the second round with his size, athleticism, and hip fluidity that screams starter material.

One interesting nugget with the Iffy selection was a phone call Holmes received during the process. During the call, Holmes said, “Go down to 130,” Then Campbell added his two cents, “For two futures firsts.” Now pick 130 originally belonged to the Jacksonville Jaguars, coming from the Jalen Ramsey trade. The Jaguars eventually moved up from pick 130 to 121 through a trade with the Los Angeles Rams and selected Jordan Smith. Now the terms or teams were not mentioned on the video, but it may seem the Jaguars were trying to move back up in the third, but the Lions stood pat and took their guy.

Entering the final day of the draft, Holmes received a phone call from Mrs. Ford and told him, “You know everyone wants wide receivers and those skill position guys, but you need those big guys.” It was a phone call Holmes said he would never forget and touched his soul. There were two players the Lions had their sights on, and they were going to make sure they get in position to get their guys.

Holmes put everyone at ease when they selected Amon-Ra St. Brown and considering it was a player they saw in the third round, it looks like they thought he would’ve been snagged at this point. Dorsey added a tidbit admiring St. Brown as one of the better run blocking of any of the receivers in this draft.

When Holmes took the seat, it was brought up how much he values GPS data and analytics in assessing players, along with the scouting intuition that led the Lions to Jermar Jefferson. According to Holmes, Jefferson has the third-highest telemetry play speed from all running backs showing up his home run potential in breaking off long runs.

Another fun nugget came from no one other than Campbell, mentioning he will break out his inner gymnast if they could get Sage Surrat as a free agent by doing some backflips. Now the Lions were able to sign Surrat, but unfortunately, there were no backflips.

It was mentioned many times throughout the video from Holmes and Campbell that they could get players they loved by sticking with their draft board and letting the draft fall to them. Holmes handed out many praises for the scouting department and the personnel who had a hand in the process in what was a collaborative effort in making this possible.

Holmes went on to say, “Sometimes in the draft, the decision gets made for you.”

With some of the picks, it sure looks like the Lions stuck to the guns, made the necessary moves when it came to, and walked away with players they feel like they can contribute immediately and set the team’s foundation.

Lions need to focus on development instead of depth in 2021

The 2021 Detroit Lions need to emphasize young player development over trying to compete with low-end veterans

One of the takeaways that didn’t make the top four as I drove home from Detroit Lions minicamp was the rather startling lack of proven NFL depth at a number of positions across the Lions roster.

The reality hit me when I was mentally sorting the running backs. D’Andre Swift is in his second season, and he looks very impressive in the receiving drills in the early portions of the offseason. Newcomer Jamaal Williams is also looking special as a receiver (they’re not allowed to tackle or play behind an OL yet, so actually running the ball is still just theoretical).

After that? Seventh-rounder Jermar Jefferson, first-year newcomer Michael Warren and undrafted rookie Dedrick Mills round out the RB room. Warren played exactly two reps on special teams for the Washington Football Team in 2020 as an undrafted free agent from Cincinnati. That represents the entire NFL experience behind Swift and Williams.

It’s incredibly frustrating when factoring in the significant amount of draft capital the past regime spent on running backs, but that’s for a different story. It has led to an intensely tepid public courtship of veteran Todd Gurley and his arthritic knees, which have since marched onto Baltimore after nothing materialized in Detroit in 10 days.

Nothing against Gurley, who was the best all-around RB in football in 2017-2018, but it’s a good thing the Lions haven’t broken character and signed him. And the reason why is in that last sentence: it’s not 2017-2018 anymore. It’s 2021. These Lions are at the beginning of a major overhaul with a new regime from ownership at the top down to the interns in the media relations department.

Is Todd Gurley a better running back in 2021 than Dedrick Mills or Jermar Jefferson? Probably. But upgrading the No. 3 RB spot with a past-his-prime veteran isn’t what this Lions team needs. One of the reasons we’re here is because the last regime decided it was a good idea to cut 2020 fifth-round rookie Jason Huntley before he ever played. Just for good measure they also dumped 2019 sixth-rounder Ty Johnson–the team’s most effective RB as a rookie–too. They did that to bring in Adrian Peterson.

Was Peterson more effective for the 2020 Lions than Johnson or Huntley would have been? For sure; Peterson proved he still had some gas in the old tank. But it certainly didn’t help drive the Lions to success. And because of the decision to chase past glory instead of developing young talent, the roster is that much more barren now because of it.

It’s time for the new Lions under GM Brad Holmes to stop that maddening carousel of clout-chasing, of eschewing the tougher task of player development in the name of spackling veteran putty over cracked walls with rotten studs. It’s time to rebuild the studs, and maybe find some through actual coaching and attention to a longer-term vision.

It’s even truer at wide receiver. If the season started today, the Lions would trot out an 11 (1 RB 3WR) package of Swift in the backfield and new QB Jared Goff throwing to Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman and Kalif Raymond.

Here’s what those receivers produced in 2020, none of them in Detroit:

Williams (now age 29): Missed the season with injury.

Perriman (27): 30 catches on 60 targets, 505 yards, 3 TDs, 3 drops. One game (vs. NE) produced 5 catches, 101 yards and 2 of the TDs.

Raymond (27 in August): 9 catches on 16 targets, 187 yards, no TDs, 3 drops.

Williams’ playing history, his Chargers experience with new Lions OC Anthony Lynn and early performance with the Lions dictate that he’s a big part of the mix. Based on the last two weeks it’s very clear Williams is the most talented wide receiver in Detroit.

As for Perriman and Raymond? Rather than repeat the RB mistakes of the past regime, learn from them. The Lions of 2022 and beyond are better if fourth-round rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown and last year’s sixth-rounder, Quintez Cephus, are playing instead of them. Even if Perriman and Raymond are better in the offense right now, the Lions need to learn if St. Brown and Cephus can rise above that and be a part of the future.

(Raymond looks like the clear front-runner for the return specialist job, by the way, and his value to Detroit this year is in that capacity)

Then there is the trio of UDFA rookies: Jonathan Brown, Javon McKinley and Sage Surratt. All three were players projected to be drafted as high as the fourth round just a month out from the 2021 NFL draft. All have shown at least some spark in the last three weeks in Allen Park.

There is no purpose in playing Perriman or Geronimo Allison or Damion Ratley over any of those guys. Any short-term benefit they might offer the new-look offense is outweighed by the need to develop some actual depth in Detroit. Cephus had a great day in camp on Tuesday. Build on that. Surratt destroyed smaller coverage in reps all week. That’s something to work with.

Unless there is a radically clear difference in skill level between the older veteran and the young up-and-comer, there’s absolutely no reason to choose the veteran. Now at tight end, 35-year-old Darren Fells makes an exception.

Fells clearly better at all facets of his position than youngsters Charlie Taumoepeau or Jake Hausmann, and he’s also quickly proven to be a worthy mentor for budding star T.J. Hockenson. A year ago with Jesse James as the No. 2 TE, none of that would have been true. Fells is different, and that’s the kind of case-by-case exception that Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions need to value. The likes of Taumoepeau and Hausmann are vying with Alize Mack for the No. 3 spot. Based on the early observations they’re not close to winning that role from the promising young Mack.

By giving the youngsters the keys to the car, the Lions can drive forward with some viable young depth that gains valuable experience. Sure, they might crash here and there. But this season’s Lions are the NFL’s version of a student-driver car: a no-frills learning experience designed to help build for something bigger and better–in due time–for everyone involved.

By teaching the rules of the NFL road to budding young developmental players like Surratt, Jefferson, OT Matt Nelson and LB Tavante Beckett, the Lions just might find something worth keeping. Doing that helps end the cycle of bringing in has-been veterans past their primes, and their primes often weren’t great to begin with. This Detroit coaching staff is loaded with former players who have quickly shown a hands-on approach and enthusiasm for working with players. Utilize that to see what the revamped scouting department and front office can find instead of scouring the scrapyard for what other teams didn’t want anymore.

That’s the culture change I want from Holmes and the 2021 Lions.

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Brad Holmes breaks down why the Lions didn’t want to trade back at No. 7 in the 2021 NFL draft

Holmes and the Lions were ecstatic to land Penei Sewell with the pick

One of the more memorable moments of the first NFL draft for Lions GM Brad Holmes was a clip from the Detroit “war room” where Holmes politely but firmly rejected trade overtures from other teams when his Lions went on the clock at No. 7 overall. Many fans wondered why the Lions would so steadfastly refuse to consider trading back and acquiring more picks.

The Lions, of course, stayed true to their board and snagged Oregon OT Penei Sewell.

On a recent episode of The Athletic’s Football Show with host Robert Mays, Holmes broke down why the team didn’t move back.

“We always thought that we had to be in a position that, we need to add the best football players that we possibly can. We thought all the scenarios that we went through — yes, we did have dialogue with other clubs on our pick and throughout the other rounds — we did come to the conclusion that, look, if the right guy is there, we’re just staying and taking the best player.

“Now, we didn’t rule out moving back depending on who was or (was) not going to be there. And sometimes you’ve got to think about, depending on the strength of that specific draft—and that’s for every draft—depending on the strength of that draft, do you trade back? What do you acquire or what can you possibly acquire versus if you stayed put?

“So all of those things kind of play into the equation, but we just felt good about when Penei was available then that dialogue with those other teams were pretty quick.”

The excited reaction from Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and the rest of the Lions braintrust made it very clear the team landed its most favored outcome by selecting Sewell.

Holmes also offered a tidbit there that might have been previously unnoticed. When he talked about the relative strength of the draft, he indicated the Lions didn’t see this particular draft class as having a lot of value for trading back. That’s an interesting admission when Holmes has also stated publicly that he tried to trade up for Levi Onwuzurike, who Detroit landed in the second round without having to move up.

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Brad Holmes breaks down why the Lions didn’t want to trade back at No. 7 in the 2021 NFL draft

Holmes and the Lions were ecstatic to land Penei Sewell with the pick

One of the more memorable moments of the first NFL draft for Lions GM Brad Holmes was a clip from the Detroit “war room” where Holmes politely but firmly rejected trade overtures from other teams when his Lions went on the clock at No. 7 overall. Many fans wondered why the Lions would so steadfastly refuse to consider trading back and acquiring more picks.

The Lions, of course, stayed true to their board and snagged Oregon OT Penei Sewell.

On a recent episode of The Athletic’s Football Show with host Robert Mays, Holmes broke down why the team didn’t move back.

“We always thought that we had to be in a position that, we need to add the best football players that we possibly can. We thought all the scenarios that we went through — yes, we did have dialogue with other clubs on our pick and throughout the other rounds — we did come to the conclusion that, look, if the right guy is there, we’re just staying and taking the best player.

“Now, we didn’t rule out moving back depending on who was or (was) not going to be there. And sometimes you’ve got to think about, depending on the strength of that specific draft—and that’s for every draft—depending on the strength of that draft, do you trade back? What do you acquire or what can you possibly acquire versus if you stayed put?

“So all of those things kind of play into the equation, but we just felt good about when Penei was available then that dialogue with those other teams were pretty quick.”

The excited reaction from Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and the rest of the Lions braintrust made it very clear the team landed its most favored outcome by selecting Sewell.

Holmes also offered a tidbit there that might have been previously unnoticed. When he talked about the relative strength of the draft, he indicated the Lions didn’t see this particular draft class as having a lot of value for trading back. That’s an interesting admission when Holmes has also stated publicly that he tried to trade up for Levi Onwuzurike, who Detroit landed in the second round without having to move up.

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Lions called the Falcons on the clock to try and trade up for No. 4 overall pick

The Falcons had no interest in trading out with anyone and selected Kyle Pitts

Lions general manager Brad Holmes revealed after the 2021 NFL draft that he wasn’t really interested in fielding any trade offers once Detroit went on the clock with the No. 7 overall pick and with Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell still on the board. Holmes got the man he wanted and quickly rebuffed any other teams efforting to move up for the pick.

It turns out that Holmes and the Lions might have instead tried to move up in the draft to land Sewell.

A clip from the Atlanta Falcons and their draft war room shows new Falcons GM Terry Fontenot fielding a phone call from the Lions while Atlanta was on the clock at No. 4 overall. Fontenot quickly rejected any advances from Detroit.

“We’re going to make the pick,” Fontenot said over the phone. “It’s the same (situation) as what we talked about.”

The Falcons stood firm at No. 4 and selected Florida TE Kyle Pitts, the first non-quarterback to come off the draft board.

It’s not clear exactly who the Lions were calling about to possibly select with a trade up, but the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 5 were often linked to Sewell. Trading up with Atlanta would have ensured the Lions got their man in Sewell. They eventually drafted him without having to move up from No. 7.

What we learned about the Brad Holmes regime from the 2021 NFL draft

The 2021 draft offers much deeper insight into GM Brad Holmes vision for the Detroit Lions

The 2021 NFL draft weekend was the first true sense of the long-term team vision we got from new Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes. Free agency filled holes, the Matthew Stafford/Jared Goff trade officially converted the retool to a rebuild, but the draft is the first real proving ground for what Holmes and his assistants want the direction of the Detroit Lions to be in his tenure.

The draft class, headlined by No. 7 overall pick Penei Sewell, offers some evidence and insight on Holmes’ vision for his Lions. Here are a few things we can deduce from the draft weekend for Detroit.

Lions GM Brad Holmes looks to have sniped a player from the Eagles

The Detroit Lions have endured players getting sniped before their pick in the draft, but GM Brad Holmes might’ve done it himself

With the 2021 NFL Draft wrapped up, GM Brad Holmes looks to have nailed his first draft for the Detroit Lions. They have been getting universal praise for selecting players who not only fit with the knee-biting culture but a new focus on athleticism.

Holmes stuck to his draft board and let the draft fall to him and, in most cases, getting solid value for where he selected the players. He got big in trenches and added speed in multiple facets.

As Lions fans, we have grown accustomed to hearing stories of teams snipping a player just a few spots earlier, leaving them scrambling and frustrated. From the looks of it, not only did Holmes show to be a natural at drafting, he knows how to read the draft tea leaves and pulled a heist himself.

A video surfaced recently of the Eagles war room after their third-round selection, and boy, do they look mad and frustrated even with Eagles GM Howie Roseman trying to lift spirits.

A little background before all this occurred. The Eagles made a trade with the Carolina Panthers and dropped down three spots from 70 to 73, feeling the player they were targeting would fall to them, specifically a defensive tackle.

Right in front of them was the Lions, who just took a defensive tackle a round before, so they must’ve felt comfortable at that spot to get the player they had their sights set on. Unfortunately for them, the Lions had other plans when they selected their second defensive tackle in as many rounds with Alim McNeill, who looks likes the Eagles wanted.

The Eagles then immediately took DT Milton Williams with the 73rd pick, but it looks like they may have had their hearts set on McNeill from the get-go, turning the Eagles war room sour real quick feeling they had the player in hand with McNeill but had to settle with Williams.

The Eagles tried to play the trade back, hoping to gain more capital and better value for the selection, but it looks like it didn’t work in their favor. Honestly, if they coveted McNeill that highly, there isn’t that big of a difference between 70 and 73 and should’ve stuck their guns, but it looks like they outsmarted themselves.

As Lions fans, we have grown with heartbreak after heartbreak, but to see they might have fleeced the Eagles out a player they were to draft to have the rug ripped right out from is a small moral victory especially after a strong showing at the draft.

Detroit GM Brad Holmes admits the Lions attempted to trade up for Levi Onwuzurike

Holmes got lucky his target was still on the board at No. 41

One of the more surprising moments in Lions GM Brad Holmes’ late-night press conference following Day 2 of the 2021 NFL draft was Holmes stating the team wanted to trade up in the second round.

The player they were targeting in those trade efforts on Friday night was Washington defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike. In a bit of good fortune for Holmes, the failure to land a trade did not mean losing out on the player he and his Lions staff coveted.

“He’s been one of my favorite players in the draft,” Holmes said of Onwuzurike. “We did make some attempts to get back up there and then obviously, it didn’t fall through, and then we made some attempts earlier. We made a few attempts to get him, but it’s just sometimes the draft gods smile on you a little bit and bless you with what you were wanting.”

The big tackle was still on the board when the Lions went on the clock at No. 41, and it didn’t take Holmes long to send in the pick.

“He’s a scheme fit,” Holmes explained. “He’s very explosive, very talented. He’s one that I identified early on in the process, I’d say you know back from 2019 when he was still playing and even when he had his opt-out, still just kind of refreshing on his film again last year.”

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Lions GM Brad Holmes went absolutely nuts after drafting Penei Sewell

Brad Holmes absolutely SCREAMED.

It’s probably an understatement to say Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes was happy to see Oregon tackle Penei Sewell drop to seventh overall in the 2021 NFL draft. That’s where Holmes and the Lions picked Sewell, the best tackle in the draft and, arguably, the second best prospect in the draft.

An anonymous NFL coach told NBC’s Peter King that Sewell was the player in this draft class most likely to make the Hall of Fame. That sort of hyperbole gets thrown around on draft day every year. But you get the sense Holmes doesn’t think it’s a stretch. He let out a huge scream of excitement after making the pick.

He. Was. STOKED.

Honestly, clapping that hard looks like it hurts. Holmes must really like Sewell.

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Lions GM Brad Holmes confirms teams have inquired about No. 7 overall pick

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco could be among the few looking to move up.

The majority of the talk surrounding the Chargers this week has consisted of the possibility of the team trading up for offensive tackle Penei Sewell.

If Sewell was to fall past the Bengals, the ideal spot to trade up would be the No. 7 pick, which is currently held by the Lions.

Detroit general manager Brad Holmes confirmed that teams have already begun inquiring about their pick.

“Yes, there have been [trade] discussions with other teams,” Holmes said, per MLive’s Kyle Meinke. “I will keep those in house, but yeah, there have been discussions.”

It would not be surprising if Los Angeles was among the teams that have called the Lions.

Given the fact that the position is a pressing need and Telesco has to be under a little pressure since he hasn’t put together a competent offensive line since he’s been around, I could see him dealing and wheeling to get his guy.

History tells us that he’s not afraid to move up, either.

Telesco has traded up four times in his eight-year tenure, most recently in 2020 where he jumped 14 spots to draft linebacker Kenneth Murray

Los Angeles would likely be attempting to outbid other quarterback-needy teams, finding themselves having to give up their first, second or third-round pick this year and next year’s first-round.

However, there’s the possibility of a less attractive quarterback only being available like Alabama’s Mac Jones, which might lower the bidding price. Instead of a first next year, it might only cost a second in 2021.

The bottom line is that L.A. must draft one of the top tackles to protect quarterback Justin Herbert’s blindside, even if it means taking a leap to get him.