Tag: dan campbell

Detroit Lions draft Giovanni Manu, a Polynesian offensive tackle inspired by Penei Sewell

ALLEN PARK — It’s possible the Lions could have found another Penei Sewell type player when they moved up in the fourth round of Saturday’s NFL Draft to select offensive lineman Giovanni Manu. He’s the first player drafted in the NFL from the University of British Columbia.

Manu, who is 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds, was considered one of the more interesting draft prospects since he has never played football in the United States.

He was born and raised in Tonga which is a short plane ride away from Samoa, the home of Sewell.

“I look up to Penei a lot, I do study a lot of his film. I do think he’s the best tackle in the league right now,’’ Manu said on a conference call on Saturday. “He moves so fluid for how big he is. He’s an inspiration to the Polynesian community.’’

Manu said he watched Sewell’s draft process and remembers him saying that any Polynesian kids who want to make it to the NFL can do so if they put their minds to it.

“I was in my second year of college when he said that and I remember that it really motivated me,’’ Manu said. “I told myself if one of my Polynesian brothers can make it there’s no reason I can’t do it either. He’s a true inspiration to Samoa and the whole Polynesian community. It (will be) great to play with a guy to soak up as much information and technique from him.’’

Manu moved to British Columbia from Tonga, where he played rugby, when he was 11 to get a better education and have a better chance at a good life.

He was introduced to football via a two-minute highlight reel of Ray Lewis at work and started playing in 10th grade. 

His impressive Pro Day included a 4.96 40-yard dash and a 33.5-inch vertical. He made a visit to the Lions and was impressed with GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell.

“I loved my visit overall and I remember leaving and telling myself I felt at home here and I would not mind at all if these guys took a chance on me and I’m happy to be here now,’’ Manu said.

He played mostly left tackle in college but said he’d be happy to play wherever the Lions needed him the most.

“I think discovering American football has been the greatest blessing in my life and I love the sport,’’ Manu said.

Six picks later the Lions drafted running back Sione Vaki from Utah. (Stay tuned for more.)

Detroit Lions reveal new uniforms with a black alternate at Dan Campbell’s request

DETROIT — The black Detroit Lions jerseys have returned in part thanks to coach Dan Campbell.

In 2021, before he had coached his first Lions game, he made a request to Rod Wood, team president.

“We were in the draft room and he said, ‘Hey, Rod when can we get the black jerseys back?’ I said, ‘I’ll make you a deal, when you win the division, I’ll bring the black jerseys back. I went out on a limb and thankfully he delivered.’’

Campbell  had worn the black jerseys when he was a Lions tight end, so to him they were a throwback. 

So the coach held up his part of the deal when the Lions clinched the NFC North on Dec. 24.

And on Thursday night, the black jerseys (which were actually two years in the making) were introduced as the new alternate uniform at a reveal party at Ford Field for season ticket holders. Also revealed were new home and road uniforms with bold numbers and details that stand out. Campbell was welcomed with a standing ovation 

“The black ones seem to be the hit for a lot of people. Kerby (Joseph) was the perfect person to wear it too, we kind of lucked out with him volunteering,’’ Wood said. “The black with the black or we can wear blue pants with it, it’s going to be awesome.’’

Joseph ran onto the stage during his turn to “model” the uniform and hammed it up. It’s what the defensive back does. In fact, Joseph has been known to do a flip out onto the field. Wood advised him against it for the big reveal.

The blue numbers are a standout on the black jerseys.

“Honestly blue is my favorite color, but I think this blue is unique. It really pops. When we go out on the field it will pop,’’ Joseph said. “I feel this blue really stands out, I think it’s the boldness. See how big the numbers are?’’

What’s so special about black jerseys? “They’re like black Air Force 1s. We’re atomic when we wear these,’’ Joseph said.

Defensive tackle Alim McNeill modeled the road white uniform which has the word “Detroit” written above the number on front, while tight end Sam LaPorta was the first on stage with the new home blue jersey. Along for the ride were three Lions legends — Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson and Chris Spielman.

On the inside collar are embroidered words: One Pride, Motor City and 313. Also, even the white and black jerseys are blue inside the collar. Because after all, Detroit is a blue collar town. It’s a motto that served the Lions well last season.

(The NFL draft, which will take place in Detroit, starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, with the first round. Rounds 2-3 begin at 7 p.m. on April 26 and the draft winds up starting at noon on April 27.)

Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes sticks with his draft process; it’s the player not the position

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes’ success with his first three NFL drafts has been unquestioned with five Pro Bowl picks. It’s a good haul and one reason why the Lions are legitimately mentioned in the same sentence as the Super Bowl.

So for anyone paying attention, Holmes has had the same philosophy and just tweaked it along the way.

Certainly the Lions have needs at cornerback, edge rusher and offensive guard. It’s not just that Holmes won’t tip his hat about who he will draft with the 29th overall pick next Thursday, it’s that he doesn’t know.

It’s all about the player more than the position. And with the 29th pick, it will be who is still available.

“I think we make sure we’re convicted on every single pick. You guys have heard me say, it’s about the right football player. As long as we’re convicted on the football player then you sleep good at night,’’ Holmes said at a pre-draft press conference on Thursday.

“That’s a lot of work that goes into getting convicted on the right player. We just had 30 visits, medicals … There’s a lot of stuff to get to ‘this is the right guy.’ We’re still looking at tape now,’’ he added.

The process started a year ago to get to this point. Holmes opened the presser thanking everyone on his scouting team along with coach Dan Campbell and the coaching staff.

“It’s a lot that gets to that conviction as long as Dan and I are really aligned and convicted and we’re so ‘this guy fits,’’’ Holmes said.

He said he was recently asked about drafting an outside corner with the first of the Lions’ eight picks.

“No, we draft the right football player we’re convicted on. If the outside corner is the right football player we’re convicted on then we would take that player. We don’t really get anchored on positions, we don’t really get anchored on windows,’’ Holmes said.

“There’s only one draft a year, there’s a lot of work that goes into it, that’s our recipe we kind of look for guys we’re convicted on that are right fits for us. We don’t get into the premium positions. You can pick another position that doesn’t mean the guy is the right fit,’’ Holmes said.

You get the drift. Media and fans can and will question his picks through the three-day process. It’s a rite of spring. But know this, he only drafts guys who he’s convinced are the right fit.

“I know you were asking after the last draft how come you guys didn’t pick another position No, it’s not another position, it’s who, which player, you don’t just pick whatever the premium position is, you don’t just pick that player because he plays that position, no he has to be the right football player and that’s what we’ve stuck to,’’ Holmes said. “It’s worked so far.’’

No argument here.

Holmes certainly talks about how the process has evolved in four years. When he arrived in Detroit, there were needs all over the roster.

“So we could go for the most talented guy, the guy that really fit the most. We could’ve gone in so many directions, That resulted in a lot of young players having to play early and got a lot of experience,’’ Holmes said.

He beefed up the roster in free agency — it was easier with free agents wanting to play for Campbell and the Lions.

“Really with the way the roster is now you have more flexibility to not be anchored into a need (at the draft). We try to do the best we can in free agency in terms of plugging holes and pulling out the depth chart and doing all those things,’’ Holmes said. “And we feel that we did a great job in free agency and we’re in position to go wherever we want to go. … We’ve always said the best player, but it’s even more emphasized now.’’

(The NFL draft, which will take place in Detroit, starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, with the first round. Rounds 2-3 begin at 7 p.m.. on Apri 26 and winds up starting at noon on April 27.)