Tag: Giovanni Manu

Five reasons the Lions topped the Bengals for 4th straight win

It was smooth sailing for the Lions in Cincinnati, until the Bengals offense found a bit of life in the second half.

Down 28-3, the Bengals came back in the second half scoring 14 straight points on two touchdown passes from Jake Browning to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Then another touchdown late in the fourth on a pass to Tee Higgins.

It wasn’t enough. The Lions won their fourth straight game with a 37-24 victory in Cincinnati late Sunday afternoon. In all four wins the Lions have scored 34 or more points.

“That’s a good win. We’ll take that. Do we have things to clean up, was it perfect? No, it wasn’t. But man we did what we needed to do,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “I thought our guys were ready to compete, we fought. Once again we played complementary football. That’s what great teams do. We always find a way. I thought our defense came out hot, they set the tone for the game.’’

Campbell preaches complementary football every week and they provided it for him agains Sunday.

“When we need help the offense responds, we go all the way down the field, flush it out and open it back up again,’’ Campbell said. “I’m proud of the guys, that’s a good win.’’

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: Turnovers. “When you really start getting good at them, you start hunting for them. Our guys are hunting for them, they become contagious,’’ Campbell said. “This is the first time since I’ve been here that we’re getting them in bunches early in the year.’’ Bengals QB Jake Browning was intercepted three times, and the Lions scored following two of those. Credit Amik Robertson, Kerby Joseph and Alex Anzalone with interceptions. Linebacker Derrick Barnes sealed the win with a sack and safety with less than 2 minutes left. The defense came out on fire and made Browning’s life miserable early. Aidan Hutchinson’s strip sack early in the fourth was recovered by the Bengals. Hutchinson also had a safety negated on a penalty and was pressuring Browning all day.  

TWO: Jared Goff was sacked twice in the first half. One was a sack-fumble, recovered by the Bengals. It wasn’t all on Giovanni Manu, who was starting in place of the injured Taylor Decker, at left tackle, but Decker was missed. Campbell said Manu had ups and downs in his first NFL start. Goff had gone 3 straight games without being sacked. But credit the Bengals defense for sacking him twice more in the second half. Goff led the offense to a 14-3 half-time lead and after the Bengals closed the gap to 28-17, Goff led a five-minute drive resulting in a 12-yard touchdown pass to rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa. Goff finished 19-23 for 258 yards and three touchdowns. 

THREE: RB Jahmyr Gibbs scored on a 20-yard pass play from Goff. He is the first Lions player to produce four rushing TDs and one receiving TD through the first five games of a season since Jahvid Best in 2010. Gibbs has scored a TD in six-straight games against AFC opponents. He had 12 carries for 54 yards and two catches for 33 yards.

FOUR: RB David Montgomery was playing in his hometown of Cincinnati where he was a quarterback in high school. He’s still got the arm. On a wildcat play from the 3-yard line, he tossed a touchdown pass to Brock Wright. He also ran in from the 8-yard line to score. Sunday marked the 14th time that teammates had reached the endzone in the same game. All in all, a good homecoming. He finished with 18 carries for 65 yards. Campbell called Montgomery one of the team’s heartbeat guys, saying everyone respects him and roots for him.

FIVE:  The Lions defense was solid in the first quarter. They let up on the Bengals’ last drive of the first half which resulted in a field goal. However, Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and Browning connected for a pair of touchdowns in the second half. With just three minutes left, Browning connected with Tee Higgins for a touchdown. 

BY THE NUMBERS: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had 8 catches for 200 yards. He has passed Brett Perriman (5,244) for the fourth-most receiving yards in franchise history. .… TE Sam LaPorta caught 5 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. … It was the 14th time that Montgomery and Gibbs have each reached the endzone in the same game. … Goff has tied an NFL record by completing 70 percent of his passes in six-straight road games. … LB Jack Campbell led defense with 11 tackles and a forced fumble.

UP NEXT: Lions (4-1) at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, Oct 12.  The Chiefs (2-2) play the Jaguars (3-1) on Monday night football.

Lions training camp: Five thoughts from Taylor Decker

ALLEN PARK — Taylor Decker’s leadership shows through even when he’s sidelined at training camp following shoulder surgery. The veteran Lions left tackle is expected back on the field in a few weeks.

Decker, who is entering his tenth season, shared a few thoughts on Monday, the second day of camp. Five highlights:

ONE — On the retirement of Frank Ragnow: “I mean he’s as close to an irreplaceable guy as you can get. Side note, I’m happy for him. Over the last couple years, him going through what he’s been going through mentally and physically, it could have happened sooner and I think he stuck it out for us. First and foremost, I’m happy for Frank. When he called me I was sad for myself because he’s my best friend and I’ve only played one full season without him so it’s going to be different . For him, I’m relieved for you. I went to see him a couple days after and it was the right decision. That’s what I was expecting. I’m just happy he was able to arrive at that decision and be at peace with it. … The guy had a phenomenal career, for my money, he should be in the Hall of Fame. He was incredible.’’

TWO — On new offensive coordinator John Morton: “No. 1 he’s been here before so we have a little familiarity with him. He’s bringing his own flavor to things, but also he’s not trying to change everything we’re good at. Maybe we’re going to do (things) a little differently here and there, we’ll tweak it here, a new formation, maybe there’s some things he’s talking to Jared about. There’s going to be new concepts and stuff like that. … With every year there’s going to be new guys playing so you might have to play to their strengths a little bit. Maybe we’ll be a little more heavy in a certain run concept or a certain pass concept, maybe there’s some things we did last year based on self-scouting that we’ll do differently or do less of.’’

THREE — On his leadership role: “The standard is the standard. we’re expected to be one of the top offensive lines in the league. You lose big pieces, but we’ve put those expectations on ourselves and put ourselves in a position where we’re expected to perform a certain way and it doesn’t matter. Maybe a guy’s out and a backup is in, maybe there’s a guy who’s never started games before and he’s playing. The expectation is the expectation and that’s really not going to change. For me personally, especially as I’m getting older I can’t let myself waiver from the expectations, especially in practice. Right now I’m not practicing but when I am back out there I need to do things the right way because if I don’t do things the right way that’s setting a bad example for guys who haven’t gotten to play and I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in if I didn’t handle things as a professional.’’

FOUR — On the mindset of the team after the playoff upset to end last season: “It’s going to sound boring, we just have to get back to work especially with our schedule this year. We earned the right to play in all these games against these really good teams but now we have to show up, now we have to put the work in, you don’t want to go out there and lay an egg. A couple of years ago nobody wanted to watch the Lions, now everybody wants to watch the Lions. Guys want to play here. That’s a testament to the work we put in when not as many people cared. You can’t lose sight of that you have to keep the main thing the main thing.’’

FIVE — On development of second-year offensive lineman Giovanni Manu who didn’t see action as a rookie. “I think he’s starting to get confidence in himself. He’s obviously incredibly physically gifted. It’s been a step up obviously coming from college not only if you come from college in the United States to the NFL but from Canada (University of British Columbia). It’s a step up in competition, having to learn the playbook against really good competition. It just took a little bit. He’s starting to gain some confidence in that. He was out at my gym in Arizona in the offseason. I think all he needs is reps and he’s going to get a lot of reps. I think he’s going to continue to improve. I’m excited to see him get more opportunities in the preseason.’’

(UP NEXT: Day 3 of training camp is Tuesday. The first preseason game is July 31 against the Los Angeles Rams at the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.)

Detroit Lions draft versatile Sione Vaki out of Utah in fourth round

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions selected versatile Sione Vaki after moving up in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Earlier in the round, they nabbed OL Giovanni Manu.

Vaki played running back, safety and special teams at Utah. So an NFL position for him is not clearly defined.

“When I visited the Lions my initial thought was to come in and be wherever the coaches, wherever the organization wanted me to be. It was for the offensive side of the ball so wherever they need me I’m ready to go,’’ said Vaki who ran a 4.62 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

He said his pre-draft process was nerve-wracking because teams viewed him differently. He said it benefits him knowing how to play both sides of the ball.

At Utah, Vaki also played special teams which is a benefit for a fourth-round player.

“I’m all about special teams,’’ said Vaki, the youngest of 11 children.

Last season he was first-team All-Pac 12 Conference and a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the year and the Paul Hornung Award for most versatile player.  He started 12 games (42 carries, 317 yards,  2 TDs rushing; 51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss with 2 sacks, INT, 2 pass break-ups). He played in all 14 games in 2022. In 2020-21 he served a two-year Latter Day Saints mission in Tonga.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein on Vaki: “Gamer who does whatever is necessary to help his team win. Vaki carries a thick frame with good upper-body power and heavy hands. He took on carries to help his team when it was stung by injuries, but he’s not an NFL running back. He’s a conscientious tackler who is careful to center up and launch his attack only when he’s in realistic striking position. He is overmatched in coverage and struggles when plays roll downfield. Vaki’s below-average athletic traits and lack of positional fit might create a limited path forward.’’

He projected Vaki as a sixth-round pick.

“I’m just grateful to be coming to the Motor City and ready to get started whenever,’’ Vaki said.