Tag: nfl draft

Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs welcomed to Detroit; says his versatility is key

ALLEN PARK — Jahmyr Gibbs was welcomed to Detroit by a couple of Hall of Famers, Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.

Gibbs, the Detroit Lions first pick in the draft at 12th overall, was flown to Detroit on Friday to get a look at his new home.

Quiet and understated, he stood at the podium and fielded questions with short answers.

Again he said he was shocked that he was drafted at 12th, because he’s a running back he expected to go later. But, said he’s happy to become a Lion and thinks he’ll be a good fit.

“I can see myself making plays,’’ Gibbs said.

He’ll join David Montgomery and D’Andre Swift in the running backs room. Gibbs is a plug-and-play back who is expected to have an immediate impact. Lions GM Brad Holmes said Swift is still on the roster although there has been speculation about a possible trade.

Gibbs noted his versatility with the ability to catch passes and return kicks.

Last season at Alabama he carried 151 times for 926 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and seven rushing touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for 444 yards and three passing TDs. He was a transfer from Georgia Tech where he played his first two college seasons.

Gibbs grew up in Dalton, Ga., and was raised by a single grandmother. At one point in 2010 they were living in a shelter. It was a tough life at times, he often would stay at the homes of high school teammates. It’s been a long and winding road to Detroit.

When asked about his early struggles, Gibbs said, “I would say I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Detroit Lions draft RB Jahmyr Gibbs and LB Jack Campbell in 1st round

ALLEN PARK — Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is headed to Detroit after being selected by the Lions with the 12th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night in Kansas City. With the 18th pick, the Lions bolstered the defense drafting linebacker Jack Campbell.

“We couldn’t be more excited with two impact players on both sides of the ball,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said following the first round. “… We find players that fit us and what we’re about. That talent is one thing, but these players fit us.”

After cornerback Devon Witherspoon was selected in the fifth spot by Seattle, the Lions made a trade with Arizona giving them the sixth and 81st picks in return for the 12th, 34th and 168th picks. Witherspoon was speculated as a possible pick for the Lions with the sixth pick in several mock drafts.

Gibbs, who is 5-foot-9 and 199 pounds, played at Alabama and is expected to be a good fit with veteran running back David Montgomery who was signed as a free agent. Jamaal Williams signed with the Saints.

Gibbs said he didn’t expect to get drafted as high because typically running backs have fallen in recent drafts. He was expecting to drop to the 20s. He’s the highest running back pick for Detroit since Barry Sanders in 1989.

“It was pretty shocking to me, but I’m thankful for the city of Detroit,” Gibbs said in a Zoom interview from Kansas City. “I think it’s a great fit for me.”

Gibbs played with Lions’ wide receiver Jameson Williams at Alabama. “We can both make explosive plays in the pass game and the run game, for sure,” Gibbs said.

Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery called Gibbs “a fantastic young man” and repeatedly said he liked his character. He also said Gibbs was the best space player in the draft.

“He not only checks all the boxes, he’s been phenomenal throughout the process,” Montgomery said. He also noted that Gibbs has been coached really well at Alabama.

Gibbs ran a 4.36 in  the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

Campbell, who is 6-foot-5 and 249 pounds, played at Iowa. He had a formal interview with the Lions at the NFL Combine and was impressed with them especially coach Dan Campbell. The admiration was mutual.

“I’m excited to step foot in there and be the best version of Jack Campbell I can be every single day,” Jack Campbell said in a Zoom interview on Thursday night from his home in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

“I just feel I’m going to bring Jack Campbell. … I’m a humble guy, ready to learn,” Campbell added.”I’m super appreciative for the opportunity.”

“It’s only about football (in Detroit) and football is all that matters,” said Jack Campbell sounding very much like Dan Campbell.

Lions linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard said that Jack Campbell’s passion makes him an obvious fit for the Lions and the culture coach Dan Campbell has created.

“The athlete, I think everybody sees that … it speaks for itself, it’s exceptional what this player can do at his size,” Sheppard said. “But for me it’s really the thing that jumps him above come other guys is his passion for the game. The way it drives him –  he sees it, he speaks it, he lives it. He’s not one of these guys when things are good he’s up, he’s up all of the time because he loves it.”

That passion is a key ingredient for anyone on Dan Campbell’s roster.

“He is a Detroit guy. He is a Dan Campbell guy. He’s a culture fit immediately,” Sheppard said of Jack Campbell who was a captain at Iowa.

Like the other linebackers, Campbell will cross-train at all three positions.

“We were very high on this guy, as a position coach, as well as the total defense,” Sheppard said.

It’s unusual in recent drafts to select a running back — and even a linebacker — so early in the first round. Any criticism rolls off Holmes’ shoulders.

“Frankly, we don’t care. We feel really confident about the work we put in and what those guys are going to do on the field. And I’m not saying in two years, three years. We believe these guys are ready to go right now,” Holmes said.

After the trade of the sixth pick, the Lions have five picks (12th, 18th, 34th, 48th and 55th)  in the top 55.  They have three picks in the second round on Friday and, at this point, have none in the third. Friday’s action starts at 7 p.m.

Amon-Ra St. Brown named NFC offensive player of week

ALLEN PARK — Going into Week 3 of the NFL, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is a big reason that the Lions have the NFL’s fourth-ranked offense.

St. Brown was named the NFC’s offensive player of the week for his production in the win over the Commanders on Sunday when he had nine receptions, while setting career highs in receiving yards (116), receiving touchdowns (2), rushing yards (68) and yards from scrimmage (184). He set the NFL record for most consecutive games (6) with 8 receptions and a touchdown.

“I would say for me I’m looking to do much more than just be the player of the week,’’ St. Brown said on Wednesday. “That’s just this week. I’m looking to do a lot more this season as a team and individually. It’s a new week I already forgot about last week.’’

On Sunday at the Minnesota Vikings, St. Brown will need eight receptions to establish a new NFL record with nine straight games with 8-plus catches. He also needs one touchdown reception to establish a new team record by producing a TD catch in 7 straight games. 

“I would say I take pride in consistency, that’s something I take very seriously. But the record, it is what it is, I don’t go into the game thinking let me get this record. It kind of happened. Obviously last game I knew the record was at stake, the record I broke,’’ St. Brown said. “Going into it I was just playing ball and it happened how it did. Obviously next week if I get 8 more I will break another record. I go into the game just playing ball. I think the moment you start thinking about things like that is the moment you start playing slow, doing things you wouldn’t normally do.’’

St. Brown exudes a quiet confidence. When asked if he considers himself one of the top wide receivers in the league, he didn’t hesitate to say, “I feel that way,”

Quarterback Jared Goff said the stats are crazy but he hasn’t been forcing the ball to St. Brown.

“It hasn’t felt like we’ve been like trying, like we’ve got to get him involved. It’s just kind of the way the flow is going,’’ Goff said. “He runs good routes, he gets himself open. Again, it hasn’t felt forced. It’s been natural and he’s done a great job.’’

In his second year, St. Brown has turned heads around the NFL for his accomplishments as a fourth-round pick in 2021. 

It still irks him that he was drafted so late. He mentioned that the Commanders drafted wide receiver Dyami Brown before him in the third round, but he didn’t see him much in the game. Dyami Brown played but doesn’t have a catch so far this season. The Vikings didn’t draft a wide receiver before him, but as he pointed out they didn’t draft him either.

Coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday that GM Brad Holmes was a fan of St. Brown’s early in the draft process before they selected him in the fourth round out of USC.

“I know for me, watching him reminded me of Jarvis Landry (Saints wide receiver) —  his competitive nature, he played smart. He was an aggressive player with the ball in the air, he would attack the football, you saw him block downfield, he was versatile, he had quickness and really the only thing he didn’t have he wasn’t a 4.3 guy,’’ Campbell said. “But everything else were traits we felt like fit us and he’d be a natural fit in the slot.

“In general as a group you want versatility, you want a little of everything — you want pure route runners, you want speed, you want size, craftiness, quicks and I feel like we have that in that room we have the right blend of guys who are all a little bit different and unique in what they could do,’’ the coach added.

Obviously St. Brown’s teammates may be his biggest fans.

“(The records are) very cool for him and it means he’s doing the right thing absolutely, and it means we’re somewhat on the right path as well for being able to get a guy who’s that good that often,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said. “The more popular he gets, the more notoriety he gets, people are going to have plans for him so you’re going to see those players like him go from where he’s at right now to really special and that’s where we hope he goes.”