ALLEN PARK — Dan Campbell has been shocked by who the most so far at the Detroit Lions summer program.
The question bothered Campbell since it seemed to imply that he didn’t have high expectations for the individual in the first place.
Having stated that, he did single out one individual who had made a splash in the spring.
That would be Levi (Onwuzurike),” Campbell remarked. “Dude, it’s just nice to see.” He’s gained weight, which is something we discussed, so he can support that weight. He is also powerful. He is a firecracker. Right now, he’s just banking positive reviews.
Onwuzurke entered as a daring pass rusher and was previously selected in the second round of this administration’s inaugural draft class.
He got on the phone with beat reporters shortly after being selected and admitted that he enjoyed making people laugh. He remarked that evening, “I just like making them feel like (expletive).”
During his time at Washington, Onwuzurike was a quarterback-eater.
The trouble is that his back problems from Washington followed him to Detroit. Recovering from an injury kept him out of rookie training camp the entire time.
When he did play, he struggled to perform, displaying the weakness and lack of development of a young player without enough practice time.
He didn’t play at all a year later. But Onwuzurike concluded the previous campaign well and, more significantly, in good health.
Having gained some distance since his last injury, he has been able to gain muscle this summer. He weighed about 285 pounds when he played last year, but in minicamp, he tipped the scales at 300 pounds.
Onwuzurike remarked, “I was eating a lot.” It’s satisfying to work out and eat a lot. My body can support the weight as long as my back remains strong and healthy. This feels fantastic.
It is evident. In Detroit, Onwuzurike has developed some of his strongest habits and is now displaying more daring behavior.
His coaches are aware of this. Since we are not wearing pads, I just want to exercise caution. I simply wish to restate that,” Campbell remarked. However, Levi is enjoying his spring quite a bit. Paschal (Josh) is also.
But Levi, given his background and everything he’s been through, this guy has just kept going to rehab, working out and training his body, gaining weight because his back can support it now, and we got him through last year to the point where he can now bank some reps and is having a great spring, okay?Indeed, it is.
A few minutes after those remarks, the Lions began their second required minicamp day, and Onwuzurike collected two sacks, both from the edge, in just 11 pass plays.
For a player who is entering the last year of his rookie contract and has never really had a good chance to realize the enormous talent that originally made him a second-round draft pick, the growth is fantastic news.
The Lions pass rush, which has truly suffered over the past few years without Aidan Hutchinson, will also benefit greatly from this development.
In addition to what Alim McNeill and the newly signed DJ Reader have to offer on the inside, they’re still searching for rushers to combine with Hutchinson.
Former first-round pick Marcus Davenport may be able to contend for a starting edge position, despite an injury that has hindered him during the offseason training.
Although he has also been severely limited, James Houston might potentially be in the running.
Others are getting a chance since those individuals aren’t on the field. In comparison to others, Onwuzurike is taking full advantage of it.
Onwuzurike stated, “Take it with a grain of salt—there are no pads.” However, I believe I’ve accomplished what I set out to do throughout my offseason. Several additional notes from the second day of minicamp:
Because, well, Amon-Ra St. Brown is Amon-Ra St. Brown, it’s easy to overlook him during practices like these. That guy is the one to set your watch to.
Nevertheless, it’s important to note how amazing the recently appointed receiver is. He caught the ball for the first team offense on six consecutive plays during a period of situational practice.
Six! Carlton Davis, the predicted CB1 for the upcoming campaign, was the opponent for the most of those. — Hendon Hooker, Detroit’s backup quarterback, has had an up and down first healthy offseason, according to Dan Campbell.
To be honest, throughout the first three practices that were accessible to the media, Hooker was largely ineffective.
He occasionally produced a play that showed extraordinary talent, but most of the time, he misfired in every direction.
He threw back-to-back touchdown passes to Maurice Alexander and James Mitchell (twice) during his greatest session of the season on Wednesday in front of reporters.
He then launched a deep shot across the center of the field to receiver Kaden Davis, then threaded a 16-yard touchdown pass through a narrow window to receiver Kalif Raymond, who was positioned in the back of the end zone.
However, Hooker was again picked off by Khalil Dorsey for the second day in a row, and this time it happened right at the goal line.
Later, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson scolded Hooker—very loudly and very clearly—for checking down with just four seconds remaining in the game and behind by four points.
After the play, Dan Campbell stated, “The game was over, right, fellas.”
The young quarterback, who is athletically gifted, made a poor decision and is obviously going through the growing pains that many young quarterbacks experience due to information overload.
Not to get ahead of myself, but if this wasn’t Jameson Williams’ greatest approach, I don’t know what was.
Not to get ahead of myself, but if this wasn’t Jameson Williams’ greatest approach, I don’t know what was.
Despite being popped over the middle, Williams made a toe-tapping catch on an out route along the right sideline to start practice.
Later, he grabbed another pass on the drive and managed to snag a bomb from Jared Goff, even though Carlton Davis made heavy contact with him.
Leading draft selections Terrion Arnold, in particular, and Ennis Rakestraw are being developed gradually; in fact, Arnold did not practice on Tuesday.
However, the young man appears to have something while he is out and about.
After intercepting Jared Goff in the last OTA last week, he returned to the practice on Wednesday and intercepted a great throw intended for Amon-Ra St. Brown on a third-and-seven play.
That was quite an accomplishment, as you would realize if you witnessed St. Brown during that drill.
— According to Pro Football Focus, Alim McNeill was one of the league’s top ten interior defenders the previous season.
The fourth-year defensive tackle may have even greater things in store now that he is coupled with DJ Reader.
Is that something that might be fullback? “Look, Mac is capable,” Campbell remarked. “It just comes down to asking, ‘Want to do that?'” It’s simply that, “Well, how many plays did he just play on this last drive?” He can handle it.
Did he have the energy to go out there at fullback after a 10-play drive? We’ve been discussing it for some time, so you never know. He may be thrown in there by us.
By the way, McNeill’s listed weight is 315 pounds. Incredibly athletic for a man of that stature, he has already attracted attention as a baseball player and gone on to acquire nicknames like “Twinkle Toes” and “The Dancing Bear.
” Yeah, yeah, I think I speak for everyone when I say, when it comes to that dude playing fullback.
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