Every time Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell or common supervisor Brad Holmes are requested for his or her analysis of a participant or what traits they search for in a particular place, they’ll each inevitably deliver up that they’re searching for “soccer gamers.” For the Lions, meaning a participant who loves and respects the sport, is keen to place the crew first, will grind out every project, and possesses the intangible traits that can make the crew higher.
As we head towards coaching camp, working again Sione Vaki enters his second 12 months as probably the greatest “soccer gamers” on the Lions roster.
Earlier previews: Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, Aidan Hutchinson, Brodric Martin, Jake Bates
Sione Vaki
Expectations heading into 2024
At Utah, Vaki earned a beginning security function as a redshirt freshman, then expanded his contributions to offense as a redshirt sophomore, persevering with to start out within the secondary and taking over a working again function for the ultimate six video games of the season. When he attended the NFL Mix, he participated with the security group but additionally took half in working again drills, demonstrating his positional versatility. Whereas Vaki performs with a security’s attacking mentality, his pure ability set on offense is so interesting that, regardless of his restricted expertise, the Lions drafted him to play working again within the NFL.
Offense
On offense, Vaki entered his rookie season very uncooked. With simply 56 offensive touches in faculty—together with slot receiver expertise in highschool—Vaki knew he had lots of work to do earlier than he would see the sphere as a working again.
“Coach (Scottie) Montgomery tells me on a regular basis that I simply want a thousand reps of it,” Vaki informed Satisfaction of Detroit throughout 2024 coaching camp. “ it on paper versus really going by it are two various things—and even seeing it on movie. So, I’m simply taking it rep-by-rep and simply getting higher each rep, (particularly) on the finer particulars.”
In the course of the pre-season, Vaki gained confidence by expertise, and his on-field manufacturing improved with every recreation performed. Whereas his first NFL touches (in opposition to the Giants within the preseason) confirmed off his dashing instincts, Vaki showcased his fingers the next week in opposition to the Chiefs, securing 4 receptions for 60 yards (hi there, Texas route) throughout a two-minute drill. His offensive expertise is clearly interesting, however Vaki acknowledged that at this stage of his growth, he nonetheless had lots of basic teaching to soak up.
“It’s nonetheless actually early. I’m nonetheless younger within the course of,” Vaki informed Satisfaction of Detroit throughout the preseason. “Undoubtedly, not near 1,000 (reps) in any respect. However these preseason video games, and particularly joint practices, helped quite a bit. It’s simply nice to go in opposition to one other crew with different expertise, after which within the recreation itself, having the ability to apply what you’ve been coached to do—you’ve actually received to have the ability to put all of it collectively. And I’m glad we now have the correct coaches to do this.”
Vaki didn’t take part in Detroit’s third preseason recreation in opposition to the Steelers—the Lions choose to not danger key gamers to damage within the closing recreation—however it wasn’t due to his contributions on offense; it was as a result of he was already a four-phase particular groups starter.
Particular groups
Vaki actually has a number of interesting offensive traits, however the Lions traded up within the fourth spherical to draft him as a result of they felt he was the very best particular groups participant in his draft class. His expertise as a security and working again provides him a singular perspective on the sport, and people positional expertise have been anticipated to translate instantly to the NFL’s new particular groups guidelines.
“With the kickoff rule being so new, I’m actually making an attempt to sit down again and be taught from Kalif (Raymond),” Vaki informed Satisfaction of Detroit throughout coaching camp. “He’s so poised in relation to returning the ball, simply the best way he sees the holes, and he sees the (run) matches, he solely has to make one reduce and he’s gone, man. I want I had pace like him, that will surely assist—however I’m positively making an attempt to be taught quite a bit from him.”
Whereas Raymond helped Vaki with recommendations on being a returner, the rookie additionally talked about how a lot he appreciated the recommendation he was getting from core particular teamers like Craig Reynolds, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Brock Wright for blocking and pursuit assignments.
Vaki didn’t play each part of particular groups at Utah, which created a little bit of a studying curve for him within the NFL, however as soon as once more, his “soccer participant” instincts helped speed up his acclimation—one thing we noticed early within the 2024 common season.
Precise function in 2024
Notice: Stats are common season solely until in any other case acknowledged
16 video games (0 begins on offense, 16 begins on particular groups)Stats: Six rushes, 14 yards; three catches on three targets for 37 yards; eight tackles, a pressured fumble, and two kick returns for 55 yardsPFF offensive grade: 66.9 (28 offensive snaps)PFF dashing grade: 60.1 (Six dashing makes an attempt)PFF receiving grade: 81.7 (Three receptions)PFF cross blocking grade: Didn’t qualifyPFF run blocking grade: 53.7 (Six run blocking snaps)PFF particular groups grade: 90.5 (Seventh out of 580 gamers who performed 100+ snaps – Vaki: 332 snaps)
Regardless of each Campbell and then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson saying they want to set up situation-specific packages for Vaki, that didn’t come to fruition till late within the season. All six of Vaki’s carries got here in clean-up duties (blow-out leads over Dallas and Jacksonville), whereas two of his three receptions got here in Week 16 in opposition to Chicago, when Vaki was the Lions’ two-minute again on the finish of the half.
Vaki’s different reception got here in Week 2 in opposition to Tampa Bay, however that got here on particular groups, when he and punter Jack Fox related on an exquisite fourth-down faux punt conversion deep in their very own territory.
“Man, it was scary. I’m not going to lie,” Vaki informed Satisfaction of Detroit following the win over the Bucs. “I used to be anticipating to go on the market and get an everyday punt in, you recognize, go down the sphere. However, coach Fipp has all the time had such confidence within the play—so shout out to the (coaches)—however he known as it. We have been strolling out of the huddle, and I didn’t need to be too apparent, as a result of you recognize my nerves have been up, however I simply didn’t need to mess up. (It was nice) having the ability to go on the market and create one other alternative for our offense to go put some factors on the board.”
The conversion wasn’t Vaki’s solely spotlight reel particular groups play of the season, as he additionally left us with this gem in Week 10 throughout the Lions’ comeback win over the Houston Texans.
With the ability to management and shed your block with one arm whereas concurrently making a deal with with the opposite is actually enjoyable stuff on particular groups. Nevertheless it wasn’t simply highlights for Vaki, as each Campbell and Fipp routinely and unpromptedly introduced up Vaki’s optimistic play on particular groups, crediting him for his protection expertise, or sealing his block throughout an onside kick, and issues of that nature.
“I believe Vaki’s accomplished an awesome job for us,” Lions particular groups coordinator Dave Fipp mentioned. “He’s received skillset. Clearly, his faculty expertise most likely helps. He was a defensive participant and an offensive participant in faculty, so he can play protection elements on particular groups and return. He clearly has the catch for us on the faux; that’s a giant play there. He’s accomplished job in safety on punt, and actually on all 4 phases, I really feel like he’s accomplished job.”
Outlook for 2025
Vaki completed the 2024 season as probably the greatest particular groups gamers within the NFL, and there’s little motive to assume that he gained’t be probably the greatest within the league once more in 2025. His versatile ability set, team-first mentality, and aggressive nature on the soccer discipline make him ideally fitted to in the present day’s particular groups items. Count on him to be a fixture within the third part of the sport for the Lions over the following a number of seasons.
On offense, Vaki enters coaching camp as RB4 behind co-starters Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, in addition to Craig Reynolds, who has been the Lions’ RB3 the final three seasons. Vaki’s elite fingers and excessive developmental ceiling will give him an opportunity to problem for the RB3 function, however Reynolds is at present a much more constant runner, which is why he stays increased on the depth chart in the interim.
With a 12 months underneath his belt, Vaki has earned his coach’s belief, and his dependable receiving expertise ought to, on the very least, allow him to be utilized in particular conditions, such because the two-minute drill. However for Vaki to completely cross Reynolds on the depth chart, he’ll have to show that he could be a constant contributor with the ball in his fingers, and that can take time.
We’ll learn how far alongside he’s on his path to 1,000 reps in coaching camp.
