“And it doesn’t harm that you simply’re establishing a block on a 340-pound man that’s 6-foot-5, that may dunk a basketball any form of approach, that may catch the ball—you recognize, that may do all of it.”
This was how Detroit Lions assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery was speaking about All-Professional proper sort out Penei Sewell throughout his media availability on Thursday.
“So I believe I may arrange a pair blocks for Penei,” he continued. “Like just a bit wiggle and I believe I may get 4 yards after that.”
Usually, this type of speak is reserved for the likes of large receivers and defensive ends. You realize, the positions that usually have the elite of the elite athletes at them. The truth that folks constantly speak about Sewell on this method is yet one more signal of the occasions, and proof of a sport that’s ever-evolving.
The times of the stagnant, plodding, heavy-footed offensive lineman are over. Don’t get me incorrect—Penei Sewell, together with the remainder of the Detroit offensive line, can run by an opponent’s face once they need to. Go watch the Lions’ lone time beyond regulation sequence from their Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Rams if you happen to’re in want of a reminder.
Watching that individual drive was additionally a reminder that this was all a really deliberate plan set in place by Lions coach Dan Campbell and common supervisor Brad Holmes once they took over in 2021. They needed a bodily, gritty staff that was at all times able to compete and smack opponents within the mouth when the necessity arises.
Sewell was their very first draft decide again within the 2021 NFL Draft, and ever since he arrived in Detroit, we have now been informed by Lions’ brass that he was going to be a pillar for this group going ahead. For the reason that time he was a 17-year-old beginning freshman on the College of Oregon, he was billed as top-of-the-line sort out prospects in years, and now halfway by his fourth season as an expert—the 24-year-old is regarded by many as the very best offensive lineman within the league.
With all of that mentioned, I’m able to take this dialog to a different degree. Penei Sewell: Offensive Participant of the 12 months. And earlier than you assume to your self, “However it has by no means occurred earlier than. Why would that change now?” Nicely, hear me out for a minute.
As of late, probably the most imaginative offensive minds within the sport are scheming up methods to get their playmakers into open house, the place they’ll gash defenses with their otherworldly bodily presents. And whereas Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has no scarcity of ball-carrying gamebreakers in his arsenal, he continues to search out progressive methods to maximise the superhuman expertise that he has lined up at proper sort out.
“Sewell is so versatile,” coach Dan Campbell mentioned this week. “There’s so many issues that he can do and all the things from, clearly, the hole scheme to actually knocking an edge down. You speak about folks setting edges, he can simply knock an edge down and create a few gaps within the protection. However even then, on the perimeter, his skill to run and maneuver. He’s simply such athlete, he’s highly effective, he’s nimble.”
And whereas I do know that is from 2022, I nonetheless take into consideration this play rather a lot. Who else throws a move to their proper sort out to ice a sport? The Lions, that’s who.
Moving into house as a puller, choosing off defensive backs on the second degree, fully erasing pass-rushers, or operating stride-for-stride with operating again Jahmyr Gibbs on a display play—Sewell is a do-it-all expertise with a mindset that helps set him even additional aside from his friends. Merely put, Sewell is a bonafide celebrity on this league, and has been for fairly a while now.
This motion isn’t solely supported by just a few pleasant faces at Pleasure of Detroit like myself and managing editor Erik Schlitt. Others are starting to get on board with the motion. And sure, it’s a motion. I’m considering placing an indication in our entrance yard. If I can conceal it among the many Christmas decorations, possibly my girlfriend gained’t see it for just a few days. Time will inform.
Yep. That’s pal of this system and ESPN’s Mina Kimes coming round to the thought of together with Sewell within the Offensive Participant of the 12 months dialog. Welcome, Mina. We’re completely satisfied to have you ever.
NFL Community’s Gregg Rosenthal can also be on board.
“That they’re the defining staff of this season proper now to me,” mentioned Rosenthal when requested for his pitch for Sewell to win the award. “They’re outlined by their offensive line (and) that even even dummies like me who don’t concentrate on offensive line play can watch this man and the best way that he strikes and say that is without doubt one of the finest athletes I’ve actually ever seen, and folks which might be smarter than me and actually break it down like a Brian Baldinger say like, ‘That is the very best offensive lineman within the league,’ (and) what they construct by way of their move sport, however particularly their run sport, is round this man.”
Truthfully, these phrases from Rosenthal are so variety that I’m inclined to presumably overlook what he as soon as mentioned in regards to the Lions’ operating again room previous to the 2023 season. It’s okay, Gregg. You actually weren’t alone. IYKYK.
On a critical observe, that is without doubt one of the greatest the reason why I’m pushing for Sewell to win this award. The Lions’ offense has been top-of-the-line offenses in soccer for some time now, and a lot of it’s centered round their celebrity sort out from Malaeimi—a small seaside neighborhood in American Samoa the place the Sewell household proudly hails from.
So sure, Sewell ought to completely be in consideration to win the award, particularly if his degree of play stays the place it’s over the course of the following three to 4 months. Who cares if it an offensive lineman has by no means gained the award earlier than? Like I discussed on the high, occasions have modified, and so has the sport of soccer.
Sewell is the very best participant on the very best staff within the NFL, and if you happen to watch the Lions play, then you definately perceive how basic he’s to this staff’s continued success.
From breaking down the staff pregame to being the centerpoint of the very best offense within the sport, he’s deserving of all the popularity there’s—together with being thought of for an award like Offensive Participant of the 12 months.
