Post by D6 on May 1, 2021 22:24:18 GMT -5
2021 NFL draft: Detroit Lions select Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike in second round
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This new thread relates to the following threads:
Round 2 and Round 3 options for the Lions ( 2021 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1030/round-2-options-lions-2021
Lions have Pick # 7 in the 2021 NFL Draft
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1029/round-penei-sewell-oregon-pick
Mock Draft ( 2021 ) - DLF Members
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1017/mock-draft-2021-dlf-members
NFL Draft Preview: Defensive Lineman ( 2021 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1027/draft-preview-defensive-lineman-2021
Once knowing which players were drafted in Round 1, I began reflecting on the options for the Lions for pick # 41 in Round 2 and with other remaining Lions draft picks. In my Mock Draft, I originally had Levi Onwuzurike going to Houston with pick # 36, in the early part of Round 2. Then after realizing that Miami had that pick, I ended up projecting Levi going to Dallas with pick # 44. Some Mock drafts had Levi going in the latter part of Round 1. For at least the foreseeable future, I will refer to him as Levi after mentioning his first and last name once in a given message / post.
My thought process was I didn't think the Lions were going to end up drafting Levi, though I thought there was a good chance he would be drafted somewhere in the upper half of Round 2. I didn't include Levi on my Round 2 and Round 3 preference list for three reasons. One, he wasn't a player I wanted the Lions to draft at Pick # 41. Two, I didn't think there was a realistic chance he would last to pick # 74 in Round 3 or even close to that spot. Three, of the four Lions possible options type of articles I posted on Friday in the Round 2 and Round 3 thread, not one of them mentioned Levi. In trying to get plenty Lions draft related info posted to the DLF, with my thoughts, for the most part Levi was out of sight, out of mind most of the day on Friday. If I remembered to do so in time, I would have put him right behind Lions eventual 3rd Round Pick, NC State DT Alim McNeill, on my Lions DT preference list for Round 2 and 3. I would have been happy with Levi with pick # 72, in the early part of Round 3.
My take on the Lions drafting Levi with pick # 41 is while he definitely wasn't a draft reach and many believe he was good value at # 41, I preferred the Lions to go in a different direction. In my top 9 preference choices for the Lions going into Round 2, there were 6 players still available for the Lions. Trading down from pick # 41 would have been appealing on this end, even with a decent trade offer.
Having said all of this, I respect the decision by Brad Holmes and Co. to draft Levi with pick # 41. He's a talented player who I think has a chance of being impactful, as a pass rusher and against the run, when used in 1 gap attack mode. Levi has a very good combination of speed, quickness, movement skills, upper part strength, and overall strength for his size. The two concerns I have are he far too often doesn't play with good pad level and that he probably is at or close to the amount of weight he can add without sacrificing speed, quickness, and movement. The former is the greater concern. When Levi plays low, he can overcome playing at around 290 lbs, probably much more often than not. Whether the Lions coaches get through to Levi about the importance of playing low remains to be seen. With some players, pads rise because of fatigue. With some others, bad habits are hard to break, even with good coaching and a player who is a willing student ( player ). With a draft resource as valuable as pick # 41, the Lions are taking a significant risk in hoping for a large reward.
........
This new thread relates to the following threads:
Round 2 and Round 3 options for the Lions ( 2021 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1030/round-2-options-lions-2021
Lions have Pick # 7 in the 2021 NFL Draft
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1029/round-penei-sewell-oregon-pick
Mock Draft ( 2021 ) - DLF Members
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1017/mock-draft-2021-dlf-members
NFL Draft Preview: Defensive Lineman ( 2021 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1027/draft-preview-defensive-lineman-2021
Once knowing which players were drafted in Round 1, I began reflecting on the options for the Lions for pick # 41 in Round 2 and with other remaining Lions draft picks. In my Mock Draft, I originally had Levi Onwuzurike going to Houston with pick # 36, in the early part of Round 2. Then after realizing that Miami had that pick, I ended up projecting Levi going to Dallas with pick # 44. Some Mock drafts had Levi going in the latter part of Round 1. For at least the foreseeable future, I will refer to him as Levi after mentioning his first and last name once in a given message / post.
My thought process was I didn't think the Lions were going to end up drafting Levi, though I thought there was a good chance he would be drafted somewhere in the upper half of Round 2. I didn't include Levi on my Round 2 and Round 3 preference list for three reasons. One, he wasn't a player I wanted the Lions to draft at Pick # 41. Two, I didn't think there was a realistic chance he would last to pick # 74 in Round 3 or even close to that spot. Three, of the four Lions possible options type of articles I posted on Friday in the Round 2 and Round 3 thread, not one of them mentioned Levi. In trying to get plenty Lions draft related info posted to the DLF, with my thoughts, for the most part Levi was out of sight, out of mind most of the day on Friday. If I remembered to do so in time, I would have put him right behind Lions eventual 3rd Round Pick, NC State DT Alim McNeill, on my Lions DT preference list for Round 2 and 3. I would have been happy with Levi with pick # 72, in the early part of Round 3.
My take on the Lions drafting Levi with pick # 41 is while he definitely wasn't a draft reach and many believe he was good value at # 41, I preferred the Lions to go in a different direction. In my top 9 preference choices for the Lions going into Round 2, there were 6 players still available for the Lions. Trading down from pick # 41 would have been appealing on this end, even with a decent trade offer.
Having said all of this, I respect the decision by Brad Holmes and Co. to draft Levi with pick # 41. He's a talented player who I think has a chance of being impactful, as a pass rusher and against the run, when used in 1 gap attack mode. Levi has a very good combination of speed, quickness, movement skills, upper part strength, and overall strength for his size. The two concerns I have are he far too often doesn't play with good pad level and that he probably is at or close to the amount of weight he can add without sacrificing speed, quickness, and movement. The former is the greater concern. When Levi plays low, he can overcome playing at around 290 lbs, probably much more often than not. Whether the Lions coaches get through to Levi about the importance of playing low remains to be seen. With some players, pads rise because of fatigue. With some others, bad habits are hard to break, even with good coaching and a player who is a willing student ( player ). With a draft resource as valuable as pick # 41, the Lions are taking a significant risk in hoping for a large reward.