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Examining how the Lions 2021 rookie
class performed in Week 15
Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
Let’s take a closer look at how the Detroit Lions 2021 draft class fared in their 30-12 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15.
Penei Sewell, OL
Snap counts: 65 (100%)
I have said this for several weeks now but man, it really seems like Sewell is hitting his stride.
Earlier in the season, certain pass rushers who brought a lot of speed and bend off the edge were giving Sewell problems. After several weeks and seeing a lot of these moves for the first time, the rookie tackle out of Oregon is making the necessary adjustments.
Sewell entered the league lauded as one of the
better tackle prospects in some time. He has always been freaky fast for
someone that big and strong. The finer details, like hand placement on his
initial punch, are going to continue to get better with time.
Levi Onwuzurike, DL
Snap counts: 26 (35%) — 2 (8%)
With the Lions getting out to an early lead, the Cardinals were forced to abandon the run and throw more often than they’d like to. This led to fewer snaps to go around among the interior defensive line group.
Onwuzurike made one stop during his 26 defensive snaps.
Alim McNeill, DL
Snap counts: 17 (23%)
Similar story for McNeill. The rookie defensive tackle out of North Carolina State had one tackle during his time on the field.
Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB
Snap counts: 5 (7%) — 3 (12%)
It’s clear at this point that the coaching staff wants to take their time in easing Melifonwu back into the fold, but his limited snaps this week may be due to not practicing all week while on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Melifonwu entered the league as a raw, but intriguing prospect, with a lot of upside and potential to play several positions.
Even if he isn’t getting a ton of live reps on Sunday just yet, these weeks on the active roster are really valuable for a player like Melifonwu, who spent a significant amount of time sidelined with a thigh injury earlier in the year.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR
Snap counts: 45 (69%) — 4 (16%)
26 catches, 249 yards, and two touchdowns.
Those are the numbers St. Brown has put up in the last three weeks—including another technician-like performance against the Cardinals, finishing with 90 yards on eight catches, and a touchdown.
After taking some time to earn the trust of quarterback Jared Goff, St. Brown is quickly becoming the quarterback’s favorite target. And with key contributors like D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockeson missing extended time due to injury, St. Brown’s timing couldn’t be better.
Derrick Barnes, LB
Snap counts: 47 (63%) — 13 (52%)
Barnes’ physical gifts are undeniable. He can really fly sideline to sideline, and once he diagnoses what is happening in front of him, he can get downhill in a hurry. The trouble is, it is still taking him a little too long to read his keys, causing him to be a step slow in getting where he needs to be on a run fit, or in his drops.
In college, you can get away with some of those things when you can run like Barnes can run. In the NFL? Completely different story.
It’s still really early in Barnes’ development and I think it’s important to remember, players develop at different speeds. People tend to forget Darius Slay had a rough couple of years prior to figuring things out in his third year as a pro.
During his 47 defensive snaps, Barnes notched five total tackles.
