We’ll learn a lot more about Penei Sewell starting Tuesday as the Lions strap on pads at training camp. Here’s what we know so far: he’s the real deal.
After admitting to growing pains in his transition from left tackle to right tackle back in the spring, it sounds like the seventh overall pick is warming to the task. Dan Campbell said he reviewed film of every practice of training camp Monday night and zeroed in on Sewell to gauge the rookie’s ability to “adapt and adjust.” And Campbell really liked what he saw.
“He is adapting quickly,” Campbell said. “Now, today’s first day in pads, but I’m just watching him against Romeo (Okwara) and there’s some rushes in there and some run stuff and Romeo is doing a hell of a job with his hands and he’s jerking him at the end. First day he kind of got him. And I watched him (Monday), and man, he’s starting to figure it out.
“He’s such a good athlete. He’s strong and he’s physical. But man, that’s where I’m encouraged. I see him coming. And this should continue with pads, he should only get better.”
The Lions are counting on Sewell to be a day one starter at right tackle, no small challenge for a guy who played left tackle in college. But Sewell did play on the right side in high school, something he made sure to tell Lions OC Anthony Lynn at his pro day in the spring. Lynn said Monday that Sewell has “handled (the transition) well” so far, in part because of his feel for the game.
“I’ll tell you what, he’s a sharp young man,” Lynn said. “He comes from a coaching family, his dad’s been a high school coach for 19 years. He gets it, man.”
The anchor of Detroit’s offensive line has seen the same thing. Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow said Tuesday that Sewell, the youngest player on the team and the biggest player on offense at 331 pounds, has looked the part at right tackle
“I don’t want to get all hyped up here, but he’s been legit. He’s been real legit,” Ragnow said. “As an offensive lineman, yeah, everybody’s going to be talented, but all you really want to know is that your guy knows where he’s going and he plays hard. That’s all you can really depend on. And he’s checked two boxes right away. Just a smart kid and he works hard. That’s all you can ask for.”
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Ragnow said the more the offensive line meshes off the field, particularly the five starters, the easier the game will become for Sewell.
“When you’re good buddies and you start to be around each other and develop that relationship, you’re thinking the same way. And Penei just gets more comfortable and more comfortable because he understands how all four of us think,” Ragnow said. “I think that’s how you slowly bring him along.
“But he’s been great, man. He’s 20 years old and his football IQ is very high, so he’s been great to have in the room.”
It’s a room that comprises the core of this team, not to mention the future of this franchise. The Lions are clearly building in the trenches. Campbell and Brad Holmes want to dominate the line of scrimmage. They have the makings of a dominant offensive line, flanked on the right by a rookie coming into his own.
“We got a lot of talent up front, and it’s super exciting. But we gotta prove it,” Ragnow said. “You can talk about all the investments and draft capital, but we really gotta get out there on Sundays and prove that we are worth that capital.”