The pads came on at Lions training camp Monday, and Penei Sewell made them pop.
Ain't that right, Jeff Okudah?
"Who?" said Sewell.
Jeff Okudah, the man you bulldozed into tomorrow.
"Oh, I did. That's just football," Sewell said. "I don't know what happened. I gotta watch the film."
What happened is this: Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a screen pass from Jared Goff and the 335-pound Sewell charged about 10 yards off the line and blew Okudah off his feet before the corner could lay his hands on the receiver. St. Brown took off for a big gain, the offense went nuts and Sewell shrugged his shoulders and went about his day.
"Whatever Coach asks me, I'm going to do it," said Sewell. "If he wants me to run through a wall, I'm going to do it. Simple as that."
Dan Campbell might not want Sewell running through a teammate, but on this play, that was Sewell's job. So he did it beyond doubt. Okudah popped up no worse for wear, except for maybe a bruised ego. 325-pound defensive tackle Alim McNeil laughed and said for the fellow defensive players, "it's not fun to see," then shook his head at the thought of a man Sewell's size moving with such speed.
"The way Penei moves, it’s just crazy," said McNeil. "He’s able to get out there and reach anybody — corner, whoever it is. So it’s exciting to see, but for us, we don't like that."
Campbell loves it, of course. What former blocking tight end wouldn't? So does left tackle Taylor Decker, who missed the hit while doing a different drill but said he heard "the roars" from the crowd and "the guys getting excited."
"You hear the competition, that’s what we need around here," said Decker.
A short while later, Sewell and the offensive line dominated the defensive line in one-on-one's. Sewell went 2-0 against Aidan Hutchinson, the former seventh overall pick flexing his muscles -- and experience -- against the second overall pick. Sewell is actually one month younger than Hutchinson, a reminder that Detroit's right tackle still has so much room to grow. He said he feels "a lot more comfortable" entering year two.
This, after thriving in year one.
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"He’s a pro, man," said center Frank Ragnow. "He was a pro when he first got here, but he’s leaning out, he’s gained more muscle mass, he’s smart. I’m very excited for him. What is he, 21? Very mature 21-year-old."
Sewell doesn't turn 22 until October. He established himself as one of the game's best young tackles last season -- indeed, one of its best young players -- when he surrendered one sack in his final 11 games. And he returns with the benefit of having played with the four other starters on the Lions' offensive line this season, a unit that projects to be one of the best in the NFL if it stays healthy.
"That chemistry, it makes my job way easier out there," said Sewell. "I know what to expect. The speed is way slower. Everything isn't coming at me 1,000 miles per hour. Everything is just normal speed, and I like it."
Everything but Sewell, who's full speed ahead as he starts his second season in Detroit.