Analysis

3/22/23

8 min read

RB Athletic Archetype Guide: Detroit Lions

By Nic Bodiford

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Welcome to The 33rd Team’s Athletic Archetypes series. These pieces will break down the preferred, position-specific athletic profiles utilized by NFL general managers. The purpose of the series is to help identify team-specific 2023 NFL Draft targets at the running back position.

NFL Combine data will be used whenever possible. Pro-day data will be used in a supplementary capacity if and when a player chooses not to participate in a combine drill or if the combine data is not available. Pro-day data is marked using an asterisk except for arm length and hand length, which is always collected on pro days.

NFL Draft Scout is the primary data source, with Relative Athletic Score used as the preferred backup. 

Other Archetypes: ARZ | ATL | BUF | CAR | CHI | DAL | DEN | GB | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | SF | SEA | TB | WAS

Lions RB Prototype

Brad Holmes (2021-Present)

Sample size: 20 

• Brad Holmes was hired as the Detroit Lions' general manager in 2021 after spending 18 years rising through St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams' scouting departments. 
• In past archetype guides, running backs drafted by a prior general manager have been included in current samples. D’Andre Swift has been left out of Holmes’ sample because Swift possesses athletic measurable that are largely incongruent with Holmes’ preferred athletic archetype.
• The table below reflects Holmes’ preferred athletic archetype at the running back position.

• Holmes accepts a wide range of height and weight combinations, placing little emphasis on body mass index (BMI). 
• Only Raymond Calais (188 pounds) weighs less than 199 pounds. 
• If Swift (29.875 inches) had been included in the sample, he would have been the only running back with sub-30.0-inch arms. 
• Among seven running backs in Holmes’ Detroit era, Swift would be the second with sub-9.25-inch hands.
• The 40-yard dash, the short shuttle and the vertical jump are irrelevant.
• Holmes has deprioritized the 10-yard split since arriving in Detroit. During the last two seasons, all running backs have run it in 1.57-1.61 seconds. The former number falls into the 79th percentile in relative athletic score (RAS) while the latter is in the 53rd percentile.
• Participating in the three-cone drill is not crucial but a decent time grabs Holmes’ attention. Among 13 running backs in Holmes’ time as director of college scouting in Los Angeles, seven participated in the three-cone drill, and five ran it in 7.03 seconds (74th percentile RAS) or less. Four ran it in 6.87 seconds (91st percentile RAS) or less.
• All seven of Holmes’ Detroit backs participated in the three-cone. Five ran it in 7.17 seconds (45th percentile RAS) or less, and three ran it in 6.89 seconds (88th percentile RAS) or less. 
• Godwin Igwebuike’s 6.56-second three-cone time ranks in the 100th percentile RAS. 
• Swift did not participate in the three-cone drill.
• The broad jump has been a critical drill since Holmes’ early St. Louis/Los Angeles days. Just five running backs jumped worst than 10-foot, three of which jumped 9-foot-11.
• Five of seven Detroit running backs jumped 10-foot-1 or better.
• Producing 15 or more bench-press repetitions is helpful for prospective running backs, and 13 is the bare minimum. Just two-of-20 running backs did not participate in the bench press.

Physical Traits Lions Will Target

• From 5-foot-8 to 6-foot-1
• Likely weighing 200-222 pounds
• Likely arms 30.5 inches or longer
• Have hands 9.25 inches or larger 
• A 10-yard split from 1.57-1.61 seconds, though faster is not necessarily a problem
• A sub-7.18-second three-cone time with a lean toward sub-7.00
• A broad jump of at least 10-foot, though 9-foot-11 is acceptable in some circumstances
• Likely 15 or more bench-press repetitions

Potential 2023 Draft RB Targets

Prospects with strong threshold correlation are marked with an asterisk

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• *Bijan Robinson, Texas: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, 31.125-inch arms, 9.75-inch hands and a 10-foot-4 broad jump. His 1.52-second 10-yard split beats the thresholds. (scouting report)
• Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama: 5-foot-9, 199 pounds, 30.5-inch arms and 9.25-inch hands. He skipped the broad jump. His 1.52-second 10-yard split beats the thresholds. (scouting report)
• Zach Evans, Mississippi: 5-foot-11, 202 pounds, 31.625-inch arms, 10.25-inch hands. He skipped the broad jump. (scouting report)
• Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh: 5-foot-10, 216 pounds and 32-inch arms. His 8.25-inch hands could disqualify him. He skipped the broad jump.  (scouting report)
• *Zach Charbonnet, UCLA: 6-foot, 214 pounds, 32-inch arms, 9.875-inch hands, 10-foot-2 broad jump and 18 bench-press reps. His 1.54-second 10-yard split beats the threshold. (scouting report)
• *Tyjae Spears, Tulane: 5-foot-10, 201 pounds, 30.75-inch arms, 10-inch hands, 10-foot-5 broad jump and 18 bench-press reps. (scouting report)
• DeWayne McBride, UAB: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds, 30.625-inch arms and 9.5-inch hands. (scouting report)
• Tank Bigsby, Auburn: 6-foot, 210 pounds, 32-inch arms, 9.5-inch hands, 9-foot-11 broad jump and 21 bench-press reps. His 1.54-second 10-yard split beats the thresholds. (scouting report)
• Chase Brown, Illinois: 5-foot-9, 209 pounds, 31-inch arms, 10-inch hands, 10-foot-7 broad jump and 25 bench-press reps. His 1.53-second 10-yard split beats the threshold. (scouting report)
• Kenny McIntosh, Georgia: 6-foot, 204 pounds, 30.5-inch arms. His 9-inch hands are just below the minimum threshold. He skipped the broad jump. His 1.54-second 10-yard split beats the threshold. (scouting report)
• Sean Tucker, Syracuse: 5-foot-9, 207 pounds and 9.5-inch hands. His 30-inch arms may be disqualifying. He skipped the broad jump. (scouting report)
• Kendre Miller, TCU: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, 32.375-inch arms and 9.375-inch hands. He skipped the broad jump. (scouting report)
• Roschon Johnson, Texas: 6-foot, 219 pounds, 32-inch arms, 9.625-inch hands and a 10-foot-2 broad jump. His 1.52-second 10-yard split beats the thresholds. (scouting report)
• Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky: 6-foot, 217 pounds, 30.625-inch arms and 19 bench-press reps. His 8.625-inch hands could be disqualifying. He skipped the broad jump.
• *Evan Hull, Northwestern: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds 30.625-inch arms, 9.25-inch hands, 10-foot-3 broad, 6.90-second three-cone drill and 21 bench-press reps. His 1.53-second 10-yard split beats the threshold.
• Cam Peoples, Appalachian State: 6-foot-1, 217 pounds, 32.625-inch arms, 9.75-inch hands and a 10-foot-1 broad jump. His 1.56-second 10-yard split beats the threshold.
• Deneric Prince, Tulsa: 6-foot, 216 pounds, 31.25-inch arms, 9.25-inch hands and a 10-foot-4 broad jump. His 1.53-second 10-yard split beats the threshold.

Measurements for Holmes’ RBs

Athletic Testing for Holmes' RBs

• At Iowa State’s Pro Day, David Montgomery improved his vertical jump to 33.5 inches.
• At BYU’s pro day, Jamaal Williams improved his short shuttle to 4.26 seconds, his three-cone drill to 7.12 seconds and his vertical jump to 33 inches.
• Swift’s data is shown below.

WATCH: Holmes, Lions Are Winning Free Agency

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Nic Bodiford

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Nic Bodiford contributes to The 33rd Team's fantasy football department and works elsewhere as an analyst and editor in written, video and audio mediums. These works can be found at Pro Football Focus, 4for4, Nerdball and Fake Teams. Nic moonlights at Legendary Upside by editing Pat Kerrane's weekly article, The Walkthrough.