When Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell discuss adding a player to their roster, you’ll often hear them use the term “fits us.” They’re not just referring to raw talent, but something deeper.<\/p>\n
During his season-ending press conference after the 2023 season, Holmes made it clear where he prioritizes talent on the player evaluation scale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to move beyond just looking for the most talented player,\u201d Holmes stated. \u201cIn my view, that\u2019s the baseline for evaluation. Who\u2019s the fastest? Who\u2019s the strongest? Who\u2019s the tallest? That\u2019s an easy assessment. No, it\u2019s about identifying the right intangibles in a player, and that\u2019s what has defined us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lions have clearly identified and acquired players with the intangibles they seek. These individuals have become the core of the team’s development and success since Holmes and Campbell took over, and many will continue to play a key role as they receive significant contracts moving forward.<\/p>\n
Holmes recently had an extensive interview with Local 4 News in Detroit at the Lions’ facility. A variety of topics were covered, including his views on talent evaluation. These ideas aren\u2019t new, but they are worth repeating.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about the intangibles, the qualities that can\u2019t always be measured,\u201d Holmes shared. \u201cTalent is easy to spot, it\u2019s easy to find. This player\u2019s big and strong. Sure, but there are thousands of players like that. What we want to know is who has the drive, the passion, the determination, and the competitiveness for the game that we value?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about talent, it\u2019s about your determination and how you handle adversity,\u201d Holmes added. \u201cWill you crumble under pressure, or will you rise to the challenge? Do you have the mental toughness to push through? Those intangibles are what we\u2019re after. To me, that\u2019s what distinguishes a great player from an average one.\u201d<\/p>\n
While it’s no surprise that great players require something extra, and those intangibles are what set them apart, few teams approach this with the clarity and focus that the Lions do. They know exactly what those qualities look like and actively seek out players who embody them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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When Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell discuss adding a player to their roster, you’ll often hear them use the term “fits us.” They’re not just referring to raw talent, but something deeper. During his season-ending press conference after the 2023 season, Holmes made it clear where he prioritizes talent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[378],"tags":[2445,633],"class_list":["post-26225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-detroit-lions","tag-brad-holmes","tag-dan-campbell"],"yoast_head":"\n