Phoenix — Following the release of veteran Taylor Decker, the Lions are looking for a starting left tackle for the first time since 2015.
Fortunately for them, they already have one on the roster. Based on recent comments from general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell, it seems likely that three-time All-Pro Penei Sewell is destined to protect quarterback Jared Goff’s blindside this upcoming fall.
“If you’re asking me, I’d like to move him. I would. I would like to move him to left [tackle],” Campbell said this week at the NFL’s annual league meetings in Phoenix.
Campbell wouldn’t fully commit to the switch happening just yet. The decision could hinge on who they draft with the No. 17 pick. If the player has ample experience on the left side, such as Utah’s Caleb Lomu, perhaps they’d be inclined to leave the young player to stay where he’s comfortable.
But outside of the draft, Sewell’s move is something that’s felt likely ever since Lions general manager Brad Holmes noted that they were enamored with the play of Larry Borom, Detroit’s other starting-caliber tackle, on the right side.
“Very confident,” Campbell said when asked how he’d feel about Sewell switching to left tackle. “That’s easy. I’ve talked to him. We’re ready to do that, if need be. I don’t want to say that right now I’m going to commit to that, but that’s, I mean, we’re ready to do that.”
All told, the “blindside” isn’t as much of a point of emphasis as it once was. But it is more important for a quarterback like Goff, a traditional pocket passer who stands tall until finding an open receiver and has trouble escaping pass rushers, relative to some other mobile quarterbacks around the league.
“I do think just knowing that Sewell’s back there — and what Decker’s been able to do for all those years, you see some of those where he’s able to anchor and Goff is kind of — they’re back to back. And he makes those throws. He steps up. There’s a security blanket there, subconsciously,” Campbell said. “… To know who’s back there and to feel like, ‘OK, even if I feel that backer, I’m good,’ I just think it brings a little extra security.”
While shifting to the opposite side of the offensive line is a task that’s far easier said than done, it should be like “riding a bike” for Sewell. He started at left tackle through his entire college career, and played the first seven games of his NFL career at left tackle as Decker dealt with an injury.
“You don’t get that everywhere with every player. But is also shows how special he is,” Campbell said. “… As a rookie, he banked real reps against real guys at left tackle. Adapt, adjust and he goes to right. There will be a little rust, maybe at first, but he’s going to be fine. The guy is phenomenal and he’s going to work on it until he gets it to the way he wants to where it feels like the right side.”
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Lions may switch Penei Sewell to left tackle
