Brad Holmes developed an awareness of the football character through Aaron Donald and Cooper Kup

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It is often said that the difference between being good and being great, in a high-level athletic sense if not elsewhere in the sense of success, lies when no one is looking. What a person does behind the scenes is a reflection of who they are, with the idea of, with a bad paraphrase, “doing the work that no one else will do, so you can do the things that no one else can do .”

Now through three drafts and an offseason as general manager of the Detroit Lions, Brad Holmes has placed as much emphasis on character and culture fit as talent. If you’re drafted or signed by this regime, it’s because they think you’re a better fit in more ways than a spot on the depth chart or a talent void that needs to be filled.

In the latest episode of “The Season with Peter Schrager”, Holmes talks about how his draft philosophy was developed as a scout with the Los Angeles Rams.

Via The Detroit News, Holmes told Schrager how he visited Pitt when he was a Rams’ scout. The defensive coordinator there told him to come to practice a half hour early. Holmes didn’t know why, but he did…

“I went there and I walked out of the (practice) bubble, and its the ball boys, the equipment managers, the specialistsand Aaron Donald. Those are the only people in the bubble,

And Aaron Donald was sitting on his back, completely taped to his twitch on his knee, like, Man, I’ve been waiting for this all day. where is everyone Because I’ve been waiting for this all day.”

-Brad Holmes

Cooper Kupp is a prolific small school wide receiver from Eastern Washington, the school famous for the red field. The Rams took the future Super Bowl MVP in the third round of the 2017 draft.

“It was the same with Cooper Kupp when we drafted him, said Holmes. And that’s when it really hit me. I like, Look, man. If these players don’t have the intangibles and the passion and the work ethic and the football character, it’s not gonna work. That’s just the bottom line.”

-Brad Holmes

The Lions drafting guys like Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown reflects the draft philosophy that Holmes took to being a general manager, without remorse and without acknowledging what the general consensus was. That it begins with Donald, and continues especially with Kupp, is just one star-driven coincidence for how Holmes learns about the importance of things beyond numbers.

Next. 5 greatest one-hit wonder seasons in Detroit Lions history. 5 greatest one-hit wonder seasons in Detroit Lions history. dark

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