The Detroit Lions drafted linebacker Jarrad Davis because they liked his character. Though that wasn’t the only reason.

They liked his mind, too. His ability to organize and process information. His inclination toward detail.

A savvy and versatile approach to the game is the defining trait of so many of New England’s players, too. It’s not an accident then that Lions’ general manager, Bob Quinn, is seeking similar qualities here.

If there is a Patriot way, that’s it.

Bill Belichick thrives not only because he stumbled onto one of the best quarterbacks in history, but also because he stuffs his roster with nimble players who can adapt and improvise. That flexibility lets the Patriots change their system from week to week.

Sometimes even from play to play.

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In Davis, the Lions’ brass think they have such a player. A linebacker who is as quick within his synapses as he is with his feet.

“He’s an unusual guy,” said Lions head coach Jim Caldwell on Tuesday. “Just in terms of how he goes about his approach to preparing. There are very few things that enter his sphere of concentration other than football. I mean, in every phase you can see him trying to figure out a way in which he’s putting a schedule together for the week. You can see he’s working on the study habits. And then, also, he’s an inquisitive individual.”

So he’s curious and studious. And studious about how he studies.

All critical attributes when trying to command a huddle, which is what Davis has been doing the past few weeks for the Lions. If you think it’s easy for a 21-year-old rookie to step into the huddle and tell Ziggy Ansah and Haloti Ngata and Darius Slay what to do, well, it’s not.

Except it is for Davis. And that’s the point. Because he doesn’t have to be someone he’s not.

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Again, here’s Caldwell:

“In psychology, they’re talking about nurture versus nature, (and) whether or not individuals are kind of born with innate leadership abilities. I think everybody’s a little bit different. But this guy … I think he was born with them. And he displays that on a daily basis.”

The Lions have had some gifted linebackers over the years. DeAndry Levy, when healthy, was the most recent.

They’ve also had some linebackers with superb leadership skills. Think of Stephen Tulloch, a solid locker room presence who retired earlier this spring.

Davis combines some of the speed and ferocity of Levy with the leadership qualities of Tulloch. Which could make him the second-coming of Chris Spielman, one of the best in franchise history.

Tulloch, who played five years for the Lions, returned to Allen Park this week to drop some knowledge and hang around the linebackers’ room. The sort of move you can imagine Davis doing 15 years from now when he’s done playing.

But first, he has to play a real game. And survive his rookie season. And figure out how to thrive in the most intellectually demanding spot on defense.

In other words, slow down.

So says Caldwell, anyway:

“He’s going to experience the same things that most young guys experience in this league.”

Which is?

“Big people that move extremely fast.”

Ah, yes, velocity and mass, a combination that glues us to our televisions on Sunday afternoons, a combination Davis will have to navigate.

So he plans. And studies. And asks questions. Then asks some more.

He eats. He sleeps. Then does it all over again.

It is, so far, a monk-like existence for the Lions’ first-round draft choice, and for the man they believe can lead their defense to great heights.

“He’s coming along,” said Caldwell, “but it doesn’t mean he’s perfect, and (it) doesn’t mean he’s going to set the world on fire right from Day one. But I think in the long run, this guy's going to be a really, really good football player.”

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