Roy Lopez has an ancient family secret weapon that's going to help him succeed with the Lions

The Detroit Lions signed defensive tackle Roy Lopez this offseason, and he's already shown that he can be a big part of this defense at training camp before his foot got stepped on this week. He says he feels good and should be back soon, by the way. 

Lopez's success can be attributed to a secret weapon that's been passed down in his family from generation to generation. It is not some sort of ancient ring with magical powers. It's not a genetic thing where he turns into a werewolf like his dad either. He'd be better at basketball if that were the case. It's wrestling. 

Lopez gives so much credit to his ability to play football to wrestling. Something that family members ahead of him have done. As a former wrestler myself, I wanted to talk to him about this and learn a little more about what he gets out of wrestling on the football field. 

"It's been a part of my whole career. People say I look like I'm wrestling out there. Everything wrestling teaches you, body leverage, pad level, everything inside hands, everything about wrestling. I owe my whole damn career to the sport of wrestling." 

Lopez was no joke on the mat. He went 113-3 and won two Arizona state titles at Mequite High School. Lopez credits snap downs, drag, and duck under moves as the things he liked to do in wrestling. You can see that sort of thing come into play in pass rush moves as well. 

This one was really for the wrestling people out there, but I know that wrestling never really leaves you. When someone puts their arm around me, I just naturally go in for the whizzer. It's just a habit I can't shake. Lopez says he doesn't do that, but what he does do is every time he hugs his dad, he goes for a double under and acts like he's going to throw him. My brother, who also wrestled heavyweight, tries that with me, so I get it.

Ok, we're done with that part. One thing that's really interesting about Lopez's wrestling career is that he has a bit of an Amon-Ra st. Brown's type obsession with the three guys that he lost to in high school. He still remembers names, faces, and when it happened. 

Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes love guys with a mentality like that. He'll fit right in. 

By the way, Malcolm Rodriguez also wrestled in high school, and we asked Lopez if he plans to challenge Rodriguez at some point. He laughed and said no, but that he couldn't wait to have him back on the grass with the team.