Vaitai Disagrees with Late Holding Call against Cardinals

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai disagrees that he held a Cardinals defender late in Sunday's game

Late in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford launched a deep pass to Marvin Hall for what should've been the go-ahead touchdown.

Instead, it was negated by a holding call on guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai. 

Despite the call, Detroit was still able to march down the field to secure its first victory on the season, 26-23. 

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Speaking to Detroit media for the first time since the victory, Vaitai addressed the penalty and his adjustment to playing guard instead of his regular position of right tackle.

"Honestly, I don't think it was a holding call, in my opinion. I was trying to figure out what the flag was. I couldn't even hear the refs. I was looking at the prompt or the screen. I was like, 'Wow.' I thought I blocked him. I overdid it. But, I tried to recover. But, I don't think it was holding, in my opinion."

On playing guard

In training camp, Vaitai did not participate in many snaps at the guard position. So, it came as a surprise to many to see him as the starting right guard on Sunday. 

"I know I do have a sense of how to play guard. But, (it was) just one of those things -- wherever the coach needs me to play at, more than happy to do my best to help the team win," Vaitai said. "And that's the mindset I've always carried, ever since I got drafted. I just want to be on the field no matter what position. Can be any position, and I'll do my best to help my teammates win."

Vaitai explained that he just has to remember an important principle when playing at guard.

That idea is to remember that he can't be in a tackle mindset when he is playing at the position. 

"When you play inside, you got to be more alert. Talking about picking up blitzes and all the good stuff they show.

"Whereas tackle, you just set out -- you have the space out there. What I like about guard is where you're kind of tight, you don't have to set far. I remember when playing guard, you're not in a tackle mindset," Vaitai added.

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