Tag: offensive line

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The Detroit Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL

You’re only as good as the guys up front. That is an age old saying when it comes to offensive lines and not just in the NFL, at any level of football. For the rebuilding Detroit Lions they can check the offensive line unit off of the to-do list. The Lions have a top 10 offensive line and that group when healthy is special. The Detroit offense can really take a step forward this season.

While the Detroit Lions were hit hard by the injury bug last season, when the teams first unit offensive line was on the field the Lions moved the ball well. Injuries came and the struggles settled in.

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) defends against Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz (86) during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, November 17, 2019 (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Center, Frank Ragnow missed most of the season, left tackle Taylor Decker missed a lot of games (8) and the list goes on. The fact is that Ragnow, Decker and last years first round draft pick Penei Sewell, give the Lions three very good linemen.

Decker and Sewell give the Lions one of, if not the best tackle duo in the entire NFL. Throw in Frank Ragnow who is in the 90% range for run block and for all centers and you can see why offensive line is not as big a hole to fix as other positions during this rebuilding process.

The Detroit Lions offensive line actually gives the team a shot to make a playoff run, even during a rebuild. Will it happen? I do not see that as being very likely, but the Cincinnati Bengals went to the Super Bowl a year after winning jus 2 games the year before, so I suppose it is possible.

While the focus this past NFL Draft was defensive heavy (for good reason that unit was not good and has a ways to go,) the question is with a healthy offensive line how does that improve the team in wins/losses?

General manager Brad Holmes, brought in more speed for the offense so that will help with tempo which the Lions were so slow last season paint almost dried faster that the Lions offense moved.

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) defends against Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, October 17, 2021. (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

This will be a unit to watch this coming season. It sure seems like Penei Sewell is a sure bet to take the biggest step forward. At the end of the day the Lions will be a better team heading into toe 2022-23 season. If the offensive line can stay healthy I believe 3-4 more wins is possible.

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Sifting through what the Detroit Lions should do at #7

NFL Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells had a drafting philosophy that lead to many wins including Super Bowl wins. So what was this philosophy that also had a winning formula to it? Parcells believed with first round draft picks that an organization either take an offensive linemen or defensive linemen. I other words build your lines. Not a skilled position player such as quarterback, running back or wide receiver. Again, Bill Parcells won an awful lot of games taking this route.

CANTON, OH – AUGUST 3: Former head coach Bill Parcells poses with his Hall of Fame bust during the NFL Class of 2013 Enshrinement Ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on Aug. 3, 2013 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Bill Parcells once said that if he built his offensive line correctly he could could get any “Joe Blow” to play quarterback and he was going to win a lot of games. During his coaching career, Parcells did win a lot of games and do you know what? He did not coach a Hall of Fame quarterback.

What is the lesson in all of this? The 2021 NFL Draft is fast approaching. This years draft boasts of some of the best offensive tackles that have come out of college in a long time. The Detroit Lions who currently sit at #7 overall in the first round just so happen to greatly need to improve the right side of the offensive line at guard and you guessed it, right tackle.

I am not going to toss around names of possible players the Detroit Lions should look at. This write-up is solely focused on team need and drafting philosophy. It is and has become more and more clear the Detroit Lions view quarterback Jared Goff as the long-term signal caller.

If that is indeed the case then Lions general manager Brad Holmes, needs to build around Goff. What better way to illustrate to player, fans and media than to surround the starting quarterback with an offensive line that can protect both in the pass and run game?

NEW YORK – APRIL 26: A general view shows the stage during the during the 2008 NFL Draft on April 26, 2008 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

With holes a plenty up and down the Detroit Lions roster, the team needs to key in on what to address in this years draft. There are far to many holes to address in one draft.

If I am in the Detroit Lions front office, then I would be adamant the team takes a long hard look at Bill Parcells winning draft philosophy.