Lions rookie offensive lineman Christian Mahogany got his first NFL start in Week 16. Filling in at left guard for the injured Graham Glasgow, it was the first real extended action for Mahogany, Detroit’s sixth-round pick out of Boston College.
After missing months with mono, Mahogany had played on just three offensive snaps prior to the Week 16 matchup with the Bears. Playing at left guard was another curveball for Mahogany, who had been exclusively a right guard in his final two years at BC after his first college year on the left side.
Focusing on Mahogany wound up being one of the most fun film studies of the season. He had a very solid starting debut in Chicago, with No. 73 earning far more wins than losses after watching every play from the sideline and end zone All-22 angles.
I try to be transparent with my evaluation methodology. A win on a play earns a plus; a loss earns a minus. Not every play earns a mark, nor is it supposed to — especially for the interior linemen on both sides of the ball.
First half
Mahogany wasted little time in announcing his presence with authority. He earned four plusses on the Lions opening drive. Three of those came in the run game, where Mahogany’s powerful burst with excellent balance really shone. His ability to engage in space and stay connected without holding is something special, something the injury-limited Glasgow hasn’t been able to do recently. It showed in the runs from Jahmyr Gibbs, too.
The first minus came up in run blocking as well. Mahogany couldn’t get to No. 91 on a zone block to his right. It’s a complicated ask of a lineman to get that block, having to effectively beat a DT lined up to his inside across the formation to get in front of him, but it still counts as a minus.
Nothing gets offensive line coaches more excited than “look for work” blocks in pass protection. Mahogany quickly got back on the positive side of the ledger with a fantastic one. With no Bears in his zone of responsibility, Mahogany exploded into the defender trying to get past center Frank Ragnow. He had no idea he was about to get hit by a cement truck.
Two minuses came in the red zone on Detroit’s second drive, both in run blocking. Mahogany whiffed on a dive at feet on one, then ran into Penei Sewell on the next and knocked the right tackle off his block, leading to Gibbs being stuffed. Mahogany did make the block on his guy but was responsible for Sewell’s miss, and that’s a minus for 73.
First half tally:
8 plusses (4 each in run and pass), 4 minuses (3 run, 1 pass)
Second half
The second half for Mahogany was a little less dominant in the run game overall but still very impressive for a greenhorn playing away from his normal position. The Bears continued to align their defensive interior such that Mahogany rarely had anyone heads-up on his left guard spot.
One play that stood out was a screen to Gibbs off a play-fake to Gibbs. That’s a slow-developing play that required Mahogany to strafe along the line of scrimmage in space and not get too far down the field before the throw. That takes discipline and patience, and 73 wound up helping Gibbs squeeze out an extra yard or two at the end of a play the Bears defended pretty well.
Two plays later, Mahogany earned another plus with a “look for work” pass protection. Once again, you do not want to be the player Mahogany finds work against.
There were a handful of plays, including two minuses in the run game, where veteran linemates Taylor Decker and Kevin Zeitler were quick to get with Mahogany on why he didn’t succeed or didn’t see on a play. To the credit of the line, it did not appear that Mahogany made the same mistake twice–a very positive sign.
Arguably Mahogany’s best play of the second half wound up being a play where Gibbs got slammed in the backfield. Don’t blame the rookie LG, who drove-block his mark some 15 yards backwards into the Bears end zone. Big plus for Mahogany on a net minus play, which happens more often than you might think.
A false start penalty earned a minus, as did falling off a run block to his outside that was spared nicely by Decker peeling and rescuing his young mate.
Second half tally:
9 plusses (5 pass, 4 run), 4 minuses (2 run, 1 pass, 1 penalty)
Overall
Mahogany earned 17 plusses and eight minuses in his starting debut for the Lions. He showed quickness, power and vision in both run and pass blocking. Mahogany’s willingness to engage and effectiveness in engaging in space in the run game was a real boon for the Lions line.
He looked very much like a capable future NFL starter, especially considering he was playing on the left side after not aligning at left guard for three years. There’s a whole lot to work with for OL coach Hank Fraley going forward here.