Detroit Lions offensive line – Syndication Server

Video: Breaking down the Lions’ top 5 offseason needs with Ourlads Scouting

What are the biggest needs for the Detroit Lions heading into the 2024 offseason?

With the NFL’s free agency about to hit and the NFL Scouting Combine on tap for next week, there’s going to be a lot of attention on what the Lions need to fill out their roster. What will help Detroit remain as legitimate Super Bowl contenders and even augment their chances to bring home the team’s first title since 1957?

In this video, in conjunction with OurLads Scouting, I went through the top five Lion’s needs entering the offseason. The biggest need is self-obvious, but beyond that, there is some flexibility in the need flow chart.

Thanks to Greg DePalma and Ourlads Scouting for the fun, informative video and the invite to join them to break it all down.

Offensive line ‘will not be overlooked’ by GM Brad Holmes this offseason

With both starting guards hitting free agency, Frank Ragnow pondering retirement, and only two tackles total on the roster, OL needs to be a big offseason focus

The biggest strength of the Detroit Lions is play of the offensive line. Detroit has one of the best tackle tandems in the league in venerable veteran Taylor Decker and first-team All-Pro Penei Sewell. Center Frank Ragnow is a two-time second-team All-Pro, including in 2023. Guards Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow are both above-average talents when healthy.

It’s been a deliberate process to craft one of the best lines in the league. That line could see some major shakeups this offseason. Both starting guards are unrestricted free agents, as is former starter Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who spent most of 2023 on injured reserve. Ragnow is contemplating retirement from all the injuries over his six years in the NFL. Sewell and Decker are the only two tackles on the roster, period.

Lions GM Brad Holmes knows he’s got to keep the line as a major strength. In his end-of-season press conference, Holmes made it clear that the offensive line will be a major focus this offseason in the draft and free agency.

“I mean, our offensive line, us being able to protect the quarterback and run the football like we do, that’s extremely important,” Holmes said. “And so, that’s definitely going to be one that – that’ll be an area that will not be overlooked. As good as it has been in the past, just those points that you’ve raised, it’s definitely going to be a point of emphasis still.”

The Lions drafted Colby Sorsdal in the fifth round last year, and the William & Mary product saw limited duty at both right tackle and guard. Finding his exact role, whether it’s the third tackle or a potential jump into the starting lineup at guard, is one of the questions Holmes & Co. must decide.

Ranking the Lions offseason needs for 2024

Here’s an early look at the Lions’ biggest needs in free agency and the 2024 NFL draft.

It’s officially the offseason for the Detroit Lions after the disspiriting loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship game. The offseason focus is on how to take the next step to potentially host that NFC title game after the 2024 season and win it, too.

The Lions will look different in 2024. All teams suffer some roster turnover, and the Lions are no different. Detroit has 19 unrestricted free agents who are coming off the roster, as well as some who are under contract but might not make the cut into the next year, for either performance or salary purposes.

What do the Lions need to make that next step? Here’s an early look at the biggest needs in free agency and the 2024 NFL draft.

Lions film review: Offensive line gives this team an identity when healthy

Lions film review: Offensive line gives this team an identity when healthy, from Russell Brown

It’s no secret that the Lions offensive line is one of the best in football. When they’re not healthy, the offense can still score. However, when the starting five (from left to right) of Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow and Penei Sewell are on the field at the same time, this team becomes different.

Their identity changes.

The whole script changes for the offense because they’re able to run the ball more effectively and quarterback Jared Goff gets far more comfortable in the pocket. Will Burchfield from 97.1 The Ticket, had a great post on X that showcased the importance of the Lions starting offensive line. It read:

When the starting offensive line is on the field together, the Lions are 5-0 and average an NFL-leading:

38.4 points per game
421.2 yards per game
179.4 rushing yards per game
5.5 yards per carry
Goff has a passer rating of 121.73

If this offensive line can stay healthy as the Lions push to the playoffs, it could be a fun winter for the fans and this team. When looking at the game against the Broncos, it was evident that the offensive line gets after it. They’re physical up front and create endless opportunities for the offense.

With 185 rushing yards and 448 total yards of offense against the Broncos, it was one of the best offensive performances on the season from the Lions. They went 5-for-10 on 3rd down and they converted on their only 4th down conversion of the game. Let’s look at the film to see some of the best blocks of the day from this Lions offensive line.

If you’re a defensive lineman and you get aligned between right tackle Penei Sewell and right guard Graham Glasgow, I wish you the best of luck. Those two together make it a tough day for the opposition when they get to combo block.

The play above is a perfect example. Highlighted are Glasgow and Sewell, and they’re going to double-team Dre’Mont Jones (Broncos DL 93). With the defender aligned in the B-gap as a 3-technique, it makes it a much easier block. Once the ball is snapped, they crash into the defender and take him for a ride.

Jones is one of the better defenders for the Broncos. However, he’s faced with a tough match-up on this rep. They turn him and clear him out of the way so Jahmyr Gibbs isn’t met immediately by contact.

The most consistent and potentially, most dominant offensive lineman for the Lions is Penei Sewell. He’s been so good when run and pass blocking. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Sewell has allowed a 2.8% pressure rate this season. That would be the lowest total for any offensive tackle in football.

Looking at the play above, it’s a pass play for Jared Goff and the Lions. But once the ball is snapped, you can see Sewell highlighted. Once the defensive lineman attacks the outside shoulder of Sewell, you can see that Sewell is under control and not panicking. His foot speed is good but his hand speed is quick and ready to attack. Meanwhile, he hits a snatch-trap technique on the defensive lineman. This forces the defender into the dirt and helps give Goff a clean pocket.

Additionally, look at right guard Graham Glasgow. He looks for work once he knows that Sewell has secured the defensive end. So rather than standing still, Glasgow turns his head inside and gets the ribs of the defensive tackle. Meanwhile, Decker and Jackson do a nice job on an exchange for the left side. Goff is kept clean, it allows the routes to develop and it ultimately leads to a first down for the Lions.

The last play I want to focus on is one where quarterback Jared Goff is given plenty of time. In previous weeks, it felt like Goff was rushing through his reads and progressions. Against the Broncos, he looked more comfortable and much of that is due to the starting offensive line being on the field.

Looking at the play above, the Lions come out in a shotgun formation and once the ball is snapped, the Broncos four-man rush is immediately stopped in it’s tracks. This allows Goff to move in the pocket and scan the field. In the process, he finds Jameson Williams wide open in the middle of the field for a a first down.

Against the Broncos, Goff was only sacked twice and was only pressured 8 times (per Pro Football Reference). He looked more comfortable and much of that is due to the offensive line. Additionally, the Lions offensive line paved the way for the Lions to pile on 185 rushing yards. It was a big win for Detroit as they got their 10th win of the season. It’s evident that when the offensive line is healthy, they give this offense and team a new identity.

Snap count notes from the Lions win over the Broncos

Lions snap count notes from the win over Denver, including DB and RB splits and an intact offensive line

One of the first things that jumps out from the Detroit Lions’ snap count notes in the Week 15 win over the Denver Broncos is the continuity of the starters. It’s especially true on offense.

The entire starting offensive line played each and every one of the 66 offensive snaps. It was the first time since the Week 10 win over the Chargers that the team’s top five — Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, Penei Sewell — started and finished a game together. And it showed on the field, with the Lions rolling to almost 200 rushing yards.

Those rushes came from David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in an almost even split of snaps. Montgomery played 34, while Gibbs got 32. No other RBs played. The Lions also did not use a fullback, though Dan Skipper played eight snaps as an extra tackle and blocking tight end James Mitchell was on the field for six. Mitchell still doesn’t have a single passing game target in his second season.

The wide receiver splits:

Amon-Ra St. Brown – 61

Jameson Williams – 45

Josh Reynolds – 38

Kalif Raymond – 20

Donovan Peoples-Jones – 11

On defense, LB Alex Anzalone was the only Lions player on the field for all 64 defensive reps.

The starting lineup changes in the secondary were definitive. Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu got the nod over Tracy Walker for the second straight game, and Melifonwu played 62 of the 64 snaps. Walker didn’t play on defense. The same was true at cornerback, where Khalil Dorsey replaced Jerry Jacobs. Dorsey (44 snaps) and Kindle Vildor (18) split the outside CB duties, while Jacobs only appeared on special teams.

Aidan Hutchinson’s heavy workload continues. The standout DE played 59 of the 64 snaps, another week over 90 percent participation. Some of that could be a function of the Lions deploying John Cominsky (46) and Josh Paschal (43) with more reps inside as part of a lighter front. Hefty DTs Benito Jones (30), Isaiah Buggs (23), Levi Onwuzurike (14) and rookie Brodric Martin (11) split more reps than usual with the lighter linemen.

Romeo Okwara (18) and Bruce Irvin (11) saw limited action. The Lions used rookie LB Jack Campbell in the SAM role a little amongst his 33 snaps. Derrick Barnes briefly left the game with a shoulder injury, and that held down his snap count to 35. Jalen Reeves-Maybin played 10, while Malcolm Rodriguez returned to the defensive lineup with five. Anthony Pittman played on defense for the first time in 2023, seeing action on four snaps.

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Injuries keep hammering the Lions offensive line continuity

The Lions current starting offensive line is statistically the NFL’s best combination, but keeping them on the field remains a challenge

For the first time in several weeks, the Detroit Lions offensive line had it’s projected starting five blockers all healthy enough to start a game together. The good health lasted just 21 snaps into the Lions’ Week 13 win in New Orleans before center Frank Ragnow departed with a leg injury.

It’s a recurring theme for the Lions. Keeping the same five offensive linemen on the field has proven to be a major challenge for Detroit. Ragnow’s departure came after getting left guard Jonah Jackson back from a multi-week absence due to wrist and ankle injuries.

Entering the season, Detroit’s projected starting five looked like this:

LT Taylor Decker

LG Jonah Jackson

C Frank Ragnow

RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai

RT Penei Sewell

That grouping played 75 snaps together. With Vaitai out for the season, that number won’t get any higher.

Fortunately, the team brought back free agent Graham Glasgow in the offseason to provide depth. Glasgow, back after three injury-plagued years in Denver, stepped in for Vaitai at right tackle to provide the “new” starting five. That group has been the Lions’ most common in 2023 and was the lineup to start Week 13.

Alas, the frequency is near the worst in the league. That lineup has been on the field for 212 snaps, or just over 26 percent of the offensive plays in 2023. Sewell is the only Lions lineman to play in all 12 games this season. Just six other teams have a lower most-frequent O-line combination.

The good news is that when the current (hopeful) starting five are together, they’re truly elite. That specific group has an EPA (expected points added) over average of .22, good for ninth in the NFL. But if you filter out groupings that haven’t played at least 100 snaps in 2023, they’re the NFL’s best.

All advanced statistics are courtesy of Sumer Sports

Lions vs. Packers: What I learned from film review of Detroit’s Thanksgiving loss

Takeaways from the film study of the Lions’ Thanksgiving loss to the Packers, a game Detroit lost from the very first play

Thanksgiving was a tough football meal to digest for the Detroit Lions. Losing 29-22 in Ford Field to the Green Bay Packers in a turkey of a game ruined the holiday buzz.

I delayed this week’s film study and lessons learned from it a little to make sure the bad taste of the loss was out of my mouth and not overly clouding my judgment. It turns out that the leftover helping of All-22 didn’t make it taste any better. In fact, I feel even worse about the way the Lions played now after studying it more.

Here’s what I took away from the film study of the Lions’ Thanksgiving loss to the Packers.

Quick takeaways from the Lions last-second road win over the Chargers

Takeaways on the Lions offensive line dominance, Goff outdueling Herbert, red zone issues, stars of the game and much more

What a Sunday afternoon for the Detroit Lions! Dan Campbell’s Lions traveled to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and treated the boisterous Detroit fans in attendance, not to mention everyone watching around the country, to a thrilling 41-38 win over the Chargers.

If you like offense, this was a great game. The Lions gained 533 yards, picked up 23 first downs and scored seven times, including Riley Patterson’s game-winning field goal on the game’s final play. Aficionados of defense didn’t have nearly so much to like, but that’s what sometimes happens with two gifted QBs behind talented offensive lines go to battle.

Here’s some of what stood out from the initial watching of Sunday’s big Lions win over the Chargers.

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Look: The Lions offensive line as proud dads during the bye week

Look: The Lions offensive line (and LB Alex Anzalone) got together as proud dads during the bye week

Family time can be tough to carve out for NFL players during the long season. The bye week provides a good time to reconnect on the family front.

For several Detroit Lions players who happen to be parents of young kids, it proved to be a great opportunity to hang out together. Family is an important part of the Lions culture, and the players–the entire starting offensive line and LB Alex Anzalone–got together with their wives and young kids for a bye-week celebration.

From the Instagram story of Frank Ragnow’s wife, Lucy (via @NicNic45832 on X):

(left to right: Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, Alex Anzalone)

It can be hard to remember that the players have off-field lives. It’s great to see them as proud dads.

Studs and Duds for the Lions victory over the Chiefs

Here are this weeks Detroit Lions Studs and Duds for their Week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Detroit Lions have been telling everyone they’re ready to win and compete, but most people wrote them off, saying they haven’t proved anything. However, they proved the doubters wrong with a massive 21-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Lions demonstrated their grit and no-quit attitude, showing the world they’re ready to walk with the big boys. Although their game wasn’t the cleanest, they didn’t let their mistakes affect the outcome. The team received contributions from all players, and it showed on the big stage. Unfortunately, some players weren’t fully prepared when it mattered most.

Here are this week’s Lions Studs and Duds for their win over the Kansas City Chiefs.