Tag: Frank Ragnow

Lions injury update: Sam LaPorta upgrades, Chase Lucas sits out

Sam LaPorta upgrades, Chase Lucas sits out of Thursday’s practice ahead of the NFC Championship game

The Detroit Lions practice participation report from Thursday’s session in Allen Park had a couple of notable changes from the Wednesday edition.

Good news first!

Tight end Sam LaPorta upgraded from out on Wednesday to being a limited participant on Thursday. The All-Pro is still dealing with the knee injury he suffered in Week 18. LaPorta has played in both playoff games and is expected to do so again, barring any setbacks.

Now for the negative…

Special teams standout Chase Lucas sat out with an undisclosed illness. Lucas has been fantastic as the gunner on special teams since returning to the Lions after being cut during the season.

Frank Ragnow, Jonah Jackson and Kalif Raymond all remained out. Ragnow is the only one of that trio who projects to be available to play in San Francisco on Sunday.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone and wideout Josh Reynolds were limited for the second day in a row. Anzalone has been playing through broken ribs. Reynolds is also dealing with a rib injury.

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Lions first injury report for the NFC Championship week: 4 players held out

Lions first injury report for the NFC Championship week: 4 players held out including Sam LaPorta

The Detroit Lions held a walkthrough in lieu of practice on Wednesday. It was the first day of preparation for Detroit’s trip to San Francisco to face the 49ers in the NFC Championship game.

With it being a walkthrough, the Lions coaching staff provided estimated participation reports for the players dealing with injuries. Four Lions players were designated as out from practice:

LG Jonah Jackson (knee)

TE Sam LaPorta (knee)

WR Kalif Raymond (knee)

C Frank Ragnow (ankle, toe, knee, back)

Jackson and Raymond were expected to be out, and neither is anticipated to be able to play against the 49ers. LaPorta is still dealing with the hyperextended knee and bone bruise he suffered in the Week 18 win over the Vikings. He has played both games since.

Then there’s Ragnow. Typically, the “rest” designation is listed along with the toe issue. But this time, he’s rendered out with four separate injuries. Ragnow’s toughness is the stuff of legends, but it bears watching if he can practice at all during the rest of the week.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone (shoulder and ribs) and wide receiver Josh Reynolds (ribs) were both designated as limited participants. EDGE James Houston was deemed a full participant with his ankle issue.

Dan Campbell ‘Hard Knocks’ speech to the Lions has come to fruition

Dan Campbell ‘Hard Knocks’ speech to the Lions has come to fruition with Detroit playing for the NFC Championship

It’s been over three years since the Detroit Lions tabbed Dan Campbell as the head coach of the team. From the very beginning, people had their doubts. From the fans to the national media, there were a lot of doubters.

Much of it was due to what Campbell would say during his press conferences. Whether it was him referencing the team biting kneecaps or when he wore a racing helmet after being named grand marshal to a local race.

He got bashed again and again and again.

Taking it a step further, the Lions were picked to be on the HBO series Hard Knocks. Being featured on the show before winning anything of significance put Campbell and the Lions in an odd spot. People started to fall in the love with him and all of the speeches and catchphrases. Rightfully so, they were darn good.

One of the most popular speeches from Dan Campbell was the one above from an episode of Hard Knocks. At the time, the biggest takeaway was Campbell saying, “I don’t care if you have one ass cheek and three toes, I will beat your ass.”

No doubt, that’s awesome, but there’s more to it than that.

In addition to saying that, Campbell defined what the word “grit” meant to him. He talked about the distance the team will need to be willing to go. He said, “we’ll go a little longer. We’ll push a little harder. We’ll think a little deeper and little sharper.”

Following up with that, he said, “…normally I’m 100% but I only need 85% to beat you.”

Thinking back to just that, the first thing I thought of was the goal line block from Frank Ragnow against Vita Vea against the Buccaneers. This weekend, Ragnow blocked Vea from his knees while having a sprained knee, sprained ankle and other injuries sustained from the season. Far from 100%, Ragnow only needed 85% or possibly less than that to beat Vea on that specific play and it led to a Craig Reynolds touchdown on 4th and goal.

The more you listen to that specific speech from Dan Campbell, the more you can see the vision he had for a football player on the Detroit Lions. Changing the culture for any coach in any locker room is always tough. However, Campbell seems to have found a way to make it happen in Detroit.

It’s happened much sooner than most people have expected. Much of that is due to the Detroit Lions success this season. Winning the NFC North wasn’t unexpected and winning a playoff game felt somewhat likely for the Lions. Being one game away from the Super Bowl didn’t seem possible but right now, we wait for the Lions matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

Love them or hate them, this Detroit Lions football team is different. Much of that is due to the locker room buying into their head coach and adapting to the culture he’s helped build. Everything Campbell said in these pep talks is the team the Lions have become.

 

Detroit Lions best and worst PFF grades from the playoff win over the Bucs

Let’s take a look at the best and worst PFF graded players for the Detroit Lions in their victorious encounter with the Buccaneers.

Following their triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Detroit Lions are now on the cusp of glory, eyeing the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.

The victory was the result of a collective effort from all three phases, reflecting the Lions’ characteristic resilience in close matches. This team is built to adapt, with each phase compensating when one aspect takes a moment to find its rhythm. While key players delivered outstanding performances that propelled the Lions to victory, there were also areas where improvement is needed as they prepare to face San Francisco.

Let’s take a look at the best and worst PFF graded players for the Lions in their victorious encounter with the Buccaneers.

Four former Hogs remain in NFL playoffs

Either Dre Greenlaw and Brandon Allen will make it or Frank Ragnow and Dan Skipper will. The former Arkansas football players will all play for a shot at the Super Bowl.

Either Frank Ragnow and Dan Skipper will get a shot or Dre Greenlaw and Brandon Allen will.

Those four former Arkansas football players all still remain in the NFL Playoffs, their teams set to play each other in the NFC Championship on January 28.

Ragnow and Skipper are offensive linemen for the Detroit Lions. The Lions made their first NFC Championship in franchise history when they beat Tampa Bay over the weekend.

Ragnow is considered one of the best, if not the best, center in the NFL. He’s been a starter for all six of his seasons with the Lions and been named to the Pro Bowl three times.

Skipper has been a back-up tackle for the Lions for most of the last six seasons. He played in all 16 games with five starts last year and played in 11 games with one start this year.

Greenlaw has been a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers since 2019 and a starter every year. The 49ers have made the NFC title game four of the last five seasons, the same amount of time Greenlaw has been on the team.

Allen is a back-up quarterback for the Niners, as well. He did not see any time in the regular season and previously made his way to the Super Bowl with Cincinnati Bengals.

All four former Razorbacks played together in Fayetteville under coach Bret Bielema. Allen, the oldest, played from 2012-2015. Skipper joined in 2013 and played through 2016, while Ragnow and Greenlaw joined in 2015. Ragnow played two seasons before going pro whereas Greenlaw played four years at Arkansas.

Studs & Duds for the Lions playoff win over the Bucs

The Detroit Lions Studs and Duds for their playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take them the NFC Championship game

The Detroit Lions secure another playoff triumph, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23. They are now set to face the San Francisco 49ers in the upcoming NFC Championship game.

The Lions persist in showcasing their resilience and prowess in the face of challenges, silencing skeptics who doubted their place in the playoffs. This game underscores their capability to compete at the highest level. While the offense took a while to find its rhythm, it executed crucial plays effectively when needed. The defense, although with some areas to improve, demonstrated its ability to thwart the formidable Bucs offense when it mattered most.

As they edge closer to glory, let’s highlight the Studs and Duds for the Lions in their playoff victory against the Bucs.

Frank Ragnow calls Dan Campbell ‘the best leader I’ve ever been around’

Ragnow heaped praise on Campbell after the Lions win over the Buccaneers in the NFC Divisional Round game

Sunday was the three-year anniversary of Dan Campbell being introduced as the head coach of the Detroit Lions. The man knows how to celebrate.

Campbell’s Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-23, in Ford Field to win the NFC Divisional Round matchup. Three years after biting kneecaps, Campbell now has his Lions playing for a trip to the Super Bowl next weekend.

All-Pro center Frank Ragnow has been there for all of it. Ragnow is one of the longest-tenured Lions, the team’s first-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Playing through injuries that would send a racehorse to the glue factory, Ragnow was a key cog in the emotional win.

After the game, Ragnow gave all credit to Campbell.

“He’s the best leader I’ve ever been around by far,” Ragnow yelled over the rocking crowd to NBC’s Melissa Stark postgame. “He authentically loves his guys. Same guy every single day. I can’t say enough about him.”Ragnow concluded the thought,

“He’s the man.”

The Lions’ Frank Ragnow showed absurd toughness blocking Vita Vea on 4th and 1 TD while visibly hurt

The Lions’ Frank Ragnow is the definition of tough.

In the playoffs, injuries that may have otherwise sidelined players aren’t as significant of a concern anymore. When it’s win or go home, guys more or less decide to grit their teeth and tough it out if they can.

Detroit Lions All-Pro center Frank Ragnow did exactly this during his team’s divisional-round matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Early in the game, Ragnow had his leg rolled up following a sack on Jared Goff. If there was one player the Lions could ill afford to see missing any time, it was Ragnow, the fulcrum and leader of their dominant offensive line. At the time of this writing, it is unclear what Ragnow’s ailment is.

Even still, rather than come out of the game, a visibly hurt Ragnow soldiered on with Detroit’s season on the line:

Later, with the Lions facing a critical fourth and goal near the end of the third quarter, Ragnow had the unenviable task of taking on the mammoth Vita Vea one-on-one. He passed with flying colors, paving the way for a clutch Craig Reynolds touchdown:

Ragnow didn’t pancake Vea, but he didn’t have to. He just had to stay in front of him long enough for Reynolds to cross the plane. Even while hurt, it is these kinds of heroic efforts that propel teams like the Lions to greatness.

Lions injury update: Jonah Jackson OUT, Frank Ragnow back in the lineup

Lions injury update: Jonah Jackson OUT, Frank Ragnow back in the lineup

The Lions suffered a couple of significant offensive line injuries in the first half of the NFC Divisional Round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Left guard JOnah Jackson left the game midway through the first half with a knee injury. Jackson was initially listed as questionable to return, but coming out of halftime, the Lions ruled him out for the rest of the game.

All-Pro center Frank Ragnow also departed the game after getting rolled up on from behind on a second-quarter play. Thankfully Ragnow’s injury looked worse than it actually was, as No. 77 returned to action on the subsequent Lions drive and also played in the second half.

One voter’s 2023 AP First-Team All-Pro ballot

If you’ve ever wanted to see an official First-Team All-Pro ballot, we have you covered.

There are moments in your career where you think to yourself… “Yeah, this is a moment to remember.” Two years ago, when the Associated Press asked me to be one of the analysts responsible for voting for the First- and Second-Team All-Pro teams, as well as NFL Most Valuable Player and all other individual awards, that was certainly such a moment for me.

So, this is my second year of voting, and I wanted to share my first-team ballot with our readers. It’s an honor I take incredibly seriously, and this process involves a ton of advanced metrics, tape study, and reflections from a season of diving into both.

Some of these votes were easy; some were incredibly difficult. But it will give you a bit of insight into what happens with an All-Pro vote.