ALLEN PARK — Of all the improvements to come to light in last week’s demolition of the Chicago Bears, the ones on the offensive line instill the most optimism for the Detroit Lions.
It wasn’t perfect. But it was so much better than the previous week, and that’s what everyone needed to see while working with two new starting guards.
Pro Football Focus charged only two pressures allowed to offensive linemen in the 52-21 drubbing of the Bears. They didn’t allow a sack, which was quite the outing after allowing 12 pressures, four sacks and nine quarterback hits in Week 1.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff deserves some love for his ability to move out of the pocket and to avoid pressure against the Bears. But the work on the offensive line was much better, and Dan Campbell is pleased with the week-to-week growth shown from young guards Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany.
“Both of those guys played winning football. They were both much improved from game one,” Campbell told 97.1 The Ticket on Wednesday. “And that goes for the whole line as well. They were all better. But Mahogany and Ratlege, I thought, really improved. I would tell you it was the fundamentals. We were all on point. It helps because everything is verbal, and you can hear. But there is so much about this that is just about working through the kinks.
“But their fundamentals. Their technique. Their landmarks. They’re running off the football. They’re anchoring in pass protection. It was good, man. It’s a step in the right direction. That’s what you’re looking for is just constant growth. It doesn’t all have to happen in one week, and I don’t expect it to, none of us do. But just steady, constant growth.”
Ratledge still worked through some growing pains. But it was the second-round rookie’s second career start, and as Campbell said, it’s about constant growth. And while his growth was smaller than some of the others on the line, the Lions will take that.
Mahogany was the team’s highest-graded pass blocker, in just his fourth career start, per Pro Football Focus. At the same time, center Graham Glasgow was second in that department on the offensive line, enjoying a much better day, as well.
Taylor Decker managed to play through a shoulder injury despite not practicing all week. Decker’s standing as the team’s longest-tenured player was important to keep the operation growing together.
The Lions ran for 177 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Against the Packers, the team’s ball carriers never had a chance, getting hit behind the line of scrimmage on 16 of 22 runs.
Goff was able to pick his spots and let his pass-catchers get open on his way to 334 yards and five touchdowns, earning NFC offensive player of the week honors for his efforts.
“Yeah, those guys really gelled,” Goff said after the game. “And I think in particular Tate and Mahogany, as younger players, kind of were able to get last week out of the way and kind of settle in a little bit today.
“But I thought Tate played great today. I haven’t seen the tape, but at least in pass pro, it felt firm there. It felt firm, he felt strong, it felt like he was pushing downhill. It felt like he really settled in. The more reps those guys get, the more they’ll settle in, hopefully, as time goes on. And you just want to keep those five on the field at the same time, and they’ll keep getting better.”
The Lions preached all week that the offensive line just needed time to gel and to work through some communication issues. A trip home to Ford Field certainly helped, but the problems that popped up in Green Bay were not there against the Bears.
With another road trip on the horizon, facing the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, communication in the trenches remains at the top of the preparation list. Campbell also said the coaches will ensure they aren’t putting too much on anyone’s plate, which worked out well last week.
The Lions will have to hope the improvements on the offensive line and communication in the trenches continues to head in the right direction. Because it won’t be quiet while on offense against the Ravens.
“Just like we did in Green Bay, we do what everybody does, we bring out 38 speakers and we park them about 2 feet behind us and then on the sides and way in the back, so you can’t hear,” Campbell said during his weekly radio spot. “So, you force that environment anyway. I’m going to be on high alert, on point. We’re going to make sure that’s going. But if there’s any inkling that we targeted wrong, ‘I didn’t hear this’ — We’ll just start the whole period over and do it until we get it right.
“That will always create some urgency there. I don’t expect that to happen. But we’ll make sure we’re good.”