Offensive line play will determine Playoff Chances
By Matt Urben
The Lions had one of the worst offensive lines in all of pro football last season. They were the last-ranked rushing offense and failed to keep quarterback Matthew Stafford from getting hit on most passing plays. They were hindered by injuries and ineffective play, failing to open many holes for halfback Ameer Abdullah and pretty much everyone else.
It’s unreasonable to expect them to be significantly better early on next year. However, they have taken offensive lineman in the first-round of back to back drafts. They are not quite the Dallas Cowboys yet, but they have taken a similar method in terms of building the line through the draft.
The Cowboys ran the ball in 2014 and Tony Romo had his most efficient season as a pro, while throwing under 400-passes. The Lions aren’t good enough to have that kind of balance yet, but that is the idea going forward.
Michigan’s Graham Glasgow was taken in the third-round and will battle third-year center Travis Swanson for the starting job. Rookie offensive tackle Taylor Decker will be a work in progress on whichever side he plays next season. Even if he struggles, he will surely be an improvement over the platoon of undrafted free agents the Lions have had at right tackle, where Decker is expected to play.
Laken Tomlinson has always had the physical attributes of an NFL-caliber left guard, but made his share of mental mistakes as a rookie last season. Being a 1st-round pick that went to Duke University and wants to study brains someday, it’s fair to assume he will make a significant leap in terms of the mental aspect of the game. He is a powerful run-blocker and drew comparisons to fellow Lions’ guard Larry Warford. Tomlinson has a high ceiling if he is able to put it all together.
Even if Decker struggles, he will surely be an improvement over the platoon of undrafted free agents the Lions have had at right tackle over the past few seasons.
Warford and left tackle Riley Reiff have become the veterans of the group. Both had their share of struggles last season. Warford struggled to stay healthy over the past two seasons and hasn’t been as productive as a result of it. Reiff has just been average since taking over for Jeff Backus (who couldn’t be a more fitting comparison). Reiff is tough, but not athletic enough to be a great left tackle in the NFL. He has always been better suited for the right side, but he’s likely still the better option over Decker, for next season at least.
Steven Ridley is in and Joique Bell is out at running back. AmeerAbdullah is recovering from an injury that he’s expected to be back healthy from by the Pre-season. Abdullah should be considered the favorite to be the feature back in 2016. Ridley could be in for a bigger role if Abdullah misses any time. He has a similar skill set to Abdullah, but not as much top-end speed. Ridley is a good depth signing that will likely be a situational back.
Theo Riddick is a premier 3rd-down/pass-catching specialist in the league. The “Theo-Riddick Package” has become a fan-favorite for his elusiveness in open field, with the ball in his hands. His game is very similar to Reggie Bush’s as a receiver, but he doesn’t offer much in terms of running the ball. He is a good change-of-pace back but that’s about it as a runer. Still, he’s lethal out of the backfield, catching 80 balls last season.
Zach Zenner led the NFL in Pre-season rushing last season, as an undrafted rookie. He injured some ribs and missed most of the year, but wasn’t given much of a chance before he went down. Zenner is a good piece with high upside if the line can open holes. He is a physical rusher that the Lions are now lacking, with the release of Bell. Zenner will have to play well as he did last Pre-season, if he wants a role in the offense.
It’s not realistic to expect any drastic improvement from the Lions’ offensive line right away, yet this young, talented group will almost certainly get better as the season goes on. If Matthew Stafford can get more time in the pocket and opposing defenses have to even slightly respect the run, it will greatly benefit the entire team. Without Calvin Johnson, it will be especially important to build that balance that most playoff teams seam to find. There aren’t many great running backs anymore, but buliding a good offensive line is more important in today’s NFL.