Will the Detroit Lions offensive line be tough enough?
By Robert Jones
Yes, they will need to be tough enough to be able to make it on the field each week and play at a high enough level to be effective, but the great offensive lines in NFL history had a different kind of toughness.
It’s what we would all call attitude.
Great offensive linemen have a mean streak. They play with the attitude and physical mentality of defensive linemen. They not only understand the importance of burying their man to create a hole for the running back, but they want to bury their man simply because they enjoy it.
Even in pass protection, when offensive linemen are expected to be ‘passive’ or like a shock absorber, that mean streak can still shows itself as aggressive offensive linemen will continue to bury their man if possible.
The Lions need that type of attitude on the offensive line. Of the holdovers, TJ Lang is the one that most exemplifies that trait.
Rookie first round pick Frank Ragnow also has that trait.
His resume is filled with plays he finished by burying his opponent. In the SEC as a matter of fact, which is widely regarded as the toughest conference in college football.
Where he always seemed to play his best against the toughest competition.
This a type of attitude that can be infectious. An attitude the Lions want to be infectious, because they want this O-line to live up to it’s potential. Which the truth of the matter is that this unit is good enough to be effective in the run game and as pass-protectors.
What they lacked most last year, outside of health, was the cohesiveness and collective attitude that they needed to own the line of scrimmage. This offseason it is Jeff Davidson’s job to mold this line into a smart, cohesive unit that has a mean streak.
A willingness to finish every play with the right balance of mental toughness that translates into physical toughness, while still avoiding stupid mistakes.
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If Davidson is successful with what his teaches, while Lang and Ragnow spread a plague of attitude to the rest their linemates, then this group of Lions should certainly be tough enough to open holes for whoever carries the ball this fall.