The Detroit Lions offensive line was an improved unit in 2019, but questions loom at right guard. Who could see snaps there next season?
Remember Week Six of the Detroit Lions 2017 regular season, when the Pride took on the New Orleans Saints? Sure you do. A 35-point Lions third quarter deficit. Rookie Saints running back Alvin Kamara leaping over Lions cornerback Darius Slay like he was running hurdles.
Remember 320-pound defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson picking off New Orleans’ quarterback Drew Brees at the Saints two-yard line and sauntering into the end zone for his first career touchdown.
What about Pro Bowl returner Jamal Agnew scoring his second punt return touchdown of the year to pull the Lions within seven only to field the next punt in the end zone and get tackled at his own one-yard line?
Perhaps, most memorable of all, you recall pass after pass being batted down by the Saints defense at the line of scrimmage – 16 in total. That includes the game-clinching pick-six by Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan in the Lions end zone after Agnew’s ill-fated return attempt on the previous play.
Remember Brian Mihalik? Emmet Cleary? Of course you remember Greg Robinson. They all saw a significant number of snaps in that game along the Lions offensive line. Obviously, it didn’t go well.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford was running for his life in the bayou that day, and really all season long. Perhaps at no point in Lions general manager Bob Quinn’s tenure did the need to reshape and reinforce the offensive line become more glaring. Fast forward to the days following the 2019 Super Bowl, and changes have taken place.