Detroit Lions have more holes on their lines than Swiss cheese

Bob Quinn’s addition by subtraction

This past season the Detroit Lions failed for a number of reasons. Offensively, it was the lack of a consistent running game and the season-ending injury to Matthew Stafford. On the other side of the ball, it was the inability of this team to play any kind of reasonably decent defense.

Now admittedly, any NFL team losing their franchise quarterback is enough to destroy their postseason hopes, yet somehow despite the Pittsburgh Steelers losing Ben Roethlisberger in Week Two, they were in the playoff hunt all the way to the final week of the season.

Meanwhile, even if Stafford hadn’t been injured, the Lions were on course to miss the playoffs anyway. When Matthew Stafford‘s season ended in Oakland, the Lions were 3-4-1. If they stayed on that pace and we were generous enough to give them one extra win in the second half of the season instead of a tie, they still would have finished 7-8-1 and out of the playoff picture.

They also still would have finished in last place in the NFC North.

The shopping list for Bob Quinn heading into the offseason was already much larger than most potential contenders could overcome. Now they have released tackle Rick Wagner and are ready to say good-bye to guard Graham Glasgow in free agency, who happened to be the Lions second-best offensive lineman.

Addition by subtraction is a term used by teams that are clearing out malcontents from their locker room. However, both Wagner and Graham were not malcontents.

Instead, Bob Quinn’s version of addition by subtraction is to save money on an offensive line that will be key to the Lions’ offensive success next season. Let’s be honest, despite the reports that Matthew Stafford’s back is good and he will be ready to participate in OTA’s, he is coming off back injuries in consecutive seasons and at this point, the offensive line has been weakened.

Sure both Glasgow and Wagner can be replaced. As a matter of fact, some fans have been itching to see Wagner replaced since he hasn’t lived up his contract, but consider this; with all the needs the Lions have, how much can they afford to spend on the offensive line?