Among several issues facing the Detroit Lions after week two, the lack of security at left guard is one of the most crucial. The Bills trounced the Lions on Thursday night (41-31), and Jared Goff was sacked four times. To make matters worse, the offensive line couldn't find success in the running game either, as Jahmyr Gibbs finished with 52 yards on 16 carries.
Detroit only had two starters available on the offensive line against the Bills in Penei Sewell and Tate Ratledge. Ben Bartch started at left guard as Christian Mahogany missed the game with a knee injury. Bartch struggled against the Bills, and even if Mahogany gets back on the field in week three, it seems like a position of concern for the foreseeable future.
The Lions have a left guard issue that will be difficult to resolve
Gibbs was able to find space on a few runs, but he was mostly bottled up in the backfield. The Lions don't seem to have a viable receiving option aside from Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, so the running game has become even more vital. Head coach Dan Campbell said the rushing attack hasn't reached its potential yet.
"I think we have to be able to run the ball better than we are right now," Campbell said after the game. "We have to be much more efficient doing it. Our back is too good. We came into this game (and) we needed to be able to run it. I think there's a lot of meat on the bone, and I do think we can get better."
Unfortunately, it will be difficult for the offensive line to improve without any continuity. They can't form chemistry as a unit if different players keep getting hurt. The Lions have already had seven different starting offensive linemen this season.
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Even if rookie Blake Miller returns at right tackle, the left guard and center positions could be a weakness for weeks to come. Starting center Cade Mays likely won't be back until October. Juice Scruggs started the first two games at center, and he was decent, but he's normally a guard. Even with all the changes, Goff said they should be playing better.
"It shouldn't be difficult. We've had a lot of practice with these guys," Goff said. "I thought there was really good moments, and I think there's moments where they would look criticially at themselves. But it has gelled over the last two weeks, leading up to that New Orleans game. I think Juice has done a good job throughout practice. I can't speak on tonight, I haven't seen (the film), but I think he's done a good job and I think everyone around him is starting to settle in. Again, I know there's plays I'm sure they want back, but it's getting there."
The Lions only have three games until their bye in week six, facing the Jets, Panthers and Cardinals. They're all winnable games, and as long as they win two, the Lions will be 3-2 (or 4-1) coming out of the bye week with Mays returning.
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