The Detroit Lions' trenches are already looking night and day from their 2025 ensemble.
With a swapping of Penei Sewell over to the left side of the line, the introduction of rookie Blake Miller to right tackle full-time, and a sudden and temporary change at center with Cade Mays getting hurt in training camp, it was to be expected that the Lions would suffer some sort of growing pains early on in the season.
However, a lighter schedule coupled with just how good their starting linemen have been has resulted in Detroit ranking 2nd overall in pass block win rate through three games this season. Digging into the numbers further, there's a clear standout amongst the pack that's helped to get the Lions to the top of this metric: Miller, the rookie tackle.
Lions are near top of league in pass blocking thanks to rookie
ESPN's pass block win rate metric measures "the rate linemen can sustain their blocks for 2.5 seconds or longer." So, the Lions are doing an excellent job so far this season of giving Jared Goff ample opportunity to go through his reads and make the right decision.
So far, that has led to Goff touching some pretty incredible numbers headed into Week 4: 802 passing yards, zero interceptions, eight touchdown passes, and a passer rating of 116.1.
A very big reason for the line's success has been the steadiness of Miller. Per ESPN's pass block metric, Miller leads the league in pass block win rate amongst tackles with a 96 percent winning rate. That's absolutely absurd work from a rookie tackle being thrown to the wolves to begin his career, and for someone who has only played two full games this year.
READ MORE: The Panthers are extremely undermanned in secondary before Lions matchup
It's a better win rate than Dion Dawkins, Lane Johnson, and even Sewell. Maybe the veteran has to watch his back for Miller as he chases down his first Protector of the Year honors.
Tate Ratledge having an understated start to 2nd year
Another lineman that's been an underrated piece to the Lions' success up front is second-year guard Tate Ratledge. He currently ranks 17th in pass block win rate amongst interior offensive linemen through three games, and he's generally been an iron man for Detroit since last season (knock on wood).
Impact like this is one thing, but availability is an entirely different and valuable piece to the puzzle for the Lions' offensive line. Ratledge has been a standout guard since his rookie season, and he continue to just get better as a run blocker as his career progresses.
Run blocking remains the one area that the Lions could actually stand to improve in, although it's hard to argue that Jahmyr Gibbs' 307 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns are proof of any deterioration there. Still, he could have even more room to dominate once the Lions get more solid run blocking going within their iOL.
Add us as a preferred source on Google