Hank Fraley: Lions Offensive Linemen 'Can Be a Special Group'
One of the strengths for the Detroit Lions this upcoming season is expected to be the offensive line.
Anchored by veterans Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow along with second-year pro Penei Sewell, Detroit's O-line could end up being one of the best in the entire league during the 2022 campaign.
But, before that can happen, the position group is going to need more health on its side than it had a season ago.
Numerous members of the line battled the injury bug in 2021.
Most notably, Ragnow and Decker each missed significant time. Ragnow only played in four games due to an injured toe, while Decker suited up in just nine games due to a spiral fracture of his left index finger. The duo also failed to play in a single game together.
Detroit hopes to get Decker, Ragnow and Sewell out on the field together consistently throughout the 2022 campaign, along with the team's starting guards in Jonah Jackson and Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
During minicamp, the Lions caught a glimpse of what it would look like to have all five linemen on the field at the same time, and you can consider Detroit offensive line coach Hank Fraley a fan of what he observed.
"It's always good to see those guys out there. I mean we were coming off the ball during that walkthrough, and it looked great," Fraley told reporters during the last day of minicamp practice Monday. "But, it's good. It's been a while since the five of those guys have even taken a rep together. But, it was good when you do look out there. I think we have a lot of depth with this team, especially at O-line. Those guys love working together, and to see all five of those guys run out together, they can be a special group. But, we're a long ways from that. We haven't even played a game. Haven't even taken a snap."
Even with Decker and Ragnow out for a significant portion of last season, the Lions' offensive line still put together a productive campaign.
Sewell played at both right and left tackle, and allowed just five sacks all season. He also was named to Pro Football Focus' and Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie teams.
Meanwhile, Jackson, in his second season as a pro, played in 16 games (primarily at left guard), and earned a 69.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (good for 22nd out of 82 qualified guards). Additionally, the Ohio State product was named a Pro Bowl alternate.
Not only does Detroit have a solid amount of talent returning among its starting offensive linemen, but it also possesses a strong degree of depth among its reserve linemen.
Matt Nelson, Tommy Kraemer and Evan Brown are all capable backup linemen that each logged snaps in at least nine games in 2021, and they could prove to be valuable assets to the Lions' offensive line once again this upcoming season.
"They compete, and they compete with each other. They push each other. That's what I think the special part is," Fraley said. "It doesn't matter which five (linemen). Right now, we have 14 in the room. They push each other daily, you know, in the classroom, out here. I think really the weight room, and that's where they spent most of their time the last couple of weeks, pushing each other in that weight room. That's what's fun to see."
Fraley's aim is to make the reserve linemen comfortable playing multiple positions, in order to provide Detroit with additional depth across the line.
"The guys that aren't starting, their challenging part is they're not always just getting the rep at right guard. They're learning the center position, they're learning left guard," Fraley expressed. "You have Tommy Kraemer, he has all three interior spots. You know, for them to be comfortable, they've got to really work a little extra.
"It might be they took all reps at right guard, but you'll see them after practice, going over and working on their left guard reps. It definitely gives you some insurance, when you do have depth. And, that's what you're always trying to build."
