Five reasons the Detroit Lions offensive line will improve this season

Frank Ragnow impressive so far

The offensive line has been the focus of GM Bob Quinn since he arrived in Detroit. His drafts and free agent signings could see a payoff this season.

Last year injuries were a factor throughout the season. So far in training camp, health is not an issue.

Obviously strong play by the line is crucial to get the run game on track after last season when the Lions averaged a measly  3.4 yards per carry and just 76.3 rushing yards per game ranking them at the bottom of the NFL.

It looks like the starting lineup will be left tackle Taylor Decker, left guard Frank Ragnow, center Graham Glasgow, right guard T.J. Land and right tackle Rick Wagner.

After four days of training camp, here are five reasons the offensive line will be better this year:

1. The addition of first-round pick Frank Ragnow  (in photo) looks to be huge. Look for him to start at left guard where he has taken most of his reps since OTAs. He did get some work in at center on Monday. That’s likely to give the line more flexibility in case of injury. It is certainly not because he hasn’t played well at left guard. His domination there stood out big-time on the first day of pads on Sunday. He said he’s living his dream and working hard each day to learn.

2. Decker played in only the final eight games last year after suffering a torn labrum in June 2017. The Lions didn’t have much time to find a replacement and really no one could fill Decker’s shoes. He’s back, excited to go and will be ready from the get-go. He won’t talk about last year but is pumped to be on the field in training camp this year. No one is probably happier than Matthew Stafford who was sacked 47 times last season.

3. Continuity is key to the offensive line. Of all the position groups the line needs consistency to play well. This was a huge issue in 2017. Due to injuries the line had 10 different looks in 16 games. It wasn’t just Decker who was out. Graham Glasgow was the only starting offensive lineman to play every game. There is no telling what may happen in the next several weeks or months, but at this point everyone is healthy. That includes right guard T.J. Lang who was coming off hip surgery last season.

4. Glasgow looks to be the starting center. He started last season at left guard but started six games at center giving him invaluable experience at the position. He and Stafford have a better comfort level after last season.

5. Depth is key because injuries happen. The Lions added experience on the line by signing free agents — guard Kenny Wiggins and center Wesley Johnson. Wiggins has played in 45 games the past five seasons for the Chargers where he started all 16 games at right guard  in 2017. Johnson has started 24 games in the past three seasons for the Jets including 15 starts at center in 2017. Brian Mihalik, who played in 15 games and started two for the Lions last year, and Corey Robinson, who played in eight games in 2017 with five starts, return as backup tackles. Also, fifth-round pick Tyrell Crosby, who played left tackle at Oregon, is available although he might land on the practice squad with so many veterans ahead of him on the depth chart.

Lions training camp: When done playing, CB Teez Tabor wants to coach

He loves playing for ‘Matty P’

ALLEN PARK >> Teez Tabor soaks it all in.

The second-year Detroit Lions cornerback is in competition for the opening at cornerback opposite Darius Slay. It’s intense with Nevin Lawson, Quandre Diggs, Jamal Agnew and DeShawn Shead also in the mix.

“There’s a lot of extreme competition but that only makes the team better, it makes our room better,’’ Tabor said on Sunday, the third day of camp.

Also, in the back of his mind he’s thinking about a future as a football coach.

“I just love the game of football. Obviously you can’t play forever, I wish I could,’’ Tabor said on Sunday.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

First things first, he’s got work to do on the field at training camp. He’s feeling more comfortable in his second training camp.

Sunday was the first day in pads which featured a live session toward the end of the two-hour session.

“(Physicality) is one of coach’s biggest things. He wants us to be a tough football team. It’s just the game of football, usually the tougher team wins,’’ Tabor said.

The cornerback said the team was physical last year too it’s just that Patricia “emphasizes it a lot.”

Tabor, who is on the tall side for a corner at 6-foot, regularly goes up against 6-foot-4 wide receiver Kenny Golladay during camp drills.

“I love going against Kenny, him and Marv (Jones) are big guys, strong guys too and can high-point the football. Definitely some good work going up against those type of  guys being real physical,’’ Jones said.

Shead, a 6-foot-2 veteran who was signed as a free agent, has been helping Tabor develop.

“I learn a lot, we talk on a daily basis just about stuff we see out there on the field,’’ Tabor said. “We pitch things back and forth. I’ve learned a lot from him. He comes from a system where bigger corners are favored. And I’ve been taking little bits and pieces from his game.’’

Tabor speaks highly of Patricia or as he calls him Matty P.

Patricia, who is running his first camp as a head coach, is all over the field during each session.

“I’m pretty sure coach is involved in everything. I love it because one day I want to be a head coach. I kind of, everywhere I’ve been I’ve taken things from a lot of people,’’ Tabor said. “If I could be like one guy I’d want to be like him just because he’s not like (having) assistant coaches do the job. He demands what he wants and I feel like all great coaches have that quality, they’re going to demand greatness, demand everything they want and they get it.’’

Tabor has given much thought to his future.

“I want to be around the game of football. I’ve learned from a lot of people. I watch how (Patricia) runs his meetings, how he interacts with his players, how he cares about his players. He definitely cares about his players. Just everything, watching and learning,’’ Tabor said.

Tabor doesn’t keep a notebook but takes mental notes of what he can learn from Patricia and other coaches. He also likes how Patricia runs meetings. Same for Jim Caldwell who was fired in January.

“How (Caldwell) ran his meetings, it wasn’t always about football. It was about us being better men,’’ Tabor said. “He would give us stories from ancient times to two days ago, it was like you actually learned, he was real cool in his team meetings.’’

Tabor has much on his plate at the moment. Not only competing for a starting role, but also earning a spot on the 53-man roster. Like all of the Lions, he won’t talk about last year but he did improve as the season wore on. He played in 10 games, starting one.

Detroit Lions training camp: Marvin Jones back to work for first day of pads

Jones went down Saturday, but bounced back Sunday

ALLEN PARK >> First piece of business at Detroit Lions training camp on Sunday morning, was looking to see if Marvin Jones was on the field. Indeed he was.

Jones got tangled with a teammate in Saturday’s session and went to the ground. He walked it off, but sat out the second half of that practice.

Prior to practice, coach Matt Patricia said Jones was fine but would not elaborate or even say if he would be working.

“This was the first day of pads, obviously I was going to be out there,’’ Jones said.

It wasn’t scary when he went down — at least in his mind. Lions fans were holding their collective breath.

Five thoughts from Jones after the first three days of training camp:

1. A key theme under Matt Patricia is to play physical. Jones said that’s the way they played last year too. “Every team wants to and has to be physical in order to dominate so all we can do is keep working on that and this was the first day (in pads),’’ Jones said.

2. Jones and Golden Tate have put up consistent numbers the past three seasons. Last season they each surpassed 1,000 receiving yards. So far they’ve looked strong in camp. “Any player in the League they want to be consistent and kind of stay on top for the length of their careers. That’s what everybody strives for is to be consistent,’’ Jones said. “We have a good time doing it. We’re out here working. Last year didn’t really matter but we want to keep it consistent and keep making plays.’’

3. Jones and Tate are 1A and 1B on the depth chart and it doesn’t appear like that will change under Patricia. They cheer each other on. “I just get excited to watch (Tate) play that’s how we all are,’’ Jones said. In 2017 Jones had 61 catches for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns while Tate had 92 catches for 1,003 yards and five touchdowns.

4. Since the run game stunk last season, a real emphasis has been placed on it in training camp. That’s all good with Jones. “It starts up front, you want to run and that’s going to to open up everything and vice versa. We’re out here just working and being a better team,’’ Jones said.

5. Jones, who is entering his seventh NFL season, takes his role as a mentor seriously. Second-year wide receiver Kenny Golladay has said how much he depends on Jones when he has questions. It’s not just young wide receivers that Jones can help. “Anything I can do even with the defensive backs, we all coach each other up. I spend time coaching the young DBs and the your wide receivers as well because we’re all a team,’’ Jones said. “As soon as you get those guys going and getting acclimated to the NFL the better. …  As much knowledge as I can instill in everybody than I’ll do that. Maybe people have got something to say to me I always listen, that’s part of being a great player is sharing knowledge and gaining knowledge.’’