The Detroit Lions shuffled and added to their interior offensive line this offseason, shifting Graham Glasgow inside to center, promoting Christian Mahogany to starting left guard, and drafting Tate Ratledge in the second round to start at right guard. While the interior offensive line has been working hard to mesh with one another throughout training camp, the offensive line as a whole only just started taking reps together with the return of starting left tackle Taylor Decker.
Decker opened training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, but was activated following the Lions’ preseason game against the Chargers. While he only participated in individual drills leading up to the Falcons’ game, he’s been acclimating to full team reps since—splitting time with reserve tackle Dan Skipper in fewer increments each day.
When Lions’ coach Dan Campbell was asked about how the unit has performed in joint practices with the Miami Dolphins now that Decker has returned, Campbell discussed how the unit as a whole operates better with him in the lineup. But in the middle of his explanation, Campbell, unprompted, turned the discussion to rookie guard Ratledge, praising him for his recent progress in development.
”Tate Ratledge, I thought, looked like a starting NFL guard yesterday, which fires me up,” Campbell said on Thursday. “So, it’s early, that’s step one, but the kid’s getting better.”
Ratledge opened training camp at center—which many believe to be his long-term role for the Lions—but switched to a more natural right guard role after the first week. Things were happening quickly for Ratledge. He was being loaded with information early in camp, was asked to learn two positions, all while acclimating to the speed of the NFL. But over the past few weeks, things slowed down for Ratledge, and he has shown that he’s turned a corner in his development of late, most notably in joint practices.
“You watch him in protection, some of the ways that he was able to pass, to anticipate was pretty good for a young guy,” Campbell elaborated. “I just thought he and Penei (Sewell) were working at a high level in some of these combination blocks, and it looked like the game slowed down for him a little bit yesterday, and it’s early, but that’s a step in the right direction–certainly.”
That high level of combination play from Ratledge and Sewell carried over to Day 2 of joint practices with the Dolphins, as our own Jeremy Reisman highlighted in his observations from practice. Ratledge took time after practice to discuss his budding chemistry with Sewell.
“I think he knows how I’m going to fit up on double teams, I know how he’s going to fit up on double teams,” Ratledge said of working alongside Penei Sewell. “So kinda just playing off each other has gotten more cleaner and smoother. Instead of just playing football, we’re reacting off each other, knowing what each other are going to do.”
Ratledge still has plenty to learn but as he’s gained a higher level of respect of teammates and coaches, his confidence has flourished, allowing him to play freely and physically.
“It certainly gives me confidence, being a rookie coming into a grown-man’s league, coming in here trying to compete,” Ratledge said after hearing of Campbell’s comments. “So, I think I can do–my best ability is to play as physical as I possibly can and clean up the technique later. So, for me, it’s going out there trying to set the tone for myself and the line, and then going from there.”
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