The Three Lions who could start as a result of Graham Glasgow’s injury
By Ash Thompson
The highly touted rookie
The Lions took Frank Ragnow in the first round of the 2017 draft. He came to the team with an impressive pedigree. The team, however, has not been keen on putting him at center, the position at which he finished his days at Arkansas.
Ragnow was Pro Football Focus’ highest ranked player at his position in the history of their football footall grading system. He did not surrender a single sack during his entire collegiate career. Ragnow is the very model of a pro-ready prospect, but any rookie at the position faces a steep climb.
The responsibilities of the center position at the NFL level are hard on a rookie. NFL defenses are infinitely more complex than those utilized in college football. They have to be because NFL offenses are also incredibly complicated. More than any position outside of quarterback, the center is required to be a master of both sides of the ball conceptually.
Ragnow has been working exclusively at guard for the majority of the offseason. The Lions have not been grooming him for a starting center role in 2018. His performance has drawn universally positive reviews, but that has been at a position of lesser responsibiity.
Players like the Chicago Bears Cody Whitehair have shouldered the responsibility for teams without a better option in recent years. In Whitehair’s case, he even switched positions to do so. The offenses that have utilized rookie centers have not historically fared particularly well.
Ragnow is likely the team’s best option at the center position, but is definitely their best option at left guard. It may not be worth sacrificing a solid starter at guard for a question mark at the center spot. The Lions will likely go with a veteran option in the middle.