ALLEN PARK >> The Lions took steps to improve the offensive line when they acquired left tackles Greg Robinson and Cyrus Kouandjio on Wednesday.
Both were on the sidelines at the third and final day of the mandatory minicamp on Thursday, standing on either side of Ron Prince, offensive line coach.
Taylor Decker, who started every game at left tackle in 2016, is sidelined following shoulder surgery. No timetable has been set for his return.
It appears the two new tackles offer the Lions more options if Decker misses games this fall.
Although coach Jim Caldwell said that is not the case.
“It has no bearing on that. The doctors will let us know how that goes. He’ll keep working at it,” Caldwell said.
The coach said the moves – Robinson was acquired through a trade with the Los Angeles Rams and Kouandjio was signed as a free agent – were consistent with the team’ philosophy to look for every opportunity to improve the team.
“That’s what we’re all about. We’re trying to get better and we’ve got to get better fast. So, any opportunity that we see that we can get some improvement, we’re going to certainly look at those closely,” Caldwell said.
Five things to know about Robinson and Kouandjio:
1. Robinson, a first-round pick (second overall in 2014), has never lived up to expectations with the Rams. The 24-year-old started 14 games at left tackle in 2016. “(It hasn’t) really went the way I would like but I think at this point, besides all the negatives, try to improve as much as possible that’s all I can offer,” Robinson said. He said he looks forward to the fresh start.
2. Caldwell is looking forward, not backward. ” I’m concerned about what he does for us here and now from this point forward. I don’t look back much. Those are speculations and stuff you guys can do. I guess makes for interesting reading for someone, but for us we know what he certainly – he’s got ability. He’s very capable and we’re happy to have him,” Caldwell said. The coach said he thinks Robinson will fit in well. “He’s the kind of guy we’re looking for and he’ll work at it,” Caldwell said.
3. The timing isn’t perfect. The mandatory minicamp ended Thursday. Both will have to learn the playbook before the start of training camp in late July. Robinson said he plans on visiting his family in Louisiana for a few days and then will get to work learning the scheme and language of the Lions’ offense. “A lot of it is worded differently, but it’s all similar,’ Robinson said.
4. Kouandjio, 23, likes many things about the Lions. “The offensive style, I thought there was a lot more opportunity here than other places, I like the area,” said Kouandjio who was drafted by the Bills in the second round in 2014. In 2016 he played in a dozen games with five starts at left tackle. After undergoing offseason hip surgery he said he should be ready to go for training camp. He had an incident in April when he was found in a field near a car crash not fully clothed. He would not address it except to say it was in the past.
5. Joe Dahl and Cornelius Lucas had been working at left tackle, but that will likely change in training camp. Both of the new guys are young but have NFL experience – 46 NFL games for Robinson and 25 for Kouandjio. “I don’t think there’s any question that the competitiveness of the group is heightened. I think we feel good about it in terms of how we’re shaping up, anyway. I just think it’s going to be a situation where we’re going to improve,” Caldwell said. “Anytime you can get a position that improves a significant amount in this league, 1 percent, 2 percent is big in this league. That’s what we’re interested in.”
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