ALLEN PARK >> Until last Sunday, the Lions offensive line had remained unchanged through four game..
This Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field, the line will have a different look for the second straight week.
Rght guard Larry Warford is questionable to play due to a hip injury. If he can’t go, he will likely be replaced by rookie Graham Glasgow. Warford did not practice on Thursday or Friday.
In Sunday’s game left guard Laken Tomlinson was removed in favor of Glasgow who saw his first snaps on offense.
It appeared to be a benching, but coach Jim Caldwell said this week that he had something to do with a neck injury. Tomlinson missed practiced on Wednesday, and then worked on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday. He’s expected to play on Sunday.
Caldwell said he is not worried about the line – whoever it might feature – for Sunday.
“All I’m concerned about is getting the guys ready who are able to play for us and ready to play,” Caldwell said on Friday. “I learned a long time ago when I first started coaching, I don’t lament over stuff. For more reasons than one I don’t talk about injuries. No.1 because of the fact that we coach who shows up, whoever is ready to play our job is to win with that group. That’s what we focus in on more than anything else.”
Five things to know about the offensive line:
1. Whoever plays right guard will line up against Pro Bowl defensive tackle Aaron Donald not an easy task for anyone in the NFL. Warford would have a better chance of handling Donald based on experience alone. Glasgow has played just 27 snaps of NFL football. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said he’s studied film of Donald for a week and, of course, the Lions played him in 2015 when he had three sacks in the loss. “You kind of know what kind of player you’re going up against. You feel confident that what you’ve got to face,” Cooter said. “Some of our players that have played against him kind of know what he’s got, what his favorite moves are, what he does, but really talented player. We’re going to know where he’s at every snap for sure.”
2. Glasgow, a third-round pick out of Michigan, has shown signs of improvement. “He’s developing. He’s a young player who’s getting to know this NFL game, getting to know this week in week out, day in day out grind of the NFL season, but he’s getting better,” Cooter said. “He’s doing a good job of what we ask him to do. He’s not perfect in the game, but I thought he battled and competed. I thought he did a relatively good job.”
3. Joe Dahl could be active as the backup for guard and center. It’s tough to judge guard Dahl, a fifth-round pick, since he has not played since the preseason. “It’s one of those things where you see those guys they develop in the weight room, getting stronger, they’re getting bigger, more active. They’re learning from a technical standpoint, so he’s making good progress,” Cooter said.
4. Center Travis Swanson, in his second season as a starter, has made strides in recent games. “I think he’s gotten to the place where, a lot of young linemen, they have a good sense of self. They have a good sense of what to anticipate and expect in certain situations versus team schemes, things of that nature,” Caldwell said. “The wheels aren’t grinding as much in his head in terms of being able to make calls, and make adjustments, things of that nature. He’s gotten rather settled in that area, and he’s playing good solid football.”
5. Rookie left tackle Taylor Decker has stepped up. According to Pro Football Focus, he surrendered three sacks, two hits, and eight hurries over his first three games, but has allowed no sacks, one hit, and two hurries in his last two.
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