Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Not great news for the teams Super Bowl chances but not unexpected. The Lions have been preparing for this for a couple years now with cross training and have even mentioned a couple practice squad players at C that they really like so I’m sure they’ve known.
 

Glasgow  will likely get the first crack at it with Rathledge and the practice squad guys battling for backup. Rathledge also battling for starter at G which I would Think would be likely. 

Posted
14 minutes ago, holygoat said:

For what it's worth, Ragnow's retirement frees up about $14M on this years cap and $16M on next years.

The cap hit is 14 million but it only frees up 9 million in salary according to what I heard on 97.1 

Posted

It sounds from his statement that he made this decision many weeks ago and the team was informed the entire time.   Waiting to until June 2 to make it official was definitely intentional to help the team.

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, holygoat said:

For what it's worth, Ragnow's retirement frees up about $14M on this years cap and $16M on next years.

Hendrickson... get 'er done Holmes.

I'm OK with Glasgow taking over at Center.

I'm not sure how the two guard spots are going to shake out with Mahogany-Frazier-Ratledge (and maybe even toss Eguakun in there as a backup C; although I don't believe he's shown much)... 

But we're going to have to go through this every so often, and still maintain a way to stay on top and in the hunt for playoffs/ Super Bowls... 

We already have gone through that this year with new coordinators & other coaching spots after offseason hires... Now... we LITERALLY have to go through a "changing of the Guards". Oh, and a new Center.

It might force us a step backward... but I have confidence from DC all the way down that these guys will respond and we will still be a legit threat for the SB.

I'm betting that Glasgow takes the Center spot this year. Even if Ratledge or Frazier take the starting Center spot... eventually, I don't think that will happen this year. So we'll need Glasgow to perform at a high level. I believe both Ratledge AND Frazier are being cross-trained at Center... just in case. I hope Mahogany takes one of the starting guard spots... freeing up either Ratledge or Frazier (I think Ratledge takes the other spot...) to "float" as top backup for the 3 interior spots. And I hope Goff has a 100% healthy year with no time lost due to injuries as a result of O-Line struggles...

Just my 2 cents.

Is Eguakun anything? A UDFA Center-only from last year... I don't know what level he's at...

Again... I go for an upgrade on Defense to counterweight some O-sluggishness due to these changes. Whether that's upping the offer to Smith or taking the big swing for Hendrickson... I'll leave that up to Brad to decide (obviously...).

Edited by 1984Echoes
  • Like 1
Posted

The Lions have been training 2nd round pick Tate Ratledge at center during ota's, so I would be leaning towards him. Glasgow would be next. I'm sure this isn't a huge surprise for Holmes and Campbell.

Posted

Obviously Frank retiring is an enormous loss but it's not only his loss, it's losing Zeitler, both coordinators, Hutch getting back up to speed, likely not seeing a healthy Alim until the season after and a killer schedule to beat. I have a lot of belief in Dan Campbell but the Lions could miss the playoffs this season. The offensive line is their engine and with so many question marks on it and a new offensive coordinator, it could be a struggle this season relative to the last few. 

Posted

Pretty major setback. Expect a drop this year in OL performance. There is no "next man up" to swap out an elite talent like Ragnow. Just like there wasn't for Hutch. Whoever takes his place will be a downgrade no matter who it is.

Posted
6 hours ago, Cruzer1 said:

The Lions have been training 2nd round pick Tate Ratledge at center during ota's, so I would be leaning towards him. Glasgow would be next. I'm sure this isn't a huge surprise for Holmes and Campbell.

Maybe...

But I don't know if he's ready just yet...

And Glasgow IS ready. He's done it before.

I am perfectly fine with Glasgow starting this year and Ratledge learning... maybe he even takes over at some point in the season, even if not at the start...

Specifically, quotes from Hank Fraley:

Image

 

"Center is not natural for him yet..."

"He definitely needs more time in there, more training..."

That sort of feels to me like... he may, or may NOT be ready for game 1...

We'll see what progress he makes in Training Camp and the pre-season games... 

Posted
2 hours ago, buddha said:

losing ragnow is a massive loss.  they have been stockpiling center/guard types for a while, but there's no replacing the best center in football.  this one stings.

I agree with the use of the word massive and the fact that Glasgow, given his decline in play, won't be the answer. But I have no idea who could be available via apost camp cut or on the trade market. So I'll place my trust in Brad Holmes and hope for the best.

Posted

I understand the concerns although this is what good teams have to overcome.  Last year they went 15-2 with possibly one of the worst strings of injury luck for a contender maybe ever.   I do think that they can't keep on taking on hits to the jaw without seeing it affect them.  Were not going to know how bad this and the coordinators change is going to affect them until we see them on the field during the regular season.  Good thing is when you have a great GM, you can react and it seems pretty clear the Lions new this was happening prior to the draft with their draft picks.  One advantage this year and I feel like its a huge advantage is that for such a young team they have a crazy amount of experience and success and they are all now a year older.  Its crazy looking at this team and seeing how old some of these players actually are.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...