Frank Ragnow Puts Down the Fishing Pole, Picks Up the Playbook

Frank Ragnow thought he was trading pass protection for peaceful mornings on the lake. Now, the four-time Pro Bowler is back in Honolulu blue, and the timing could not be bigger for a Detroit Lions line that has been bruised, shuffled, and searching for its old identity this season. Detroit has missed the calm in the middle that Ragnow brings, the pre-snap checks, the protection calls, the ability to sort out stunts before the ball is even snapped, all the little things that helped turn this offense into one of the most efficient units in football last year.​

Since he stepped away in June, the Lions have asked backups and young guards to hold the interior together, and the results have shown up in every key number, more sacks on Jared Goff, and fewer clean pockets. Injuries have only made it worse, with Graham Glasgow banged up and other starters in and out of the lineup, leaving Detroit to rely on practice chemistry that never quite matches what a veteran core up front can provide in real games.​

The timing of Ragnow’s return feels even heavier because the Lions are losing firepower around him, with Sam LaPorta done for the season after emerging as one of the most productive tight ends in the league and a favorite third-down option, and Amon Ra St Brown will now miss some time. Last year, it was the defense that broke down at the wrong time, key starters missing late stretches as Detroit tried to hold up in shootouts. This year, it is the offense that has taken the hits in the trenches and at the skill spots, forcing the team to win in grittier, less explosive ways.​

That is what makes Ragnow suiting back up such a jolt of belief, even if it takes him a game or two to get back into full game shape; his presence raises the floor on every snap, from the cadence to the double teams to the quarterback's confidence standing behind him. Maybe the fish in those quiet lakes will have to wait a little longer, because if the Lions can rediscover last season’s rhythm behind their old anchor in the middle, there is still time for one more run through January before Ragnow finally gets that full offseason on the water.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Lions Frank Ragnow Puts Down the Fishing Pole, Picks Up the Playbook