"You have to say a lot more," Ratledge said of playing center. "You have to know the safety rotations and stuff like that. At guard, most of the time you're listening for the center to tell you where to go. At center, you're telling everyone else where to go."
Ratledge is coming into a good situation in Detroit where there's potentially two open spots at his position pancaked between three All-Pro and Pro Bowl players in Ragnow, right tackle Penei Sewell and left tackle Taylor Decker.
The Lions love Ratledge's toughness and his ability to move and block in space, an aspect of his game that could put him right there with veterans Glasgow and Christian Mahogany in the competition at starting guard.
"It's a dream to be out here," Ratledge said after practice Friday. "I couldn't have asked for a better situation to step into with this team and this program."