ALLEN PARK -- Of the many questions surrounding the Detroit Lions’ performance in their season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, the offensive line is among the most discussed.
Detroit’s protection struggles played a significant role in quarterback Jared Goff’s rough day, as Packers defenders hit him nine times and sacked him four.
The run blocking wasn’t much better, with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combining for just 2.1 yards per carry -- well below their usual output. Pro Football Focus gave the Lions’ run blocking a grade of 49.3, their lowest since a 2022 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
A significant factor in the line’s poor showing was communication, something players and coaches alike acknowledged. That may stem from the limited reps rookie guard Tate Ratledge and second-year guard Christian Mahogany saw in the preseason.
During his weekly radio spot on 97.1 The Ticket’s “Costa and Jansen,” Lions coach Dan Campbell was asked whether the young guards should have seen more time. He agreed.
“Well, I would say this with those two guys, yeah, we could have played them a little bit more,” Campbell said. “But there again, you’re not playing against their starters. That’s why I like the joint practices.
“Now, to get in the flow of a game, yeah, probably. It’s not like more reps aren’t going to hurt them. It’s going to help. So yeah, certainly we could have played them a little bit more.”
Mahogany, who played all 67 snaps in Green Bay, was among the five lowest-graded Lions players -- from the offense -- with at least 10 snaps, earning a 54.4 from Pro Football Focus.
Speaking with MLive after Wednesday’s practice, Mahogany echoed Campbell’s comments and took full ownership of his performance.
“Coach Campbell is a great, smart coach. Whatever he thinks, I would’ve agreed with,” Mahogany said. “Do I think I probably needed a little more reps? Yeah, absolutely. And I take full accountability for everything that happened on Sunday. So yeah, whatever he said, I totally agree with.”
Mahogany added that since Sunday’s loss, the staff’s message has been consistent: everyone -- from rookies to veterans -- must play cleaner. He feels confident that the group can make the necessary adjustments leading into Sunday’s home opener against the Chicago Bears.
For players like Mahogany, Ratledge, and the rest of the unit, that means not repeating their Week 1 struggles while learning and adapting on the fly.
Mahogany explained that, like other teams, Lions players use tablets on the sideline to review defensive looks in real time.
Now, it’s about execution.
“(It’s) just communication -- just being able to understand one’s job and win,” Mahogany said. “Sometimes, Coach preaches, ‘Win your one-on-ones.’ That’s what we have to do as well. And me included -- especially me. So, win your one-on-ones, get in the playbook, listen to whatever Jared calls, and that’s that.
“…It’s fixable, all something that I can control. Something that we can control.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.