ALLEN PARK – The Detroit Lions have spent the first time in more than 40 years on offensive guards in the April draft. Jonah Jackson was Detroit’s third round pick, while Logan Stenberg fell to the Lions in the fourth round.
The two were brought in after Graham Glasgow signed a four-year, $ 44 million deal with the Denver Broncos. It’s still early in the race to replace Glasgow on the right guard, but Jackson certainly looks like the favorite of chance. Jackson dominated representatives of the first team on the right guard, allowing Stenberg to learn the center position while bouncing through the reserves through the first half of training camp.
“Jonah and I, of course, were very close in the offseason with the COVID (situation),” Stenberg said during a Zoom session on Thursday. “Many are taken that way, of course, through virtual meetings. We got really close trying to learn the playbook together and then get out here and finally see and work with each other. It has done nothing but grow our relationship. We just try to learn and come up with ideas every day. I think he has been a great help to me, and I think he would have said the same for him. “
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Lions general manager Bob Quinn said Stenberg’s selection was not necessary at the time. He was just the top guy on the team board at Pick 121. The rookie stays in the mix with veterans Kenny Wiggins and Oday Aboushi, but has gained a steep learning curve through his first exercises. Stenberg only played guard at the university, in a run-heavy offense at Kentucky for three seasons.
Frank Ragnow is without a doubt the starter in the center. Ragnow has developed into one of the top young interior offensive linemen in the league, and Stenberg is trying to learn as much as possible from the third-year pro. It is worth noting that some of Stenberg’s work came to the center, while second – year center / guard Beau Benzschawel was limited by the first week of camp.
‘Yeah, just try to be a sponge here. As you said, it’s a very difficult position, ‘said Stenberg about the difficulty game. “Luckily I have Frank (Ragnow) in front of me, a great center, and he teaches me a lot. Just try to go in every day and improve one day a day and reach that ultimate goal. It was basically just necessary, so I’m playing center there, playing guard. I do not know where I will end up. But I would like to play all three. ”
Stenberg might have lined up with only a guard in Kentucky, but he was a pretty good one. He helped the Wildcats average 278.8 rushing yards per game last season, which was fourth-best in college football. Stenberg also did not allow a single sec, so not too bad for someone who played in the SEC. On the other hand, he was punished quite a bit. His “nastiness” could have grabbed Quinn’s attention, but 24 penalties in two seasons are unacceptable at any level.
“I love his attitude,” Quinn said after the April draft. ‘I told him that when we called him when I got him on the phone. I said, ‘I love the attitude you play with. I love the aggressiveness with which you play. ‘ He did have a couple of penalty kicks where he went to the whistle a few times, so we’ll fix that really fast. “
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Stenberg feels that center is equal to guard, but said linking the right blocking technique while cutting the ball is the obvious extra challenge. He gets to take the next step to “muscle memory” when it comes to nailing the punch with his off-hand and getting his body in the right place.
The Lions are looking for two new starters on the offensive line on right guard and right tackle. Hank Fraley has also replaced Jeff Davidson as the team’s offensive line coach. Fraley played 11 seasons, most notably for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and St. Louis. Louis Rams. Having that guidance and experience over Stenberg’s shoulder certainly does not hurt, especially with Ragnow at the front of the line.
Through the first half of training camp, Stenberg says Fraley told him to “just play the game” and trust his instincts.
“That for me is just about being technical,” he said. “Every day I work on my hands and my footwork and my road level. It will be an ongoing thing for me, so I just need to be better at all three aspects of it and continue to transfer my competitiveness from the university. Try to get people off. Once I get my hands in the right place and my footwork a little better, I think it will get out of there. “
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