The Detroit Lions are going into a monster game this coming Monday against the Seattle Seahawks. This is a team that’s beat the Lions three seasons in a row and the Lions are eager to bury their demons there. Unfortunately they’ll have to do it without a key piece of their offense since All-Pro center Frank Ragnow will be out for this game with a pectoral injury.
What could the Lions do to make up for this? Here’s three options, including one big risk that feels worth taking.
Move Graham Glasgow to center
This is the most likely move the Lions make. They’ve done this before and they know that Glasgow can play well at center and hold his own. This does mean that the Lions will have to fill in their left guard spot and that will probably be Kayode Awosika in that spot with Christian Mahogany still on the NFI list.
Start Michael Niese at center
The Lions really liked Niese over the summer and they were trying all kinds of things with him. One of those things was repping with the first team at center for multiple days. He held his own and it’s probably one of the big reasons he made the 53-man roster. Doing this allows the Lions to keep the bulk of their line in tact with Glasgow staying at left tackle. They’re replacing one spot instead of two.
The risk here is that Niese has never played center in a regular season game. He played center for one preseason game for the Bucs last summer. This a real trial by fire type thing. When you have the best offensive line in the NFL surrounding you, the fire can’t be that hot right?
Elevate Kinglsey Eguakun
Here it is, here’s the risk to take. The fact of the matter is this, all the other options feature moving guys around or trying a guy out at center, this guy actually is a center and was a pretty good one in the SEC last year. So good that he was named to the Rimington Trophy watchlist. You’re not on that list unless you’re one of the best centers in country.
Egaukun played center for the Lions in all three preseason games and he played pretty well. He allowed just three pressures in three games. There was some thought that he might even be able to sneak onto the 53-man roster, but Niese edged him out.
Egaukun was getting first team reps at center during training camp as well. It’s a risk starting an undrafted rookie on Monday Night Football, but like Niese, this guy would be propped up by the best line in the game. Unlike Niese, he’s played a lot of center.