Detroit Lions 2024 training camp preview: Sorting through OL depth roles - Pride Of Detroit
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Erik Schlitt does a very good job covering the Lions at Pride of Detroit. His preview of the O-Line depth was a little concerning.
Especially at Tackle.
His impression seems to be that Sorsdal may be the primary Swing Tackle and Skipper the secondary.
I don’t have a lot of confidence in either at tackle.
The Lions seem to have Interior O-Lineman coming out of there ears with Awosika as the one I have most confidence in.
Penei and Decker really need to stay healthy.
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Yep many of us have brought this up… ideally Sorsdal makes huge strides and can backup at tackle and guard. If he’s struggling in training camp… signing a vet tackle with starting experience would not surprise me.
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How does this compare to our tackle depth in 2023?
Our OL depth is better than folks think. The later in the year, the better. We’re young and our guys are improving.
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Yea the idea of Skipper and Manu at tackle make me really nervous
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We’re probably in a better position at depth than we have been at any other time under the MCDC era.
Matt Nelson has been our top backup OT since 2021, but Sorsdal and Skipper aren’t any worst.
Glasgow at backup C is the best we have had since 2021 (of course that creates a hole at LG) and the potential to put one of the UDFA C on the PS helps as well.
Backup Guard is in a good spot with Awosika, Sorsdal . . . at least as good as we’ve had.
Plus solid developmental guys (Manu and Mahogany).
You can’t have solid depth everywhere, but I’m happy with the OL, both starters and backups.
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PS is going to be loaded with versatile linemen this year.
We have to think about the OL in terms of game-active players.
Skipper and Sorsdal have position flexibility that make them obvious choices for game-day.
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With what tackles are getting paid right now it’s kind of hard to have a quality backup I think. If you are good enough to steps in for Decker or Sewell, if one of them goes down, there’s probably a few teams that would pay you to start. Keeping guys healthy is huge for every team.
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Then again Nelson beat them both out and Nelson is not exactly good. Hopefully Sorsdal has improved a lot in year 2.
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I wonder if a few guys may stay on their couch through camp…
and look to sign when an opportunity is available following an injury.
.
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Good chance a few will get jobs yet. Vets hate training camp.
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I didn’t realize DJ Humphries tore his ACL on New Year’s Eve…
so I guess that explains why he isn’t signed yet.
He would definitely be on the radar of teams looking to fill an injury hole in October or later.
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Hopefully the Canadian project they drafted as an OT ends up being a player. Would go a long ways towards solving depth until it’s time for him to play if he’s up to snuff
According to reports i heard at OTAs.
Sorsdal took most of his snaps at OT left and Right.
They played him at guard last year because they knew Vaiti wouldnt last all year and they had a feeling jackson could also miss time. And to work him into the nfl easier.
But now hes a year in. Het got leaner in the offseason . The idea is he can be OT3
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Yes I saw a few ota pics and he looked a lot less flabby. Looked like he dropped significant body fat and added muscle. Good sign.
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IF he got leaner, he might have a shot. But he’ll have to. Last year he wasn’t even athletic enough to hold up at left guard, and when he got beat on the right side it was often by athleticism. He wouldn’t have stood a chance outside.
The reports are promising, at least, but he had a long way to go imo.
I actually think Connor Galvin has a real chance to surprise. Very smart, athletic guy who needed to add mass, spent all season on the PS last year. We protected him a few weeks as well. I know it’s a lot to ask of a UDFA, but Nelson and Skipper were both UDFAs too.
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@LineBusy shared these last month…Definitely been hitting the weight room. Last year he had a big ol belly and a pocket full of jelly.
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Yep, like I said, the reports are promising.
But losing weight doesn’t make him athletic enough to make the switch. It’s the first step for sure, but he had a LOOOOONG way to go based on last year’s film. We’ll know a lot more come TC and the preseason. Until then I remain hopeful yet skeptical.
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Oh for sure. He’s gotta earn it. Big camp for him.