Detroit Lions general manager reacted to the retirement of Frank Ragnow and talked about what he’s looking for in an ideal center.
We’ve heard from some players and coach Dan Campbell on what the loss of Frank Ragnow could mean for the Detroit Lions going forward. But the general manager who handed Ragnow a four-year extension in 2021 has been behind the scenes since the news broke over a week ago.
However, Brad Holmes joined former NFL defensive lineman Chris Long on his podcast “Green Light,” and the news inevitably came up. As expected, Holmes has a tremendous amount of respect for Ragnow and knows the All-Pro center is irreplaceable on some level.
Holmes talks about Frank Ragnow’s retirement
“He is the best. He, literally, when I first got the (Lions GM) job—obviously, I scouted him coming, (and) he was a great player. When I first got the job, he was the first player that had texted me,” Holmes said. “Reached out and was like, ‘Hey, man, congratulations.’
“He is the all-time warrior, man. Just a great human being. And he’s going to be sorely missed. Sorely missed in our locker room because he fit everything that we were about. I don’t know if you can just replace him, because it’s not just the player, it’s the person as well.”
What Holmes wants in a new center
Obviously, Holmes and company will have to replace him on some level. Whether it’s with veteran Graham Glasgow—with several years of starting center experience—or second-round rookie Tate Ratledge, the Lions are going to have someone new manning the center of the offensive line, calling out protection schemes, and getting the ball to Jared Goff.
Holmes broke down a few qualities he thinks are key for a high-end center.
Intelligence
“First and foremost, it’s intelligence. It’s intelligence, it’s personality, and communication. I think you have to have that regardles—before you get into size and lateral quickness and all this ability to get to the second level and picking up games and all that stuff. Because you have to do so much from a communication, as you know Chris, and an intelligence standpoint. And, especially—it’s hard, man. It’s a complicated scheme, you have a veteran quarterback that has a lot of freedom to do a lot of different things, so you have to stay up to speed, man.”
Ability to anchor
“Do you have the ability to anchor? Because you’re right there in the middle, man, and you have so much exotic games and dogs coming at you. So you have to be able to anchor.”
Speed/agility
“In the run game, you have to have—there’s a level of quickness that you have to have just in terms of not only just at the snap getting off the ball, but getting up to the second level.”
Instincts
“(For) the interior, in general, there’s an instinctual or understanding of geometry and body positioning when you have to play out in space. You can’t just say, ‘Snap it and just run out there to the second level as fast as you can.’ That’s all for not. I don’t care how explosive and quick and fast you are. Getting to the second level—man, if the linebacker is just dipping right up under you and you completely missed the block, that didn’t matter. so you have to be able to kind of gear down instinctively.”
Does that give us any hints at who the Lions center may be in 2025? Not particularly, although it’s clear that Holmes values the mental and intangible parts of the position before the physical ones. Does Ratledge have all of those qualities, or will they rely on the years of knowledge seasoned veteran Glasgow brings to the table?
You can watch the entire interview below: