As rookie seasons go, Graham Glasgow's was typical of most -- Filled with both ups and downs.
His first real game action came Week 5 vs. Philadelphia. He played 34 snaps at left guard and allowed just one quarterback hurry.
Glasgow's first start at center came Week 14 against Chicago in place of the injured Travis Swanson. He pitched a shutout: No sacks, quarterback hits or hurries. The Lions won in his best performance of the season.
A couple weeks later in Dallas, Glasgow allowed two sacks, two hurries and a quarterback hit playing center in a loss to the Cowboys.
Overall, Glasgow played eight games at left guard and five at center. He finished his first season allowing three sacks, three quarterback hits and 24 hurries, per Pro Football Focus statistics.
Now a year older, wiser and stronger, Glasgow has taken the majority of first-team reps at left guard in the open OTA and minicamp practices. He's expected to enter training camp as the favorite to win that starting job, but Laken Tomlinson and Joe Dahl should provide steady competition.
There's always an expectation for second-year players to come back and make a big leap in development from year one to two.
"For Joe (Dahl) and Taylor (Decker) and I, we didn't have to learn a new playbook (this offseason)," Glasgow said after a minicamp practice last week. "We're out here trying to work through the 'how to get things done' as opposed to 'what things are.' I think that just the familiarity with the coaching staff and our teammates has helped a lot."
General manager Bob Quinn spent considerable resources upgrading Detroit's offensive line this spring with the additions of T.J. Lang and Rick Wagner in free agency.
It seemed like Glasgow and starting left tackle Taylor Decker should take big leaps in year two and the line would be solidified with the Lang and Wagner additions, along with the return of Swanson.
Decker's right shoulder surgery has put a bit of a wrench is that plan, at least for a little bit until he's able to return, which makes it even more imperative for Glasgow to hit the ground running.
"For me, I've found some stuff that didn't work for me well last year and I'm trying to improve and get better on those things and try to become a better player," he said.
Glasgow's embraced the competition that's developed for the left guard spot, and thinks it will make whoever comes out on top that much more prepared for the job when the season starts.
The Lions will need whoever that is to help the left side of the line fill the void until Decker returns.
"I think the competition should always be there," Glasgow said. "You should always be a competitor. I think that a lot of guys on our offensive line have that mentality. That competitor's mentality. I think it's going well. I think I've gotten better. We'll see."
