Graham Glasgow has been watching videos recently of retired teammate T.J. Lang to help in his position switch on the Detroit Lions' offensive line.
Although Lang was at the end of an illustrious 10-year career – the first eight with the Packers – he was still an effective player at right guard his last two seasons when healthy.
"I like to go back once in a while and watch a few of his games, see how he played, -- see how he goes about things," Glasgow said. "I'm not trying to be him. You've got to be you as a player.
"He was a good player, and I'm sure he'll do great on the radio. Now maybe I can take that when I'm done, too. Take his job at the radio station."
Glasgow's comment about Lang's new radio gig was a joke.
"I don't want to do that," Glasgow said. "That's on the record."
He was dead serious about videos of Lang's play to help make the transition from center to guard. Lang was a powerful force for the Lions when healthy and made the Pro Bowl in 2017.
"I just started doing that a few days ago," Glasgow said. "Just trying to catch up."
In their second week of camp, the Lions are well into the restructure of the interior offensive line.
The first key move was moving Frank Ragnow to center from left guard, where he started all 16 games as a rookie in 2018. The ripple effect the resulted in Glasgow moving to guard from center, where he started all 16 games last year in his third season as a Lion.
The lineup used most often in the offseason and training camp has had Glasgow at right guard and Kenny Wiggins on the left side. However, the heavy rotation at guard with Glasgow also working on the left side, indicates nothing is set in stone.
Glasgow has been a solid, tough player since coming to the Lions as a third-round draft pick in 2016 out of Michigan. He has played 47 games with 43 starts combined at center and both guard positions.
There are instances when switching between left and right guard causes uncertainty in executing his assignment. He's had one start at right guard, 17 at left guard and 25 at center.
"It's been good that I'm able to build chemistry with a bunch of other guys," Glasgow said. "There are times when you get the wires crossed with the plays. You think you're on the back side when you're on the play side, and vice versa.
"You need to lean on these guys next to you. They'll straighten you out."
One of the interesting dynamics of pro football is the willingness of players to share tips with teammates, even those competing for the same job.
Offensive linemen are especially sharing because the nature of the position requires all five players to perform in unison from play to play.
Glasgow passes on to young players the same advice he got as a rookie from Travis Swanson, the starting center that Glasgow eventually succeeded at the position.
"Travis said to me, I need to know the plays, and know them better than anybody else," Glasgow said. "That's something I can do. The physical part comes after that.
"Once you get to know the mental part of the game, it starts to slow down a little bit more so you can really start to become a better player."
