ALLEN PARK, Mich. – One of the biggest questions about the Detroit Lions entering this season was the offensive line.
Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush weren’t going to do enough damage if the O-line couldn’t protect the passer and open up running lanes.
Those concerns don’t seem quite as strong now with the Lions tied for first place in the NFC North with a 3-1 record, especially coming off Sunday’s 40-32 victory over Chicago in which Stafford passed for 242 yards and Bush rushed for 139.
“For four weeks, I guess we proved everybody wrong,” left guard Rob Sims said. “We’ve still got a long way to go.
“I understand why everybody felt the way they felt. We weren’t big-name guys. We don’t get paid very much.
“But we’ve got a good group. We’re going to keep a good group for a long time here, hopefully.”
Bush, who has 254 rushing yards and 179 receiving yards in three games, is greatly appreciate of the blocking he’s been getting.
“This last game, there were a few runs where I didn’t get touched until I got to the secondary,” Bush said. "We talk about controlling the line of scrimmage. Those guys have done that all year.”
The Lions’ running game still ranks only 21st in the NFL (95.8 yards per game), but they have become considerably more balanced in their play-calling.
Nevertheless, the one statistic that stands out is Detroit leads the league in fewest sacks allowed with only three in four games.
A year ago, Stafford was sacked 29 times in 16 games.
Other than Sims continuing to provide his steady influence, the Lions have a considerably different look up front.
Riley Reiff, a first-round pick in 2012 out of Iowa, is protecting Stafford’s blind side at left tackle in place of retired Jeff Backus.
Larry Warford, a third-round pick this year from Kentucky, has made an impressive transition in his rookie season while replacing Stephen Peterman (released) at right guard.
Corey Hilliard, who started only five games in his first six years, lost out in a competition with Jason Fox for a starting job during training camp. But Fox was injured in the opening game and Hilliard didn’t miss a beat taking over for him at right tackle, a position held last year by Gosder Cherilus (wasn’t re-signed).
And then there's center Dominic Raiola. He's an old veteran in his 13th season, but Raiola added about 15 pounds during the off-season when his job appeared to be on the line. He looks stronger and better.
“Me and Dom told the young guys, there’s going to be some struggles, we know that,” Sims said. “But I knew we were going to be all right.
“I had been in the room with Riley, Corey and Jason. I knew what they were very capable of. I knew what me and Dom were capable of. Basically, we were looking for a right guard. Larry stepped up and played well. If he didn’t, we had other guys that I was confident in.
“I knew on paper we didn’t look good, but I also knew on the field, which is all that matters, it was going to be good.”
So far, so good.
EXTRA POINT
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who faces the Lions Sunday in Green Bay, got to know each other during the off-season at a Nike-sponsored event.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to have a friend as a quarterback, especially one I see twice a year,” Suh said.
Asked to respond to Suh’s comment, Rodgers said on a conference call, “I think he needs to expand his mind a little bit. Kind of branch out. Does that mean he’s not buddies with Matt (Stafford) or Shaun (Hill) or Kellen (Moore)?”
Reminded that Suh was only joking, Rodgers added: “I’m being sarcastic.”
