Coaches always say when it gets to this point in the season, rookies aren’t really considered rookies any longer. A number of Detroit’s first-year players now have 13 games under their belts and have either been key starters or depth contributors in their first season.
Tate Ratledge has started every game at right guard for the Lions with four of his top six graded performances from Pro Football Focus this season coming in the last five weeks (Washington, New York, Green Bay, Dallas).
Detroit’s first-round pick in this year’s draft, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, has also been playing some pretty good football over the last month and half. Lions run game coordinator and defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said Friday that’s corresponded with the return of veteran Alim McNeill into the lineup.
“To be a rookie, I think, he’s really, really trending in the right direction,” Rodgers said. “When you’re a rookie and you go out there for the first time, you’re kind of thrown to the fire. Now with Alim back it’s like, ‘That’s the way you’re supposed to do it.’ Rather than learning in the fire, he is learning behind the fire, so to speak, and I think that’s helped him and made him more comfortable.”
Williams’ two best graded performances this season by PFF have come in the last two weeks.