Hank Fraley (Lions OL Coach) Interviewing for OC

[Rat]

Yeah, I do generally hate the whole "this position coach has a good unit. They must be good at coaching" stuff.

What I do enjoy about Fraley that, for me, sets him apart is his background.

-11 year NFL center. Hard spot to succeed at and one that demands a bit of a cerebral player.

-Survived a regime change from Patricia to Campbell, largely because his guys love him.



-Unit has been good through injury. Speaks to preparedness.
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Also, Lions fans downright revere this man. That's another sign.

He's definitely not a sure thing, but he represents everything we *want* to be. That's the type of guy I'd bet on.

I hadn't considered that he survived Patricia; that's definitely a positive. He was so awful on so many levels. Fraley probably learned a lot about how to not be a leader.

 

[keasley45]

Do any of us really know much about guys from other teams though? I mean when a name comes up, it does seem like people come out of the woodwork and become experts.

I mean, they all have resume's. They have all done something, somewhere. Just because they havent done anything remarkabel, doesnt mean they wont. However, a track record of success in a similar post does count for something.

That, and you can watch pressers from the candidates like Brown, and get a sense of certain qualities they will bring to the table... or not.

 

[strohmin]

That’s kinda like what the said with grubb….

Grubbs had no NFL experience and I dont think hiring was a mistake because he was an unknown but firing him after the season was also right. I still think there is nothing wrong with hiring a first time OC. Atleast as said above, the guy has NFL experience unlike Grubb.

 

[hox]

Maybe Detroit's OL is "insanely talented" because they've been well coached.

Or... because they've valued them highly in the draft and their o-line scouts know what they're doing.

• Left Tackle: Taylor Decker (1st round, 16th overall, 2016)
  Left Guard: Jonah Jackson (3rd round, 11th overall, 2020)
• Center: Frank Ragnow (1st round, 20th overall, 2018)
  
  
• Right Guard: Graham Glasgow (3rd round, 33rd overall, 2016)
• Right Tackle: Penei Sewell (1st round, 7th overall, 2021)
  
  
  

 

[oldhawkfan]

I would be the most boring coach ever. I prefer a ridiculous amount of running. Pound the f out of the rock, all day. And don't just give up early in the game. Then when they load the box to stop the run......go up top.

Maybe we should find an OC who could run the old Wing T.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Noice!

 

[SoulfishHawk]

I mean, they all have resume's. They have all done something, somewhere. Just because they havent done anything remarkabel, doesnt mean they wont. However, a track record of success in a similar post does count for something.

That, and you can watch pressers from the candidates like Brown, and get a sense of certain qualities they will bring to the table... or not.

This team is due to get it right at OC. But my point being that it reminds me of a draft. A name comes up and a bunch of experts arrive. Just an observation. I hope they're thorough, but this guy sounds like he has a lot of experience. And working with Ben Johnson certainly is a plus.

 

[Shane Falco]

Or... because they've valued them highly in the draft and their o-line scouts know what they're doing.

• Left Tackle: Taylor Decker (1st round, 16th overall, 2016)
  Left Guard: Jonah Jackson (3rd round, 11th overall, 2020)
• Center: Frank Ragnow (1st round, 20th overall, 2018)
  
  
• Right Guard: Graham Glasgow (3rd round, 33rd overall, 2016)
• Right Tackle: Penei Sewell (1st round, 7th overall, 2021)
  

And then they paid them (minus Jackson) over $230M to keep them around past their rookie deals. I think between the picks and contracts beyond the rookie deals, they must have invested more than any other team.

 

[12AngryHawks]

Or... because they've valued them highly in the draft and their o-line scouts know what they're doing.

• Left Tackle: Taylor Decker (1st round, 16th overall, 2016)
  Left Guard: Jonah Jackson (3rd round, 11th overall, 2020)
• Center: Frank Ragnow (1st round, 20th overall, 2018)
  
  
• Right Guard: Graham Glasgow (3rd round, 33rd overall, 2016)
• Right Tackle: Penei Sewell (1st round, 7th overall, 2021)
  
  

I wonder how much, if any, input positional coaches have in player acquisition. This team needs guys who can identify skill on the OL.

 

[Mick063]

Sean McVay and Andy Reid also had no play calling experience at one time. Until they did.

Work ethic, love of the game, football philosophy as a belief system (often called "identity"), people skills, communications skills, sound ethics. A guy with no finish line who believes he can always learn something new. For me, all of these are much more important than play calling experience.

 

[IndyHawk]

I would be the most boring coach ever. I prefer a ridiculous amount of running. Pound the f out of the rock, all day. And don't just give up early in the game. Then when they load the box to stop the run......go up top.

So you loved Peteball?

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

At this point, I don’t care who the Seahawks hire if they don’t have NFL experience or not, I just want some fresh ideas and new perspective on the offensive line and hopefully they can fix it RIGHT NOW!

But I’ll take this guy! Detroit arguably has the best offensive line in the league!

 

[hawks85]

Fraley is no joke. This dude will definitely improve our O-line and run game in 2025.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

So you loved Peteball?

Nope. But I would run a hell of a lot more than most coaches

 

[PateratoWilson]

Impressive resume but the "no NFL play calling experience" thing would concern me A LOT.

Beat me to it. And their OL is much better than ours. Can he draft some talent too?

 

[CallMeADawg]

Nope. But I would run a hell of a lot more than most coaches

 

[Seahawk_Dan]

I think an important aspect for a coach isn't so much the overall success of their team but how their players react them. Like every cycle; DC, OC, HC get hired from top tier franchises and some of considered the gurus or architects of those teams, get a HC job and sometimes they pan out and a lot of times they don't. Think Adam Gase or Nathanial Hackett, but when they left their teams to become HC ain't a lot of their former players (that I can think of at least) saying much or hearing a bunch of stories of how their team or that unit they coached mad respected them, or other colorful stories. Is that required? No, but it's interesting.

When I hear about Fraley or McCown and how those players from those team love and respect them, like they're legitimate mentors and motivators, those are the ones I get excited about. Yes having playcalling experience is nice and is a real concern, but if I know a coach is gonna get every ounce out of a player, make them bust their ass and unite them as a unit and not just a collection of players following a gameplan, then that's what I want.

 

[Torc]

Beat me to it. And their OL is much better than ours. Can he draft some talent too?

I've got to think that position coaches watch film, get involved with interviews related to the position they coach, and contribute to the draft discussion.

 

[Torc]

Nope. But I would run a hell of a lot more than most coaches

I've been saying since the Ground Chuck years that running all the time isn't boring....if you do it at a winning level. Winning doesn't suck.

Heck, I'd have been happy to watch Marshawn pound the rock all game long.

 

[pmedic920]

Impressive resume but the "no NFL play calling experience" thing would concern me A LOT.

We’ve been bitching about our O-line for multiple seasons now.

He can certainly get a bit of help with the play calling.

Seems like a reasonable trade off IMO