Laken Tomlinson Appears Ready For Detroit Lions

May 27, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions offensive guard Laken Tomlinson (72) during OTA at Detroit Lions Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions have quarterback Mathew Stafford, receiver Calvin Johnson and a great defense. But to go deep into the playoffs and the Super Bowl, you have to be able to run the ball as well.  So the Lions are working on a running game that can get them through the winter months of the playoffs.

Taking running back Ameer Abdulla in the second round was a big step toward having that in 2014. But the biggest step was made in the first round when they grabbed guard Laken Tomlinson. Tomlinson is a big, strong, road-grader that can help the running game and pass-protects well too so Stafford will lose nothing there.

That is if Tomlinson can get the mental part of the NFL game down because we already know what he can do physically. It’s usually the mental part of the game that trips up young offensive lineman if they don’t do well right away. But Tomlinson’s brain power is his best power, a scary thing given how powerful he is physically.

Right guard Larry Warford, who had a Pro Bowl-caliber rookie season in 2013, thinks Tomlinson is ahead of where he was as at the same point in his rookie season. He told the Detriot Free Press, “He doesn’t make a lot of mental mistakes, which my last two years I’ve seen that a little bit, guys messing things up in their head because it’s hard to learn.

“A lot of people don’t understand how complicated offensive-line play is as far as mentally. And he’s come in, he hasn’t made many mental mistakes at all. And he’s a hard worker, you know? I was a mess when I came here. I didn’t know what was going on. I was like, ‘God, I don’t know what to do anymore. Why am I here?’

“He’s taking everything in stride and he’s doing great mentally, physically. He’s the complete package.”

The Lions offensive line and running game just got better!