Report: Steelers interviewing Hank Fraley for OL job

[BlackAndGold]

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[teegre]

He was a Steeler for a half-second. He got bumped when we signed Jeff Hartings. My buddy is an Eagles fan, and loved him as their center (for a few seasons at least).

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

OK, he was the Lions O line coach this season. Prior to that he was an assistant O line coach with the Lions for 2 years, Assistant O line coach with Vikings for 3 years and 1 year as the O line coach at UCLA. He has 1 season as an O line coach in college and 1 year with Detroit. His other 5 seasons were as an assistant to the O line coach. How do we feel about him from an experience standpoint?

[Shoes]

OK, he was the Lions O line coach this season. Prior to that he was an assistant O line coach with the Lions for 2 years, Assistant O line coach with Vikings for 3 years and 1 year as the O line coach at UCLA. He has 1 season as an O line coach in college and 1 year with Detroit. His other 5 seasons were as an assistant to the O line coach. How do we feel about him from an experience standpoint?


He has a blue-collar work ethic, a wife, 5 kids and a yellow lab, a leonberger and a pug, he should get the job just for dealing with that everyday. :chuckle:

Doesn't sound like much experience as a coach but he does have 10 years as a player in the NFL. I think it's good Tomlin seems to be taking the time needed to get it right.

He was due to interview with the bengals but they decided to bring pollack back into the fold.



Fraley was one of the Lions’ best positional coaches in 2020, as center Frank Ragnow made the Pro Bowl (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl), left tackle Taylor Decker had one of his best years yet, and rookie guard Jonah Jackson made a solid NFL debut. Early in the season, Decker mentioned just how excited he was to have Fraley, a former NFL lineman himself, be the new guy in charge.
“I’m super excited for him,” Decker said. (https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2020/8/6/21357320/taylor-decker-excited-hank-fraley-new-offensive-line-coach) “We were so excited when he got that job. He deserves it, because the dude works really, really hard. We’ve seen all the hours he puts in as the assistant o-line coach behind the scenes. So we’re excited to have ole’ Hank.”
Obviously, losing Fraley would be a rough loss to the Lions, seeing as their offensive line remains quite young, and Fraley appears to be well liked by the players. There was never any guarantee he’d stay in Detroit under the new head coach, though.

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/1/7/22218550/detroit-lions-offensive-line-coach-hank-fraley-interview-bengals

https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/01/hank-fraley-offers-fresh-face-same-approach-to-coaching-lions-offensive-line.html

[teegre]

I was reading around on some various discussions going on about Fraley.

EAGLES FANS: We loved Honeybuns!!! Great player.

LIONS FANS: It hurts to lose him. He did a great job with our patchwork O-line.

STEELERS FANS: I hate this!!!

One Lions draftnik said the following:
-Ragnow became 2nd team All-Pro
-Decker had his best season
-got our rookie LG up to speed
-did a great job with the rotating RG & RT

Another person familiar with the Lions talked about a game against the Bears where a couple of O-linemen went down in succession, and they were forced to play a converted DT at LT... against Khalil Mack. All things considered, the DT did a pretty good job. (Several Lions fans mentioned this game/this situation.)

SUMMATION:
Sounds like a good hire

[EzraTank]

So he coached the Lions offensive line ...

The Lions with the #30 ranked rush, two better than the last place Steelers, and the #8 ranked passing 9 better than the #17 Steelers. Yes I know the OL is not the offense but if your OL is good then it usually makes the whole offense better. #30 rushing ... no thanks.

[Born2Steel]

I'm gonna call him 'ACE'!

[teegre]

So he coached the Lions offensive line ...

The Lions with the #30 ranked rush, two better than the last place Steelers, and the #8 ranked passing 9 better than the #17 Steelers. Yes I know the OL is not the offense but if your OL is good then it usually makes the whole offense better. #30 rushing ... no thanks.

Stats can lie.

For example, in Munchak's last season as our O-line coach, we ranked 31st in rushing.

[BlackAndGold]

Per Dulac, Fraley was interviewed today(Thursday).

[BlackAndGold]

Fraley is staying with the Lions as their o-line coach.