Cade Mays’ first game with the Detroit Lions came with a pair of brutal mistakes, but the bigger picture says there’s reason to breathe a little easier about his fit.
The starting center was directly responsible for two turnovers in Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers, and Detroit was fortunate its defense came through for a second straight game. Without that help, those errors could have been the difference in the Lions’ win.
Still, Mays’ debut was far from a disaster. In pass protection, he looked comfortable almost immediately, even though he had literally never suited up for the Lions before that game.
That showed up right away on Detroit’s first drive, which ended in points. With Jared Goff clean early, the Lions were able to get into the end zone, and Mays played a direct part in creating that kind of start.
For anyone worried about how much time Mays might need to settle in - especially with the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line coming up - the rest of his performance offered some reassurance.
The numbers back that up. Goff was pressured just five times against the Packers, tied for the fifth-fewest pressures allowed in a game this season.
Detroit’s pressure rate allowed was 15.2 percent, the fourth-lowest mark in a game this year. That matters for a team that has had trouble starting fast because opposing defensive fronts have been able to get Goff on the ground early.
Mays helped solve that problem right away in the first quarter and carried that impact through the game. The Lions have generally protected Goff well this season, but early-game adjustments have been a sore spot. Mays gave them a better answer there.
Not everything is clicking along the offensive line, though. Larry Borom is still struggling to find his place as a swing tackle without throwing off the offense’s rhythm.
According to numbers pulled by Pride of Detroit’s Al Karsten, the Lions have used Borom in jumbo packages when they want an extra blocker, and the results have been rough. The better move, based on those returns, would be to use an additional tight end in those looks rather than Borom at tackle. His pass protection and run blocking have left Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs exposed.
With more options on the roster - especially Juice Scruggs, who could potentially fill in as a versatile tackle and guard in those packages - Detroit should be doing more experimenting. As it stands, sticking with Borom is producing the same disappointing result again and again.
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