Lions cut offensive lineman Stephen Peterman

The Lions began what could be a major overhaul of their offensive line today, informing right guard Stephen Peterman of his release, according to a person familiar with the decision.

Peterman, 31, started every game at right guard for the Lions the last three years and has been a fixture on the line since 2007.

But Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said the team allowed too much interior pressure this year, which contributed to Matthew Stafford’s struggles at quarterback.

Peterman ranked 14th in Pro Football Focus’ offensive-line rankings at right guard, and the Lions were third in PFF’s pass-block rankings as a unit, allowing just 29 sacks in an NFL-record 740 pass attempts.

With significant salary-cap problems, the Lions have targeted the offensive line as an area they can get younger and cheaper for next year.

Rob Sims will return at left guard and Riley Reiff will start somewhere – probably one of the tackle positions – after playing as a sixth lineman as a rookie. But the Lions have decisions to make at right tackle, where Gosder Cherilus is a free agent, left tackle, where Jeff Backus turns 36 in September, and center, where Dominic Raiola carries a $6 million cap figure.

Cherilus was PFF’s No. 2-ranked right tackle, behind the Cincinnati Bengals’ Andre Smith, and Raiola was the site’s No. 11 center and is one of the locker room’s most prominent voices. Backus, the 22nd-ranked left tackle, was the only Lions blocker in the bottom half off the league.

Asked how different his offensive line could look in 2013, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said at the Senior Bowl last month he was “prepared for a lot of different ways.”

“We have developed some pretty good players there and we have some good players in the pipeline,” Schwartz said. “If we think the best course of action is to go there then we’re prepared for that.”

The Lions claimed Bill Nagy off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys last year and are high on undrafted rookie Rodney Austin. Nagy can play both guard and center, but he’s been limited to four games his first two NFL seasons by ankle injuries. Austin took about 60% of his reps at guard, 40 percent at center on the practice squad this year.

Reiff and Jason Fox, a restricted free agent who was drafted in the fourth round out of Miami (Fla.) as a tackle, also can play guard.

By releasing Peterman, the Lions save about $3.2 million in cap space. A third-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2004 who joined the Lions’ practice squad two years later, Peterman was due a $500,000 roster bonus on the second day of the league year.

First response is from our old friend thestrategyexpert! http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... tting-him/

WJB, I have to say after reading his comment that I wondered if you guys are one and the same.

Thank god, the weakest link is gone.

Now get the biggest gap filling road grading beast you can find. I hope they're not putting all their eggs in the Nagy basket! That's far too risky. Go after levitre who will easily mask the raiola problem and look for a 2-4 round center in the draft to groom for raiola. Didn't Nagy play some C in college? Maybe he could be groomed this year to replace raiola next year??

Maybe thre looking at Reiff at RG as a stop gap, or even Cheerios? Will be interesting to see.

Would anyone NOT be happy if we ended up with Chance Warmack in the draft, given the situation?

Would anyone NOT be happy if we ended up with Chance Warmack in the draft, given the situation?

TO be fair shotty, Chance Warmack isnt a "Good, Not Great" GUard prospect. Hes considered by many to be a top 15 pick in the draft at guard. Will he drop because hes a G, maybe, but hes considered a Great Guard prospect just like DeCastro was last year.