Remember what Matt Patricia and the Lions liked so much about Frank Ragnow when they drafted him back in 2018?
They liked his versatility, yeah. They liked his athleticism, too. But they loved his mean streak.
And this is why they like Logan Stenberg, the guard they drafted in the fourth round Saturday. His snarl came through the phone as soon as he hopped on a conference call with local reporters.
"I'll tell you what my best asset is," Stenberg said. "I'm a nasty player. I like to block and finish guys."
It sounds like another guard the Lions drafted on Friday, third-rounder Jonah Jackson from Ohio State. However Detroit's O-line shapes up this season, it's bound to play with attitude. That's no mistake on the part of Patricia and Bob Quinn.
"I want to end the guy across from me on every play," said Stenberg.
Growing up with three older brothers will have that effect. Stenberg said he had to constantly scrap for his place in line, and it carried over to the football field. By the time he got to college, he was ready to be the bully.
A three-year starter at Kentucky, Stenberg played both guard positions and last season helped fuel one of the best rushing attacks in the country. That's no coincidence, either. The Lions want to run the ball, and Stenberg is an old-school mauler who can open holes.
Calling from his family's cattle ranch on Saturday, he said he wants to bring football back to its roots.
"I think that the game is heading towards more skill players -- 'prettier football' -- and I think that I can bring a nastiness to it and really bring it back to how it used to be played," said Stenberg.
Three jobs are spoken for on the Lions' O-line. Both guard spots remain open, and Stenberg will have a chance to claim either one. If he plays as gruffly as he talks, it won't take him long to win over Patricia.
"I want the guy across from me to want to quit and want to get to the sideline because he's getting beat up all day," he said. "I think if we can do that, we have a better chance of winning the game."
