Matthew Stafford

Any problems Matthew Stafford might have had against the Packers weren't because of rookie center Travis Swanson.

(AP Photo)

Because of a one-game suspension for veteran Dominic Raiola, Detroit Lions rookie Travis Swanson made his first start at center for the organization in the team's 30-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

How Swanson would fare in the role was one of the biggest question marks coming into the game, but a review of the film shows he handled his own.

Before providing you play-by-play notes of Detroit's 70 offensive snaps, let's jump to the conclusion.

The Packers threw a lot at Swanson in terms of alignments and stunts, and for the most part, the rookie looked like a veteran, both physically and mentally.

In the ground game, the Lions didn't run up the middle much, but Swanson handled his backside assignments consistently. When the team needed push up the gut, he delivered it both on Jed Collins' run in the shadow of Detroit's goal line and Matthew Stafford's quarterback sneak to convert a fourth down.

Swanson showed some inconsistency getting to the second level as a run blocker, but that skill should develop with more experience.

There were only a handful of snaps where Swanson was beat physically and by my count, he can be blamed for just two ineffective run plays and one pass-rush pressure.

For those who love details, my play-by-play notes follow:

FIRST QUARTER

1-10-DET 20 (14:52) -- Swanson doubled Letroy Guion on snap with Rob Sims. Effective push. The rookie was unable to get to second level on time, but didn't factor into play as tight end Eric Ebron whiffed on a block, allowing free rusher to fill Reggie Bush's lane.

2-7-DET 23 -- Good pass protection. Swanson delivers initial hit to Guion, feeding him off to Larry Warford, before shifting over to help Sims double defensive tackle Josh Boyd.

3-1-DET 29 (13:28) -- Swanson picks up Guion effectively, looping in from a three-technique look over guard Rob Sims. Swanson squares up on the block and only allows minimal push back into the pocket.

1-11-DET 1 (7:44) -- In shadow of his own goal line, Swanson gets great push on Guion, helping create space for Jed Collins to pick up three yards and give the offense some room to breath.

2-8-DET 4 (7:09) -- Swanson sealed defensive tackle Mike Daniels on the backside of the play as Joique Bell picks up nine yards on the carry. Nice blocks by tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Kellen Davis, as well as Warford pulling from the right side, to create the lane for Bell.

1-10-DET 13 (6:30) -- Guion knocks Swanson off his path attempting to get to the second level. Right tackle Cornelius Lucas also fails to get a body on a linebacker, clogging Bell's designed lane and resulting in a one-yard gain.

2-9-DET 14 (5:55) -- Swanson shoots to the second level on the snap and gets a body on his linebacker, but edge rusher Clay Matthews gets a great jump, beats Davis and drops Bell in the backfield on the counter.

3-13-DET 10 (5:10) -- Packers spread out their front on third-and-long. With no clear assignment, Swanson provides a powerful helping block for Sims on Neal. The pocket collapses when Lucas gets bull-rushed back by Julius Peppers.

1-10-DET 8 (4:43) -- With Stafford in shotgun, Swanson effectively handles defensive tackle Mike Pennel one-on-one.

2-10-DET 8 (4:39) -- As Joique Bell bounces it around the edge for an 11-yard gain, Swanson again stands up Pennel one-on-one.

1-10-DET 19 (4:02) -- Quick pass to Bush, Swanson has no impact on the play.

2-3-DET 26 (3:23) -- Swanson whiffs on linebacker Sam Barrington, coming on a run blitz, but the missed assignment doesn't impact the play. Bell dropped after a short gain by unblocked safety Morgan Burnett.



3-1-DET 28 (2:44) -- Swanson effective in blocking Neal on a quick pass for a short gain to Johnson.

1-10-DET 31 (2:13) -- Left one-on-one with Guion, Swanson contains him, but doesn't get great leverage and would have likely been beaten had the defensive tackle not bit on play-action to Bell.

1-10-DET 45 (1:33) -- Swanson gets a good initial block on Guion, but the defensive tackle is eventually able to shed the rookie center and drop Bell for a short gain up the gut. The back fumbles, but recovers the loose ball.

2-13-DET 42 (:35) -- Swanson offers helping blocks to both Sims and Warford, keeping the pocket clean and allowing Stafford to find Ebron for a 22-yard gain.

SECOND QUARTER

1-10-GB 36 (15:00) After blocking Guion on the snap, Swanson peels off and picks up Barrington, blitzing the A gap, and drives him past Stafford. This allows the quarterback to have a clean look to deliver a deep sideline throw.

2-10-GB 36 (14:53) -- Swanson whiffs on Guion on the snap allowing the defensive tackle to get penetration and assist in blowing up the Bell run in the backfield. This is the first mistake by Swanson that directly results in the failed execution of a play.

3-11-GB 37 (14:08) The Packers run an inside stunt with Neal and Daniels, which Swanson initially handles, but as Stafford holds on to the ball, Daniels is eventually able to loop around the traffic and force the quarterback to throw the ball away.

1-10-DET 17 (10:00) -- Swanson helps on a well-executed double-team on Guion as Bush bounces it out to that side (left) for a 14-yard gain.



1-10-DET 31 (9:20) -- Swanson effective neutralizes Guion, freeing Sims to work a double team with left tackle Riley Reiff and open a lane for Bell to gain eight to that side. Another good block by Davis as well.



2-2-DET 39 (8:40) -- Doubling Josh Boyd off the snap, Swanson helps Sims drive the defensive tackle way out of the pocket, clearing a lane for Stafford to attempt a deep shot to Johnson.

3-2-DET 39 (8:32) -- Bell picks up 18 yards on an outside run behind Collins and pulling Warford. On the inside, Swanson seals Guion.

1-10-GB 43 (7:55) -- Swanson flattens Pennel after getting a chip from Warford on the guard's way into the second level. Bell picks up another six around the right edge.

2-4-GB 37 (7:20) -- Swanson has a second-level assignment and effectively runs interference on the linebacker as Bell avoids tacklers in the backfield and picks up six around the left edge.

1-10-GB 31 (6:36) -- Quick pass, Swanson has no impact on the play.

2-10-GB 31 (6:33) -- Swanson offers Sims help on a double of Daniels, driving the defensive tackle wide of Stafford and keeping pocket clean.

3-10-GB 31 (6:29) -- Packers lined up linebacker Brad Jones directly over Swanson and ran a stunt with Neal that both Sims and Swanson picked up nicely.

4-10-GB 31 (6:24) -- Green Bay again brought Jones up to the line, putting him in the A gap pre-snap. The Packers ran another stunt, but this time with Julius Peppers looping in around two guys from the left edge. Swanson was a little slow on the switch and the veteran pass rusher was able to force Stafford to bail from the pocket before throwing an incompletion.

1-10-DET 23 (2:16) -- Swanson didn't get a clean block on Brad Jones in the second level, leading to a crowded lane and forcing Bush to reverse field on a no gain.

2-10-DET 23 (2:00) -- Sims and Swanson effectively double Neal.

3-10-DET 23 (1:56) -- Swanson knocks a blitzing Brad Jones to the ground, allowing Stafford to stand tall and deliver a short pass to Bush across the middle that goes for a 10-yard gain.

1-10-DET 33 (1:30) -- Swanson keeps one hand on Datone Jones as the defensive tackle is neutralized by Garrett Reynolds. The rookie keeps an eye out for any stunts or delayed blitzers, but neither come.

1-10-DET 49 (1:08) -- Neal slips by Sims on the inside, but Swanson easily picks up the defensive tackle as Stafford finds Golden Tate for the 19-yard catch and run.



1-10-GB 32 (:44) -- Swanson stands up Brad Jones at the line of scrimmage on the pass-rush attempt.

2-10-GB 32 (:39) -- Sims hands Neal off to Swanson as the veteran guard helps slow a linebacker pushing Reiff back into the pocket. Stafford is able to deliver a pass to Theo Riddick, but the back is dropped for a three-yard loss.

3-13-GB 35 (:33) -- Brad Jones and Neal run another inside stunt. Swanson handles the switch well, but Jones is able to blast Sims off balance and get a run at Stafford. The quarterback's throw falls incomplete, but the Lions pick up a first down after Jones hits the Stafford's helmet.



1-10-GB 20 (:29) -- Like he's done all half, Swanson easily handles Neal, keeping the pocket clean for Stafford to deliver a 20-yard touchdown strike to Johnson.

THIRD QUARTER

1-10-DET 49 (12:55) -- Swanson gets to the second level and puts a body on the linebacker, but Pettigrew whiffs on a cut block as Bush is dropped for no gain.

2-10-DET 49 (12:12) -- The Packers effectively disguise a linebacker blitz, creating a big lane between Swanson and Sims as Barrington comes on a delay. With no one in the backfield to pick up the blitzer, Stafford takes a big shot and Ebron is unable to hold on to the throw on a crossing route.

3-10-DET 49 (12:08) -- The Packers run an inside stunt with their two defensive tackles. Swanson is pushed back at an angle where he's unable to make the switch, but Sims comes up with a heady play, throwing a double on the center's man and driving him into the stunt lane. This keeps the pocket clean for Stafford to find Tate for the first down.

1-10-GB 39 (11:54) -- Swanson seals Mike Daniels on the backside of a two-yard gain for Bell.

2-8-GB 37 (11:13) -- Swanson gets to the second level, but Sims is beat at the point of attack by Guion, and Lucas can't get a second-level block on Mike Neal, as Bush is dropped after a two-yard gain.

3-6-GB 35 (10:34) -- Despite defenders lined up over both A gaps pre-snap, Swanson and Reynolds prevent any pressure as Stafford dumps it off to Bush for a five-yard gain.

4-1-GB 30 (10:09) -- Swanson gets enough push on Pennell for Stafford to pick up the first down on a quarterback sneak.

1-10-GB 29 (9:42) -- Swanson pancakes Pennell, but no one puts a body on Barrington in the second level as he drops Bell at the line of scrimmage for no gain on a run up the gut.

2-10-GB 29 (9:05) -- Swanson gets a good initial block on Neal as the Packers try to run a stunt up the middle. Stafford gets rid of the ball quickly for a 12-yard gain to Johnson before the stunt can develop.

1-10-GB 17 (8:24) -- Stafford has a clean pocket as Swanson and Sims handle Neal up the middle. The quarterback finds Jeremy Ross for a 13-yard gain.

1-4-GB 4 (7:39) -- The Packers looked to run a stunt with Nick Perry looping to the middle, but before Swanson can even engage the linebacker, Stafford releases the ball for a four-yard touchdown.

1-10-DET 39 (3:26) -- Packers fake a blitz with Barrington, drawing Swanson away from helping his guards with a double. This allows Guion to collapse the pocket on Reynolds and force a rushed throw from Stafford that falls incomplete.

2-10-DET 39 (3:21) -- Swanson picks up another stunt, but Stafford can't connect with Johnson.

3-10-DET 39 (3:16) -- The Packers again feign the blitz, but this time Swanson steps back and is able to help on a double with Sims, keeping Stafford's pocket clean.

FOURTH QUARTER

1-10-DET 42 (13:36) -- Swanson gets a backside seal on Boyd, but Bell fumbles the exchange.

1-10-DET 25 (8:38) -- Swanson stuffs Guion after taking him off the switch with Sims.

1-10-DET 45 (8:13) -- Swanson and Reynolds drive Daniels wide with a double, but as no receivers come open, Stafford is able to scramble for 18 yards up the middle.

1-10-GB 37 (7:41) -- Swanson stymies Neal coming on a stunt as Stafford's pass to Riddick falls incomplete.

2-10-GB 37 (7:37) -- Swanson stuff Daniels one-on-one, but another incompletion from Stafford.

3-10-GB 37 (7:32) -- Another incompletion, but Swanson again stuffs his pass rusher up the middle. It's a trend at this point.

4-10-GB 37 (7:27) -- The Packers keep Swanson occupied with Brad Jones coming on a delayed blitz, allowing Peppers to drive Reynolds back. Now deep in the pocket, the veteran pass rusher is able to get a hand on the fourth-down throw.

1-10-GB 10 (2:39) -- Swanson picks up Peppers on a stunt, but Reynolds can't contain Datone Jones. The rapidly collapsing pocket forces Stafford to unload a pass early and he's flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety.

1-10-GB 44 (2:30) -- After switching off his initial block, Swanson becomes preoccupied with the left side of the pass rush as a Packers get a free rusher on a stunt up the middle coming from the opposite direction. It could have been a problem had Stafford not got rid of the ball so quickly.

2-10-GB 44 (2:27) -- Swanson focuses on blitz that never comes and doesn't factor into the play, a 21-yard pass to Theo Riddick.

1-10-GB 23 (2:04) -- With all the receivers covered, Stafford again scrambles up the middle, this time for 10 yards. Swanson, Sims and Reynolds opened up the lane by holding their pass protection blocks.

1-10-GB 13 (1:55) -- Reynolds and Swanson effortlessly handle a stunt as Stafford completes to Riddick for seven yards.

2-3-GB 6 (1:50) -- Swanson identified Matthews coming on a stunt, but the linebacker jumped trying to deflect Stafford's short touchdown pass to Riddick before ever engaging the center.

TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT -- Swanson got a body on the linebacker in the second level, but was not a factor on the two-point conversion after Bell was forced to bounce the run outside.

1-10-DET 20 (:36) -- Stafford gets sacked on pressure up the middle, but it was Sims beaten by Daniels as Swanson helped Reynolds with a double team.

2-19-DET 11 (:05) -- Swanson had no one to block as Stafford dumped it off to Riddick for a short gain to end the game.

-- Download the Detroit Lions MLive app for iPhone and Android

-- Follow Justin Rogers on Twitter

-- Like MLive's Detroit Lions Facebook page