Lions' Swanson seizes command at center during OTAs

This was the plan all along.

When the Detroit Lions used a third-round pick on Travis Swanson last year, the idea was to give him a season's worth of grooming under longtime center Dominic Raiola and turn over the reins of the offensive line to him this fall.

Swanson played more than expected as a rookie, starting four games at right guard in place of an injured Larry Warford and one at center when Raiola was suspended for a game. Swanson fared well enough in those appearances that, days after the season ended, the Lions told Raiola they weren't bringing him back for a 15th season and told Swanson they were giving him the center job.

"Well, I don't think it was ever just given to me," Swanson said after practice Wednesday. "That's not the right phrase to use."

Maybe the job wasn't given to Swanson, but the opportunity to win it was. And if OTAs (organized team activities) are any indication, he has grabbed hold with all his might.

Swanson has worked almost exclusively with the first-team offense at center this spring, and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi didn't mince words Wednesday when asked how the second-year blocker has looked.

"Awesome," Lombardi said. "Awesome. He's been great."

Swanson, who left the Lions' playoff loss to the Cowboys with a sprained knee, said he spent the early part of the off-season working out with his former strength coach at Arkansas and his former offensive line coach with the Razorbacks in preparation for this year.

He's stronger now, though he can't quantify how much.

"I can just tell from being on the field and playing and whatnot," Swanson said. "That's one thing I'm happy with."

And though he's a couple inches taller and about 15 pounds heavier than Raiola, who started nearly every game at center for the Lions the past 13 seasons, he reminds some of his predecessor in the way he moves and the ownership he has taken of the position.

"He's super smart," Lombardi said. "He's strong in the middle. Just everything you want in a center. One of our big emphases this year is to keep a strong pocket in the middle for Matt (Stafford), for the quarterback, and he's got that ability to hold the pocket, and he's going to have a lot of help from some stout guards. Between Manny (Ramirez), Laken (Tomlinson) and Larry, those guys are also strong guys that are going to be able to keep the defense off of Matt's toes."

Raiola, who spoke with Swanson after news of the Lions' decision leaked in mid-January, made some of his biggest contributions up front in the form of line calls and recognizing defensive alignments, and Lombardi said that's a strength of Swanson's, too

"We put a lot more of that on the quarterback maybe than some other teams, so there may not be as much stress on him," Lombardi said. "And in some ways I think Dom was so good at that, there was kind of like two guys doing it. Now, Matt's kind of in charge, but Swanny's got to be able to say, 'OK, based on how you identify this defense, I've got to make the calls and get everyone else on the right track.' He's outstanding at that, so it's just a combination of a talented player that has also got the brain to go along with it."

Swanson, a four-year starter and two-time captain at Arkansas, is respectful of Raiola and his accomplishments as a 13-year starter in the NFL. And he is keenly aware that, though he has impressed coaches and teammates so far, he has a long way to go to win the starting job.

Ramirez is playing mostly first-team left guard ahead of Tomlinson for now (although he did take a few first-team reps at center Wednesday), but many feel he's best suited for center, and the Lions, who expect to contend in the NFC North, won't hesitate to make a change if Swanson struggles when the pads come on.

"Coach (Jim) Caldwell's been preaching it to us every day ... just getting 1% better as every day goes and not 1% worse than you were the day before," Swanson said. "I did a lot of things in the off-season I feel that can help me. I feel like it's shown out here. I've still got a lot to learn, a lot to do and a lot to prove."

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

Lions' key dates

June 16-18: Mandatory minicamp for entire team.

Aug. 3: Training camp first practice.

Aug. 13: Exhibition opener vs. N.Y. Jets at Ford Field, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 13: Regular-season opener at San Diego, 4:05 p.m.