ALLEN PARK -- Matt Patricia warns to not read too much into the practice reps this early because guys are just trying different spots. If versatility is his calling card, he's going to implement that culture right from the start.

But at least for the first open practice of his tenure, Frank Ragnow was playing left guard.

Detroit's first-round pick out of Arkansas spent Thursday's individual and team drills in the left guard spot, which backed up some of what the photos on the team website showed from organized training activities practices earlier in the week. He stayed there when Graham Glasgow was in at center as well as when he took a breather.

"I'm learning," Ragnow said. "I'm learning a lot from TJ (Lang) and the other guards, just trying to get adjusted to this level and just trying to take it one day at a time."

Ragnow started 18 games at center and 15 at guard the past three years at Arkansas. He was a full-time starting guard his sophomore season before moving inside, but he still found one start each year at guard to maintain that versatility in the case of injury.

That could be what the Lions are working out now. Glasgow has started games at left guard and center for the Lions the past two seasons. He's already experienced and comfortable in both, and although he'll have to adjust to a new blocking scheme and continuity will become something to develop at some point, the early stages of OTAs can be a time for players to learn positions less natural to them. For Ragnow, part of that has been practicing it on the field and part has been talking through the technical aspects with Lang, a 10th-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler at the position.

At the very least, the Lions will likely want Ragnow and Glasgow to back each other up in case either goes down.

Ragnow said he's as comfortable at guard as he is at center, but he hasn't shown it on tape much in recent years, which is the standpoint Lions coaches are coming from. This is a chance for Patricia and line coaches Jeff Davidson and Hank Fraley to get an up-close look at how he handles that spot.

Patricia said he plans to invest his practice time in all parts of the team as the head coach, and that will include the offensive line, the group he first coached when he got his start with the Patriots. He'll have a voice in the mixing and matching along that group, but it's clear that those decisions are a long way off.

Wherever he plays, Ragnow will be a starter from Day One for Patricia, and that's what's been easy for his coach to see so far.

"With all young players... it's kind of a whirlwind for them. It's spinning a little bit as far as all the information, but, I think he's done a great job," Patricia said."He just kind of fits in with the group and fits in and plays, and you're not really looking at it and saying, 'That's out of place', like it looks like it's out of place.'

"I haven't noticed that at all."