Allen Park — Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley has a favorite analogy he uses when working with his position group. He compares each of his linemen to a finger, weak on their own, but when working together as a five-man unit and balled into a fist, they can be powerful and effective.
Detroit was counting on that fist this year to help pummel opposing defenses into submission. On paper, the offensive line was supposed to be the team's unquestioned strength, maybe its only strength. But through four games, two of the five fingers are broken and a third has an ingrown nail.