detroit lions vs. st. louis rams the season begins consistency up front ...

DominiC raioLa
Center
Nebraska 12th Year
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 295
Born: 12/30/78 Honolulu, Hawaii
Draft: ‘01, R2 (50)-Det
Complete biographical information available on Detroit<strong>lions</strong>.com.
MANE FACTS
¾ Donated home game tickets to the Children’s Center through CaTs
(Caring athletes Ticket service) for Kids program.
¾ regularly attends annual Detroit <strong>lions</strong> Courage House Dinner to help
benefit HaVeN, oakland County’s premier center for the prevention
and treatment of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
¾ a big fan of al Pacino, he owns most of the movies the actor is in
including his favorite, Scarface, which he has watched repeatedly.
TRANSACTIONS
¾ re-signed by the Detroit <strong>lions</strong> June 25, 2009 to a four-year contract
extension (through 2013).
¾ re-signed by the Detroit <strong>lions</strong> March 13, 2005 to a five-year contract
extension.
¾ Drafted by the Detroit <strong>lions</strong> in the second round (50th overall) in the
2001 Nfl Draft.
PRO
raiola is in his 12th season in the Nfl with the Detroit <strong>lions</strong>, and his 11th
as the starting center. Utilizes tremendous quickness, tenacity and intelligence
to anchor the team’s offensive front.
¾ Named team captain six-straight seasons (2006-11).
¾ Has played in 172 career games (156 starts). He is the 10th player in
<strong>lions</strong> history to play 170 games for the club. He joins K Jason Hanson
(311) and T Jeff Backus (176) as players on the <strong>lions</strong> current roster
who have each played 170 career games for the club.
¾ in 2008, a hand injury forced him to miss his first career game and start
<strong>vs</strong>. Jacksonville (11/9/08).
¾ He had the second most consecutive starts (104) behind Denver C
Casey Wiegman (120) and atlanta C Todd McClure (120) since 2001.
¾ in 2006, raiola emerged as one of the most effective all-around centers
in the league with his ability to get outside and block on the perimeter
and to get to the second level.
¾ in 2004, he centered an offensive line that developed into one of the
top run-blocking lines in the Nfl as the offensive line led the way for
a rushing attack that ranked second in the Nfl over the final seven
games of the season.
2011: Team’s starting center and offensive captain for sixth consecutive
year. offense was 10th in Nfl in sacks per pass play (5.1 pct) yielding 36
sacks on 702 pass plays.
¾ Centered offensive line that allowed no sacks and garnered 126 rushing
yards in the team’s opening day win at Tampa Bay (9/11).
¾ The <strong>lions</strong>’ season opener at Tampa Bay marked the first time since
1981-82 that the <strong>lions</strong> have started the same offensive line (same
personnel at same positions) in consecutive years on opening day.
raiola, lT Jeff Backus, lB rob sims, G stephen Peterman and T Gosder
Cherilus was the team’s regular starting offensive line last year for the
<strong>lions</strong>, including on opening day. The last offensive group to start in
consecutive years was lT Karl Baldischeiler, lG Homer elias, C amos
fowler, rG russ Bolinger and rT Keith Dorne. That group started on
opening day in that lineup three consecutive years (1980-92).
¾ in the home opener <strong>vs</strong>. Kansas City (9/18), was part of an offensive line
that allowed no sacks for the second consecutive game. The <strong>lions</strong> offense
generated 48 points in the victory over the Chiefs, the most points
scored by the <strong>lions</strong> since they garnered 55 points in a Thanksgiving
Day 55-20 win over Chicago (11/27/97). That game was also the last
time the team scored 6 offensive touchdowns (rushing and receiving) in
a single game. The last time the <strong>lions</strong> scored 6 offensive touchdowns
in a game of which at least 4 were via the pass was a 48-17 win over
Chicago (10/19/81).
¾ Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack at Dallas (10/2) in the
team’s 24-point comeback 34-30 win.
¾ offensive line was instrumental in the <strong>lions</strong> 24-13 win over Chicago
on Monday Night football as the line paved the way for 181 rushing
yards, including 163 from rB Jahvid Best. raiola opened a huge seem
in the middle on Best’s 88-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter,
which was the second longest in team history.
¾ Helped allow 104 yards rushing <strong>vs</strong>. atlanta (10/23) whose defense is
ranked sixth in the league in rushing yards per game. Maurice Morris
finished with 9 carries for 50 yards (5.6 avg) and Keiland Williams finished
with 9 carries for 44 yards (4.9 avg).
¾ Helped protect Matthew stafford in order for him to set a new franchise
record 63 passing attempts <strong>vs</strong>. Chicago (11/13).
¾ He made his 150th career start at center for the <strong>lions</strong> game <strong>vs</strong>. Carolina
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(11/20). With the start he started 150-of-154 games dating back to the
beginning of the 2002 season. overall, he reach 166 games played, which
is 12th most in team history.
¾ in his 150th career start, he was part of an offensive line that paved
the way for running back Kevin smith to rush for 140 yards <strong>vs</strong>. Carolina
(11/20). They also gave QB Matthew stafford enough time to throw
5 touchdown passes in the game. offensive line helped produce 169
rushing yards, second-highest total on the season, and 495 total yards,
the most for the <strong>lions</strong> since 1997.
COLLEGE
Turned pro after playing three seasons at Nebraska, but was a four-year
collegian (redshirted in 1997).
¾ Cornhuskers’ first freshman offensive lineman to start a game since
rob Zatechka in 1991.
¾ The two-time Nebraska lifter of the year finalist set a school record
with 140 knockdown blocks (11.67 per game) as a sophomore in 1999,
only to better that mark as a junior in 2000 with 145 (13.2 per game).
¾ Besides on-field accolades, he garnered academic all-Big 12 Conference
honors the last two years while making the conference’s honor
roll three times.
¾ in 2000, he was an all-american first-team selection by the football
Writers association, Walter Camp, associated Press and american
football Coaches association, rated the best center in the country
by The sports Xchange, a finalist for both the outland Trophy and the
lombardi award, given to the nation’s top lineman and a consensus
all-Big 12 first-team selection.
¾ Junior year was first full year as starter and was named a consensus
all-Big 12 first-team selection, the first sophomore Nebraska offensive
lineman to earn such honors since Dave rimington in 1980 and was a
member of sports illustrated’s all-Bowl Team.
PERSONAL
Three-year starter on the offensive line for st. louis High school in Honolulu.
¾ Team went undefeated in each of his last three years and ranked
15th nationally in 1996, winning its 11th straight state championship.
¾ earned first-team all-state honors as a junior in 1995 and as a senior
in 1996.
¾ also a National Honor society member, a three-year scholar-athlete
and ranked sixth in his class of 180.
RAIOLA’S CAREER STATISTICS
Year Tm G S
2001 Det 16 0
2002 Det 16 16
2003 Det 16 16
2004 Det 16 16
2005 Det 16 16
2006 Det 16 16
2007 Det 16 16
2008 Det 12 12
2009 Det 16 16
2010 Det 16 16
2011 Det 16 16
Totals 172 156
POSTSEASON
Year Tm G S
2011 Det 1 1
Totals 1 1