Lions want to retain Jim Caldwell

Submitted by Waynes World on

According to ESPN the lions want to retain Jim Caldwell. What are your thoughts?

BornSinner

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^

Don't really think it is that bad of a decision... Are there really that many desirable candidates out there this year? 

Just don't hire a stupid GM. 

rob f

January 3rd, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^

for dumb hires 5 decades ago when new owner William Clay Ford forced the head coach, George Wilson, to fire his entire coaching staff, despite having winning records in 5 of the previous 6 seasons after also coaching Detroit to the NFL Championship in 1957. Wilson, BTW, soon resigned after Ford meddled with his coaching staff.

Ford then hired Harry Gilmer as Head Coach. Gilmer, who played 2 seasons for the Lions in the 50's, had never been a head coach and would never coach in the NFL after 2 losing seasons of "leading" the Lions.

Ford followed that pattern throughout his ownership.

Two seasons later, Ford hired firmer Lion player Russ Thomas as GM, kept him for 22 seasons, then followed that up by hiring in-house, promoting accountant Chuck Schmidt to GM when Thomas retired.

The practice of bad hires peaked back in 2001 with the hiring of Matt Millen, and hasn't lessened much since.

Is it any surprise that Detroit was 310-441 while WC Ford was owner? Does it surprise anyone that the Lions only have two HCs with winning records (Joe Schmidt and interim HC Gary Moeller) since Wilson resigned in '64---AND THE LIONS FIRED BOTH OF THEM??!!!

Why would anyone expect better from the Lions organization now?

GoBlueUSMC

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^

D-U-M DUM.  Only coach they should retain is Jim Bob.  He's obviously doing some things that Stafford likes.  He's a great young football mind.

Duke of Zhou

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:28 PM ^

They have played better the second half of the season. I don't know if he deserves praise for the turnaround, or condemnation for the poor start. I personally lean towards the latter.

Saint_in_Blue

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:28 PM ^

I like it. I actually think he's a great coach and the players really like playing for him. My only knock against him is that he should have fired Lombardi a lot sooner.

coldnjl

January 3rd, 2016 at 3:21 PM ^

How about employing a bad offensive coordinator and not having your team ready to play at the beginning of the season? Sounds like a bad boss to me. The Lombardi OC experiment was horrible and he hung on for way too long. When the successful switch was made, they were out of the playoffs.

coldnjl

January 3rd, 2016 at 3:21 PM ^

How about employing a bad offensive coordinator and not having your team ready to play at the beginning of the season? Sounds like a bad boss to me. The Lombardi OC experiment was horrible and he hung on for way too long. When the successful switch was made, they were out of the playoffs.

MGoCombs

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^

I can't stand Caldwell, but what's the alternative? I'm open to going another direction but they Lions have too often made replacements for replacement's sake and to what end? They seem to have some momentum with Austin and Cooter. If Austin gets interviews and possibly moves on, then I'd consider offering him the HC and dump Caldwell, assuming he'd be OK with that. If Austin is sticking around, I think the Lions will be a solid team next year with an easier schedule and an offense to build upon.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Blau

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^

Once they cleaned the front house and got rid of Lombardi, the team took on a different persona and started winning games. I think that shows maybe it wasn't all Caldwell's fault. 

BlueCube

January 3rd, 2016 at 5:31 PM ^

everything including Lombardi. It was his fault.

I saw this problem coming with they did the half ass cleaning earlier this year.You can coaches, then a while later you do the GM but leave the head coach and a few others there. You either had to assume they would fail and need to be replaced or you were idiots because any halfway respectible GM is going to want his own coach. They made it worse with the stupid ass endorsement of Caldwell. They should have kept their mouth shut until the GM was hired and had time to decide what he wanted to do.

Now they have to get a GM who is another slappy who will leave Caldwell in place or he makes a decision immediately against managements wishes. One option looks like he's not really in control, the other makes it appear he's at odds with management. It's not a good look either way. At this point I almost think their best option is to let Caldwell handle GM duties for a year to see if he can handle the job. They have absolutely tied their hands. I think Brady Hoke is available as GM as an alternative.

Leave it to the Lions to make every effort to fight for the bottom with San Francisco and Cleveland for the most inept ownership in sports.

JWolve

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:30 PM ^

His main crime was hiring and retaining lombardi as an OC...reminds me of Hoke and RichRod. I'd say give him one more year. The team has been on an upswing and player seem to like him.

BornSinner

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^

Bahahaha I can only imagine what Chip Kelly would do in Detroit... 

His first few moves would probably be trading Megatron for a 4th rounder + Ted Ginn from Carolina, cutting Golden Tate and trading Stafford and a 3rd rounder for Johnny Manziel.

 

 

DOBlue48

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^

While I am not at all sure he is a great coach, more change and turmoil will only set an already fragile team back.  Frankly, I think the revolving head coach door is as big a problem for that organization as anything else.  Caldwell led them to a very good season last year, a suck start to this season, followed by a bit of a resurgence recently. 

The Leo's have a ton of money to spend this off season, as I understand it.  Get the man some key personnel and another year to see what he can do with it.

Mgodiscgolfer

January 3rd, 2016 at 9:26 PM ^

The only pro team I ever recently considered being a fan of would be New England (yeah, I know today is a bad day to say that.) but that was as far as I could possibly go, "considered". But I will never be a Vikings or a Bears, or even a Packers fan as long as I live because of my, lets say younger days of being a Lions fan.

My bros. 12 years my Sr. warned me back then, he knew better and would just shake his head at me when I suffered another loss to the Vikings or Bears and kiss the playoffs goodbye. He was very proud of me when I told him I scored 2 tickets to the "Shoe" for us instead of getting my Thanksgiving day lion tickets. 

freelion

January 3rd, 2016 at 2:34 PM ^

This year was disappointing but the OC change has made a huge difference. The defense is suffering from lack of personnel and the loss of Levy. That's on the crappy GM more than Caldwell. It does piss me off that Miami just fired the GM that gave Suh a boatload of cash. He should still be a Lion.