OT: Caldwell to Return
Two things:
1) I don't like Caldwell, so this sucks in general.
2) The timing of this is so laughably horrible. How about you wait ONE WEEK so you can decide if this is how you want to proceed. Making this decision the week of a playoff game? Only the Lions do crap like this.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18405013/detroit-lions-retain-coach-…
January 4th, 2017 at 8:48 AM ^
His record as Lions head coach is 27-21. For a regular franchise, that's a C. For the Lions, that's an A.
Rebuilding since 1957!
January 4th, 2017 at 8:50 AM ^
That is what the Lions deem to be a winnable coach.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
but they have a great OC and a great DC. The players buy in. The GM recognizes that with more players the Lions can win more games. I think things are moving in a good direction that may turn into the 'Right' direction. Who knows, maybe the team with shock us in Seattle...
January 4th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
Austin is a candidate for a few HC openings.
January 4th, 2017 at 12:06 PM ^
This is amazing to me. The defense is dead last in the NFL in efficiency and gave up a 73% completion rate to QBs this year.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:28 AM ^
I know people are lauding Stafford for cutting down on the turnovers, but we're pretty average when it comes to scoring points. We're mediocre in the red zone and inconsistent until the 4th quarter. I think that when it comes to calling plays, Cooter needs to step up his game.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^
don't have the manpower. Stafford has been really good this year creating with smoke and mirrors. I think that they have schemed fairly well to score to the extent they have. They are down two offensive lineman, on their third string running back, and their go to receiver is Golden Tate. It is a miracle they are in the Playoffs. I don't know how much of that is coaching but you have to at least recognize that this roster does not scream "Playoffs" to anybody.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^
I would argue Zenner is their 4th string running back. He may have surpassed Washington on the depth chart in recent weeks (or did I miss a Washington injury?), but he was ripped from the RB scrap heap to wrest control of a flagging run offense.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:27 AM ^
Zach Zenner was almost the leading rusher on this team and Anquan Boldin is about as much of a red zone threat as they can muster. Considering the lack of quality RBs, a true No. 1 WR, plus an OL with two rookies, I am fairly pleased.
I just hope Ebron continues to develop and they get a talented back. That should open up the playbook a lot.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:45 AM ^
Seattle is playing poorly and the OL is worse than Michigan's, relative to the level of competition. No one here will be surprised if the Lions win.
January 4th, 2017 at 11:29 AM ^
January 4th, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
RB probably isn't really the issue for the Seahawks. Rawls can look pretty good at times. The OL is just absolutely terrible, which is what happens when you have by far the lowest paid OL. And injuries, that's the other issue. So yeah...pretty much the same as Michigan.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:19 AM ^
January 4th, 2017 at 9:43 AM ^
7-4-3?
January 4th, 2017 at 9:59 AM ^
Moeller took over in 2000 after Booby Ross bailed mid-season, and coached the remaining seven games in the season, going 4-3.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:02 AM ^
January 4th, 2017 at 9:58 AM ^
That cannot be correct.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^
January 4th, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
Said the same thing about Moeller's 92 team. 3 ties??? Could've been one of the best M teams ever.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:43 AM ^
.671 - B. Parker (1951-56)
.669 - P. Clark (1931-36)
.563 - J. Caldwell (2014-present)
.547 - G. Wilson (1957-64)
.547 - J. Schmidt (1967-72)
.486 - W. Fontes (1988-96)
.458 - B. Ross (1997-00)
.407 - M. Clark (1978-84)
.396 - G. Dorias (1943-47)
.358 - J. Schwartz (2009-13)
.310 - D. Rogers (1985-88)
.208 - R. Marinelli (2006-08)
...Caldwell is easily Detroit's most successful coach post-merger.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
When the Irish talk about waking the echoes, he's one of them. He played with Knute on a few good squads back in the day. Way back in the day.
Hey, I like mythology...
January 4th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^
that list is DEPRESSING!!!
January 4th, 2017 at 10:12 AM ^
He has made the playoffs in 2 of 3 years - for the Lions that is great. People were happy to fire Wayne Fontes, he is our Vince Lombardi looking back retrospectively.
January 4th, 2017 at 11:29 AM ^
Speaking of Lombardi, Caldwells record should come with an asterisk and be compared pre and post Lombardi, because that clown was single handedly responsible for the 11 losses during his year and a half behind the playsheet.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
He seriously might win coach of the year this season. That he got this roster to 9 wins and the playoffs is incredible. Plus the guy has a winning record over 6 seasons as a HC and has gotten his team to the playoffs 4 of those seasons.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:24 AM ^
Personally I think Caldwell's a complete dolt but any coach delivering that level of performance here in Cleveland would have a statue made and placed next to Jim Brown.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:43 AM ^
About that perspective thing ... . People are beating up on the OP for his negativity, but a core point in the OP is spot on. That is, what exactly are the Lions accomplishing by extending him before the Seattle game?
I'm not a Caldwell hater (he has good coordinators, not his fault the team lacks a reliable and dynamic RB, and his players seem to like and respect him), but the timing is a head-scratcher.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^
Are they extending him or just letting him work the last year of his contract?
January 4th, 2017 at 9:54 AM ^
Part of me wants to say that "retain vs. extend" is a distinction without a difference. But that part is a bit defensive.
So you're right, they are retaining him. I am still sympathetic to the OP's point that it's an odd time to make this announcement - I just don't see what the Lions gain by making the decision now rather than considering 2017 playoff coaching performance.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:06 AM ^
If you are sure you are bringing him back no matter what the outcome you announce this week to remove the distraction of his tenure from the team. Announcing it this week (again if the outcome on Saturday night is not going to factior in the decision making) is smart IMO. You want your team focused on preparation for Seattle - not addressing questions about your HCs job security.
January 4th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
Announcing now also has the benefit of not giving the coordinators and assistants happy feet. If they thought Caldwell might get axed they'd be more apt to look around for their next landing place since they invariably get fired when the HC does. Best to get everyone focused on the next game.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:11 AM ^
Thanks. I actually didn't know so you answered it for me. I couldn't remember off the top of my head whether he was in a lame duck year or if it was next year.
I am always conflicted with Caldwell because he irritates me with in-game decisions and don't get me started on the timeout thing. The thing that bothers me most about him is the one that means the least. I hate the condescending attitude he has toward the press. I know, I know. It matters not and the best coaches act that way (see Belichick) but something about the way he does that before winning anything of importance here always bugs me.
January 4th, 2017 at 1:37 PM ^
...they probably had "Evaluate Coach" on the calendar this week since they don't know much about this whole "playoffs" thing...Now they can concentrate properly on sending scouts to senior bowl games and various pro days.
ITS TIME FOR THE DRAFT!!!! The high point in every Lions season.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
For the Lions and for this roster it's an A. 2 of 3 years in the post-season is a revelation given this roster.
They over-acheived this year. Letting him play out the contract is fine. Doing it now is fine. It's not great, it's not brilliant, and I'm not confident they'll get it done next year (looking at the roster) but announcing he is staying is a non-event.
January 4th, 2017 at 11:05 AM ^
Exactly. The most Lions thing they could've done would be fire a coach that's been to the playoffs twice in his 3 year tenure.
January 4th, 2017 at 11:47 AM ^
Any scenario that involves going to the playoffs twice in three years cannot be "the most Lions thing."
January 4th, 2017 at 8:50 AM ^
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January 4th, 2017 at 8:52 AM ^
Because it's the NFL, and the talent gap is not so massive that you can't jump up and beat a team you aren't supposed to beat.
You have everything on the line, home game, for the division against a team that is missing just as much on defense as you are. And they come into Ford Field and push around the Lions on both sides of the ball like they were made of paper. Aaron Ripkowski and Geronimo Allison?? Really??
January 4th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
...because they were pushing GB off the ball when on offense. Zenner was having another terrific first half. Why Cooter went away from him in the second half is mind-boggling. But it's not Caldwell's fault that normally reliable Prater missed a first quarter FG and Tate couldn't reel in a sure TD on the previous possession.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:57 AM ^
They didn't go away from Zenner in the second half. The Lions only ran 8 plays in the 3rd and 3 were for Zenner. By the 4th they were down 2 scores, IIRC, and the defense wasn't stopping GB anymore so abandoning the run at that point was the correct move.
January 4th, 2017 at 8:52 AM ^
January 4th, 2017 at 8:53 AM ^
For the Lions, which is sad.
No it's not. If the Lions get trounced by Seattle and blow a division up 2 with 3 left, get your guy in there and get started with the real rebuild.
My feeling is Quinn doesn't want this guy but can't really do much about it as long as Firestone is in charge.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:18 AM ^
but the loses they had at the end of the season were reasonable. They had a chance to win against the Giants, beating the Cowboys in Dallas was probably not going to happen no matter what, and Rodgers had a textbook second half in his game against the Lions. Getting rid of Caldwell at this stage would smell like 'I just want my own guy' because most coaches would have fared just as bad.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^
"get your guy in there"
I realize that comment is about Seattle, but who do you think the Lions can hire that will win them a Super Bowl?
The most popular player on the team is the backup QB, and the most popular head coach is some guy who is not the current coach.
January 4th, 2017 at 9:54 AM ^
January 4th, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^
Well playoff teams are the harder teams to beat by definition and most of those games against playoff teams came on the road, @Packers, @Texans, @Giants, @Cowboys and then packers again at home.
January 4th, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^
January 4th, 2017 at 8:52 AM ^
A little decorum please!
January 4th, 2017 at 8:53 AM ^
Was this really a question? It's rare for a team to fire a coach when he makes the playoffs.
January 4th, 2017 at 8:53 AM ^