OT: Lions Fans - Who do YOU want as the next coach?
Now that it's widely reported that Schwartz is going to be out, who do you want?
The typical "names of the booth" have been mentioned (Dungy, Cowher, Gruden), Lovie Smith has been speculated. Bill O'Brien probably has the most buzz of anyone. But who would you like to see coaching the Lions next year?
December 26th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
The meltdown this board would experience would be of epic proportions.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
His wife won't let him leave the bay area.
December 26th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^
Led America. Can lead the Lions
December 26th, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^
No way we don't get cheerleaders while he is the coach too!
December 26th, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^
Ken Whisenhunt - has the experience, almost won a superbowl, great at offense.
Not sure what the love w/ Bill O'Brien is. No pro head coaching experience, and the list of coordinators who worked w/ Belichick on offense and then failed spectacularly on their own is a long one.
Alternative #2: this guy.
December 26th, 2013 at 11:08 AM ^
And Whisenhunt only made the playoffs twice in six seasons when he coached the Cardinals. Sure, he has experience, but I think we have seen guys without experience succeed and guys with experience fail enough that the whole experience factor probably isn't all that indicative of whether a coach will be successful.
Bill O'Brien is probably getting so much attention because he was a very successful offensive coordinator at the NFL level and has done some pretty impressive stuff while being the coach at Penn State, including turning a walk-on quarterback into the Big Ten leader in passing and a true freshman into a pretty decent quarterback.
Whether you believe in Stafford or not, he has made some terrible mistakes this year and getting him back on track has to be one of the team's top priorities. Quarterbacks are simply too important in the NFL and Stafford is paid too much to perform at the level he is right now if the team is going to succeed. O'Brien has shown he can work with quarterbacks and I think this is what excites a lot of people.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^
At least when the Lions continue to lose we can relish the fact that ND or OSU lost their HC!
December 26th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^
Let's buck the mold here. Hire the hottest chick you can. If we are going to lose anyways (because SOL), we might as well be able to stare at a nice rack.
#Bikini'sOrBust
#Bikini's&Bust
December 26th, 2013 at 10:47 AM ^
to just bring a Lingerie Football League franchise here than to do what you are suggesting. . .
December 26th, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^
Never said it was going to be easy. Just said she had to be.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^
Given Schwartz's buyout, how much money would the Ford's be willing to spend on a new coach if they're paying the guy no longer working for them $12MM? And given the buyout, is this a foregone conclusion? Seeing what Ken Wisenhunt did in AZ a couple of years ago was nice and I wouldn't mind him. He can work wonders with QBs.
I don't know that I'm 100% sold on Mayhew -- for all the good roster choices he's made he's made some equally bad and questionable ones. Bringing in Xander was a step in the right direction but if we can bring in someone more proven and better somehow, I wouldn't be opposed to that.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:19 AM ^
Dantonio.
Pains me to say this, but the man is loved by Sparty Fans and respected by Michigan fans. I think he'd be a great fit at Detroit, even if it were for only 3-5 years.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:26 AM ^
I don't think he's respected by Michigan fans except for the product he puts on the field, which he's done by letting talented players slide off any consequences for felonious behavior. If discipline is a problem with the Lions, Dantonio is not the answer. He looks so stern and frowny and grim all the time and that has caused people to think he's a disciplinarian. He isn't. Never confuse efficiency with a liver complaint.
December 26th, 2013 at 2:15 PM ^
December 26th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
He perpetuates the LITTLE BROTHER image every year with his obesession over Michigan and "weeds" comments.
The only thing Michigan fans respect is the fact that he gets the most out of his talent.
I'd never want him at Michigan.
And don't compare him to Lloyd Carr, Carr was ornery too, but it was FOR Michigan. Dantonio's angst isn't about anything MSU related. He'd rather see Michigan lose every game than MSU win the B1G. He focus has always been on Michigan (which is one of the many reasons they've had so much recent success).
He's the perfect coach for them because they have the little brother chip on the shoulder...that doesn't work at Michigan, ND, or OSU.
Having Narduzzi doesn't hurt either.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:23 AM ^
Stafford has the talent and the moxie to be as good a QB as anyone in the league, if you can fix whatever it is that caused him to suck so miserably after the Dallas game. Fix Stafford and you fix the Lions. To that end, bring us Whisenhunt.
I don't get the high hopes for Bill O'Brien - I don't think he'd be terrible but he's also pretty unproven. The ability to motivate college players is not the same as the ability to fix a busted pro team. Not the same at all.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
December 26th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^
December 26th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
I didn't want anything to do with Stafford when we drafted him. All I saw out of him was 2 INTs per game at Georgia. And he barely won the big game, if at all. That being said, he has vastly exceeded my expectations. And the guy I wanted (Aaron Curry) isn't in the league anymore.
Not sure you can fix him. But an O.C. who would put him in better situations would sure improve his issues. I don't mind the gun-slinging attitude or the changes in arm slot, or the terrible overthrows, as much as it bugs me that he has 1 route plays, and pre-determined reads that the opposing defense always jumps.
He obviously isn't Peyton Manning or Brady behind center. He seems to not be able to make calls at the line to improve the teams chances on certain downs. If he can never learn to be a field general, then I don't think the Lions will be able to go anywhere with him.
December 26th, 2013 at 2:45 PM ^
so he knows what to expect from the NFL players.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
December 26th, 2013 at 10:52 AM ^
...in a heartbeat.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^
Gus Malzahn. Seriously
December 26th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
December 26th, 2013 at 11:00 AM ^
He could potentially be fired from Washington Redskins and he had multiple disagreements with the ownership. Even though Washington had a bad year I still think he is a great coach. Would love to see him in Detroit.
December 26th, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^
There's something to be said for a coach with a history of clashing with the front office. Old Man Ford needs something to keep him from being so loyal to losing coaches and GMs. In this case I think the history lies with the Redskins' ownership, but still.
December 26th, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^
I thought Sr. was removed from these decisions after they fired Millen and Jr. took over.
December 26th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
I don't recall that happening officially - or at least ever being made public. (Not to say that it definitely didn't.) I'd bet that behind the scenes, WCF Sr. is more of a figurehead by now.....but I also would bet that he's still got plenty of influence. I don't think it's a lock that Schwartz is let go this year, and if not, it's probably a sign that Sr. is still making some decisions.
December 26th, 2013 at 12:29 PM ^
Sr probably makes decisions, since Jr was the one who wanted Millen. From What I heard is that Sr wanted to keep Mo at the end of '99 but Jr wanted to make a complete change and got Sr to go with the Millen plan.
December 26th, 2013 at 11:01 AM ^
What about Tom Coughlin? Rumors are out there big-time that the Giants might make a move with him, he's definitely a disciplinarian and has quite an impressive resume.
The Eagles booted Reid last year and both Philly AND KC benefited. Wouldnt surprise me to see the Giants do something similar - my only question would be would the Lions have already filled the slot with an available candidate before he's free.
December 26th, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
It has to be a college coach. Retreads and coordinators getting their first chance have been the Lions way in the past. Neither has ever worked.
David Shaw would be my first pick. If he turns it down, go to O'Brien. I think he would take the job.
December 26th, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
Yep, Daryl Rogers really worked out swell for the Lions, who hired him right out of Arizona State.
December 26th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
What about Steve Spurrier? He seems like a natural for a pro-coach and might be available. I'll bet he'd be fantastic if you "have to go college".
December 26th, 2013 at 2:48 PM ^
several years ago? It was a specatular failure. He mentally checked out of the pro at the end of his career.
People would point to Pete Carroll, but Carroll was different. He had some success but ulitmately failed. He turned USC into a national power then jumped into Seattle where he learned from his mistakes. I'm not sure if Steve can do the same plus he's old.
December 26th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^
December 26th, 2013 at 12:06 PM ^
That was almost 30 years ago. It's not at all relevant to the people still in place (outside of Ford himself) or the current trends in the game (college coaches like Harbaugh, Kelly and Carroll all going to the league with big success).
December 26th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
Can someone with more knowledge explain the appeal of BOB to me?
It seems he's only worked as an NFL OC for one year and was a position coach with the Pats in different capacities before that.
Like is he just the hot name right now or is there something I'm clearly missing?
December 26th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^
knows how to work with players and command respect. He's smart and respected. NFL executives love BOB.
December 26th, 2013 at 11:48 AM ^
If they are going the college route, give me O'Brien over anyone else, simply because he was a successful-ish OC and a pretty good HC in college. If they are going the NFL route, though, I'd like a younger assistant coach like Patricia at NE or someone else who was a defensive coach but also someone who came from a coaching tree that values not being an idiot and trying to out-testosterone the opposition instead of out-coaching them.
December 26th, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^
Think we'd have a shot at pulling Wayne Fontes out of retirement/banishment?
If not, maybe we could go after Shanahan.
December 26th, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
One of these days, Gruden's going to say yes to a team that's bugging him about their open head coach position. Until that day happens, I'm always going to want him as any of my football teams' next coach.
December 26th, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^
Why? His Super Bowl was won with the players and concepts of his predecessor, he was exposed shortly thereafter and he is devout to the Dead Coast Offense.
December 26th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
Don't ask questions, just give in to the irrational Gruden love that takes place during every coaching carousel time of year.
December 26th, 2013 at 9:26 PM ^
Charlie the Unicorn. Completely forgot about Charlieeeeee.
December 26th, 2013 at 12:53 PM ^
December 26th, 2013 at 1:30 PM ^
December 26th, 2013 at 2:12 PM ^
When has a HC vet like that ever won a Super Bowl when they got a new job in their twilight? It's not a successful model.
December 26th, 2013 at 7:30 PM ^
Dick Vermeil: After a 15-yr post-Eagles hiatus, he became the Rams' head coach, and in his third year there won the Super Bowl at the age of 63.
Tom Coughlin: Coached the Jags, won the Super Bowl in his fourth year with the Giants at the age of 61.
Bill Parcells was 56 when he got to the Super Bowl with the Pats, but they lost.
I can't think of anyone else at the moment.
December 26th, 2013 at 2:43 PM ^
December 26th, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^
Schwartz isn't acting like he's fired.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10195567/carlin-isles-us-rugby-player…