OT: The Lions/Replacing Jim Schwartz/Would a Big Ten coach make sense?
December 17th, 2013 at 9:54 AM ^
Equally disappointing.
Michigan's schedule was terrible this year and had the offense - at the very least - not completely melted down against Nebraska and Iowa, we're looking at least 9 wins. The fact that our offense looked so bad so many times (Akron, UConn, Penn State, Iowa, Northwestern, Nebraska, MSU) without suffering any injuries other than Dileo (and its not like they used him till OSU anyway) made this season a maddening one to watch. If Michigan were at 9 wins, this year is palatable and you would have seen a lot less animosity amongst the fanbase
The Lions season is right there because of the injuries to Cutler and Rodgers. Completely ridiculous to actually be looking up at those two teams (and considering how bad each of their defenses has been) at this point in the season.
December 17th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
I think Michigan's season is still more disappointing. I have some expectations for Michigan football. I have none for the Lions; every Lions' victory is a minor miracle for me. I'll never forget the 0-16 year.
December 17th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^
Playoff bubble team, ends in disappointing fashion. Lather, rinse, repeat.
December 17th, 2013 at 3:16 PM ^
I'd have to go with Michigan. The Lions have been failing to live up to expectations for the vast majority of my life, so I'm accustomed to it.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^
Seems like a really good guy. He can definitely coach, plus it takes him out of our hair in the future. This guy is a remarkable recruiter given the penalties on the program.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^
Bill O'Brien have coached in the NFL.
They tried with Mooch and failed miserably though Millen had a lot to do with it. They hired Martz as the OC and failed big time because of his philosophy and personality clash.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^
I can't tell but are you calling Bill O'Brien a retread? He was an OC.
December 17th, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^
Sorry for the confusion. I'm calling hiring former NFL HC, retreads(which they typically are). Bill O'Brien is not one of them. He should be near the top of the list for Lions in coaching search if they fire Schwartz which they will (if they don't make the playoff).
December 17th, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^
I was mentioning that aspect as a tribute to the character that he displays. If recruits are willing to go to Penn State with no hopes of going to a bowl game or win championships, then he should be able to convince free agents to go to the Lions who have no hope of making the playoffs or competing for championships as well.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:25 AM ^
Logical names that come to mind from the college ranks:
David Shaw (I know, Raiders and stuff), BOB, BK (facial explosions aside, would be an upgrade IMO), Franklin, Strong.
none are good options - with Shaw being the lesser of the evils.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:39 AM ^
David Shaw is a great option. And I wouldn't worry about the Raiders. Any coach that looks at what he has talent-wise in Oakland and Detroit and chooses Oakland gets what he deserves.
Besides, the most dropped factoid for the next month will be that David Shaw went to Adams High School in Rochester in the 1980s when his dad coached for the Lions. It will be the "Urban Meyer was a grad assistant for Earle Bruce" for the Lions hopefully soon to begin coaching search.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:29 AM ^
I'll contribute to his annual salary.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^
If Lovie Smith can get fired after a 10-6 year, Schwartz can get fired after this. The Lions have been nototious for turnovers, and penalties his entire tenure. Rebuilding in NFL is not like college, you can get a new guy in their who makes an immediate impact.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:35 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:42 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^
Someone said yesterday that the Lions-est thing to do would be to beat the Ravens and Giants and then lose the division by losing to the Vikings. I've decided I disagree. The Lions-est thing to do is exactly the opposite.
As for hiring a coach from the college ranks: No. The vast majority of coaches are successful at one or the other but not both, Jim Harbaugh notwithstanding.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:35 AM ^
I say hire gruden and or cowher or someone who is a proven winner cause that's what detroit needs. Narduzzi might b a good hire for def. Cord. But detroit has the talent just looks like the coaches don't have what it takes.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:39 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:42 AM ^
If the articles from NFL writers over the last few weeks are accurate, it seems like the internal belief for Lions' management is that they have at least most of the horses to be a consistent contender, which to me makes it look as if they are looking at possible leadership changes for the team. However, for the Lions, I believe one would also have to look at the actual management ranks as well for potential changes - as in, Mayhew-level. The Lions bring in new players each year and new staffs periodically through the years and seem to consisently fail to address building a culture of winning, which must involve the folks in Allen Park. Any coach will only do so well in these curcumstances.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:22 AM ^
mayhew has been doing quite well, hes the one thats gotten all those "horses" to become a contender. new coach can change a lot of things, look at the bears offense this year compared to the tire fire it has been the last decade.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^
Check out their second round picks over the last five years and rethink this comment. He's taken many big swings and misses. Jury's out on Darius Slay but he again drafted a guy who was injured only to be surprised that injured players are injured.
December 17th, 2013 at 11:09 AM ^
Jordon Dizon will be a pro bowler next year.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:47 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^
Unless the Vikings and Packers gift the Lions a playoff spot, Schwartz is gone. Its not that last night was a terrible loss, its that last night even mattered towards earning a playoff bid. The Lions should be coasting to a playoff spot right now. At worst they should be 10-4, instead they are 7-7.
Bill O'Brien would be my pick for a replacement, though Belicheck's coaches haven't done well in the NFL.
December 17th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:50 AM ^
This guy built championship teams in two different places, and his demeanor and obvious organizational and talent-evaluating skills would seem to be a good fit for the NFL. His obvious ethical issues don't matter in the NFL, either.
Jim Tressel
December 17th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
But like it I do. Consider this:
- If Tressel succeeds, as a Lions fan I'm happy.
- If Tressel fails, as a Michigan fan I'm happy.
(Obviously this does not work for Michigan fans who are not Lions fans. Odds are good these peoiple will end up happy, though, considering the Lions track record.)
December 17th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^
That's is shtick. He does it everyweek. Not that this has anything to do with Stafford but I wouldn't take that as indicative.
December 17th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
Agreed. It sure seems like Gruden loves everybody.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^
Needs to make the change, but I'm afraid he'll bring in Kiffin...
December 17th, 2013 at 10:10 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 10:34 AM ^
Yes Ford has made many mistakes in the past but it seems like this particular problem is not an ownership issue. Martin Mayhew has assembled a talented roester and hired a coach that took the team from 0-16 to a wild card birth in the span of a few years. It seems like Schwartz is not the guy to take the Lions to the next level, but I wouldn't put that on ownership.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:46 AM ^
The thing with the Fords is that they actually let the guys they hire do their jobs. Their mistakes have been trusting the wrong guys.
But hell, even Georgia Frontiere got it right once. I'm not sure she knew what a football was.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
O'Brien would be the only college guy I'd look at, and only because he has previous NFL expereince. Other than that, this team has the talent to be a consistent 10-6 or better team in the NFL, but they play so recklessly they keep shooting themselves in the foot. That is on Schwartz more than Stafford. The sooner they make the change, the better.
I'd rather they bring in a proven coach like Coughlin or Tomlin, or whoever is out there this year rather than go the "up and coming coordinator" route. This team is close enough to contending that they don't need to grow along with a first-time coach.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^
After this season so far and last night, I'm now convinced that the Lions will never win the Super Bowl in my lifetime (I'm 29).
Obviously, Schwartz is a huge problem and needs to go, but Stafford is almost as big of an issue, in my opinion. Guy is just so inconsistent, and borderline lazy on the field. His side-arm throws aren't "cute" or "creative" when he's missing wide open receivers regularly. I think we need to look at some of the QB's in this upcoming draft honestly, don't care how big Matt's contract is. But just not Johnny Football, because he parties as much as Stafford.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
Great calls by the OC last night too. How many times did anyone else see this. Third and Short, Lions empty the backfield, Baltimore adjust to bring the house, Lions throw incomplete pass or INT. WHy? What is the OC or whoever calls the plays looking at? What is up with OC this year? What does it take to be one? Why do the two on my favorite two teams seem to suck?
Feel like I might cry.
December 17th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
Very good point. When you have a strong runner like Joique Bell, who will always lower his shoulder for 1 yard, this in inexcusable. This is Borgesian levels of out-thinking yourself. Was almost expecting the tackle over re-alignment, audible to empty backfield, fake jet sweep, pick 6.
December 17th, 2013 at 3:26 PM ^
Yeah, I couldn't figure out why they kept doing that. Makes no sense to me.
December 17th, 2013 at 11:06 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
... go after Borges.
.
.
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reverse psychology doesn't work on my kids either
December 17th, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^
And a couple weeks ago Jimmy Johnson said the same damn thing on Fox and said he thinks the Lions have more young talent then any team in the NFL and it was the best job out there. He said this
best WR in football, 2 good RB, a young wicked D, a owner who stays away, a winnable division. Still have draft picks, on the carpet, some, QB locked up for years.
Interesting if you ask me