Will the Detroit Lions be Rowing the Boat in 2021?

Submitted by Hotel Putingrad on December 30th, 2020 at 12:23 PM

Yes, it's the silly season for NFL coaching rumors, but would anyone honestly believe this doesn't have the Ford family written all over it?

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Broken Brilliance

December 30th, 2020 at 1:06 PM ^

Vrabel comes to mind if you can look beyond last weekend. Rhule also had defensive experience earlier in his career and has delegated play calling to Joe Brady.

I won't argue against the Lions passing on the local guy who just beat a playoff team down several starters and who knows Lafleur's tendencies better than anyone. You do you.

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Perkis-Size Me

December 30th, 2020 at 12:31 PM ^

If he wins, it will. 

Its a funny thing. Winning has a way of shutting everyone up. Of silencing all the critics and getting everyone in single file, ready to tow the company line. I'm sure Bill Belichek and Nick Saban both have the personality of a plain baked potato, no fixins, but they win. So that's why guys want to line up and play for them. 

If putting up with you means I get a ring and a trophy, I'll find a way to deal with it. 

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AC1997

December 30th, 2020 at 12:41 PM ^

I tend to agree that Fleck is an ideal college coach and not a good fit in the NFL.  He's young enough and has enough energy that maybe he could put it together at the next level, but doesn't seem worth the risk to find out.  Most NFL coaches don't last long and there arent a lot of rah-rah guys that make it work.  Pete Carroll being a big exception. 

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ldevon1

December 30th, 2020 at 2:17 PM ^

I didn't say anything about his coaching qualifications or philosophy. If you know anything about McVay, he is a rah rah, culture, encouraging type of guy. That's how he got the most out of Jared Goff. Go watch the 1st season of Hard Knocks that he was there. Both smaller stature guys, with a ton of energy. I don't think much of Fleck as a coach.  

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umichshea

December 30th, 2020 at 3:21 PM ^

What leaves you unconvinced?  Is it the lack of sustained success?

My instincts tell me he is a douche-bag human.  However, as a coach it is hard not to like the results.

He took Western Michigan to an AP Top 15 end of season ranking in Year 4.  I'll say that again...Western Michigan.  He won their first MAC in nearly 30 years.  He has their only bowl win.  He put a number of guys in the NFL.  He had college gameday in Kalamazoo, Michigan late in the season. There is little doubt if he stayed he would have run rough-shod over the MAC and continued to recruit above WMU's standing.  

He took Minnesota to an AP Top 10 end of season ranking in Year 3.  He has their only 11 win season in school history.   He is seven games over .500 at Minnesota.  Other than Glen Mason you have to go back to the 50's for this type of record.  Hell...Lou Holtz was under .500 at Minnesota.

He doesn't have two decades of tape.  However, at two places it is hard to win he put them on the national stage (quickly) and his teams have largely improved in record each year.  I don't hold a 3-4 Corona record against him...particularly with how hard they were hit.  

I have no idea if his style would translate to the NFL.  However, at the college level his stock should be VERY high IMHO.  

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jdraman

December 30th, 2020 at 1:15 PM ^

I agree with your assessment of Fleck; his style of coaching and leadership seem to best be suited to the college realm. I also don't believe his track record is all that impressive. Aside from two 'magical-type' seasons at both his HC gigs, his record is underwhelming.

Fleck honestly reminds me quite a bit of Dan Quinn. A "players coach" who can motivate and get the most out of his guys, is well liked by the organization/administration, and seems to have adequate Xs and Os knowledge. However, as a Falcons fan I will tell you to BEWARE of any coach with a whiff of that reputation.

Also, I disagree that Carroll is solely a 'rah-rah' guy. He's been known as a pretty good defensive-mind throughout his career; not an innovator but certainly with the chops to be successful (like most of his tenure in Seattle).   

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Perkis-Size Me

December 30th, 2020 at 12:29 PM ^

The Lions could hire Bill Belichek, have the '07 Pats offense and the '85 Bears defense all put on Lions uniforms, and they'd still find a way to go 6-10. 

They are what they are until the Fords are no longer associated with the team. And I don't see the Fords having any incentive to sell the team so.......yeah. 

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Mr Miggle

December 30th, 2020 at 1:13 PM ^

I'm going to make a few assumptions.

Fleck's success isn't due to his schtick. He's a good coach.

He has some ability to read a room and adapt without having to completely change his personality.

We're not the only people talking about this. Any team that hires him, even the Lions, is going to want to hear how Fleck plans to adapt his approach when coaching pros. 

As a counter example, is any college coach more like Bill Belichick than Nick Saban? From the outside, he seems to run his program like a pro coach. But he flopped in the NFL, and has won big everywhere he's been in college, not just due to having more talent like he does now.

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Hail to the Vi…

December 30th, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^

Agree with this.

I think Fleck's coaching style actually translates well to today's NFL. I'm not talking about the "Row the Boat" marketing fluff, but just from my observations he is a high energy motivator, not an X's and O's coach. He hires coordinators to do that.

He builds a strong rapport with his players in the locker room. His guys are inspired to play hard for him. He's not overly stubborn, he is willing to do what works. He has a high enough football IQ to follow the trends of the game and he seems to be a pretty good identifier of talent (sent 11 players to the NFL from Western Michigan in 4 years and 7 Gophers in 3 years).

He wouldn't be my first choice necessarily, but I think he could do well in the NFL.

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yossarians tree

December 30th, 2020 at 12:31 PM ^

Struggling to name any successful college coach, with zero NFL experience, making the jump to the NFL and having success. They are basically two completely different games at this point.

And you can't cite Harbaugh. He was a successful QB in the league for a long time and was also an NFL assistant.

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