OT: The Lions/Replacing Jim Schwartz/Would a Big Ten coach make sense?
December 17th, 2013 at 9:09 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
Like on the field? MSU has a basket full of roses that say they were disciplined on the field. I have a feeling Texas is going to think they were disciplined enough to give him a serious look. I can't say that he is right for the Lions but don't kid yourself about how impressive Narduzzi has been.
December 17th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
Aaand the Lions somehow ARE disciplined? This has been one of the biggest knocks on Schwartz. Not sure which Lions games you've been watching.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:13 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:10 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 10:22 AM ^
If that's what they want, i think they should pull Bill O'Brien from PSU. He managed to win a lot last year with marginal talent, imagine what he'd do with a team stacked like the (not nittany) Lions?
December 17th, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:14 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:29 AM ^
The larger problem is that their TO differential has hovered around there every year that Schwartz has been the coach. It was acceptable when they had no talent, but now they're one of the most talented teams in the league and they're not getting any better on that front.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
know who else has been there about the same amount of time, yeah, Stat Padford himself. Stafford is just too inconsistent right now. I am not trying to absolve the coaching staff of any blame but this was Stafford's year to really put up. He has just not been good enough.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^
You are right. That said, the secondary is not getting takeaways, either. WIth as much pressure as they get and the forced bad throws, I don't get how they didn't have at least 2 picks last night.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
Stat Padford? Really?
Aside from that I somewhat agree, he's starting to remind me of Romo. Talented but turnover-prone. I can only hope a change to the offensive system might improve things. I don't think he's going anywhere any time soon so here's to hoping we can make it work and fast. So much talent...
December 17th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
Everyone used to talk about the strength of Drew Bledsoe's arm until skinny Tom Brady took over.
December 17th, 2013 at 12:48 PM ^
of Calvin, it is largely glossed over because of the incredible catches he makes but boy does he be droppin the pigskin. He has one inexplicable drop per game.
December 17th, 2013 at 1:03 PM ^
So true. He sure does run a lot of crossing routes where he finds the zone under the safeties in the middle of the field and Stafford throws it up where only we can get it. The problem is, he takes quite a beating on a majority of the catches. I think after a while that would wear on you and make you concentrate less on finishing the catch and more on taking the hit.
December 17th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^
I do wonder about how catchable some of Stafford's throws are. The screen play to Joique was a good example. I know other recievers in the league will talk about how a QB throws a very catchable ball. With Stafford throwing a lot of fastballs, at all kinds of arm angles, I think it makes it harder for recievers to catch the ball. I think his inconsistency may effect the psyche of some of the recievers.
December 17th, 2013 at 5:03 PM ^
The most drops Calvin has ever had in an entire year is 9. That was set last night with 3 drops. So maybe if you want to talk about things that the Lions don't do well, at least try to come up with something better. 9 drops in an entire year being his most in a career? Yeah, he sure has butter fingers.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^
the only team with more turnovers than the lions is the giants...
December 17th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
when they see Mike Cox, the Giant.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:14 AM ^
Just say "No" to hiring college coaches. I would say it fails more often than not.
Gruden, Billick or...idk. That is all I have.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:54 AM ^
Jim Harbaugh, Chip Kelly and Pete Carroll. They're having huge successes with their current team.
I wouldn't mind Bill O'Brien. He has been the coach at pro level as a OC and knows the in and outs of NFL. Had success at PSU despite the sanctions. Would be a good fit for the Lions IMO.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:00 AM ^
I heard on Mike and Mike this morning that if he did leave PSU, the pros is a more logical landing spot for him due to some buy out clause if he goes to another college team.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^
know, man, he is sitting in a pretty comfy chair right now. The Penn State gig with absolutely no expectations and the opportunity to build it ground up how he sees fit. If I were O'Brien right now I would be laying in bed drinking a chocolate milkshake and ruminating about owning the world is not so bad.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:25 AM ^
I wasn't advocating one course of action or another...I agree he should just stay where he is. If he can make something of that team with one hand tied behind his back like its been, then imagine how good they could be once they're clear of sanctions? Unless some pro team throws ridiculous amounts of money at him, he should stay put, imo.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:21 AM ^
His buyout if he goes to another college team is $13M, which is why you don't hear him mentioned in any of these current openings.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^
Pat Shurmur...he really got that Eagles offense humming this year
/s
December 17th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
You know what also fails more often than not? Hiring NFL coaches. I'd have to search for it, but plenty of people have looked into it and found that former college coaches perform at the same levels as NFL coaches. You notice college coach failures more because of confirmation bias and because a college coach is more likely to be hired into a bad situation.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:15 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:22 AM ^
I thought this last night. First I thought, what happens when they win a playoff game? Then, if they win a conference title? I never got to the Super Bowl, because I concluded the city and much of the state would not survive after winning the conference. Everything will be light on fire.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:38 AM ^
The lions were basically gifted the division with GB and chicago QB injuries. Then they fell over themselves and choked on an easy schedule.
This pretty much sums up the 2013 lions:
December 17th, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^
Lol, yeah no need to worry there.
December 17th, 2013 at 3:08 PM ^
I think the city is safe for a while. I've never expected that to happen in my lifetime.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:18 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
Its one. They have one playoff win since 1957 so suggesting they have three is pretty generous.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:19 AM ^
I would prefer they just keep Schwartz unless they can get Cowher or Gruden. Aside from those two guys, I think they would be better off standing pat, at least for next year.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:27 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 9:39 AM ^
Agreed. I also think that they are too close to hire anyone other than a guy with a proven NFL track record at this point.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^
Both aren't coming back to coach especially Cowher. He's retired for good. Gruden has a nice cushy job at ESPN and isn't looking to leave anytime soon. He's the greatest tire kicker on every coaching vacany in college and pro. He wasn't a great HC in the pro anyway and won SB with Dungy's players.
December 17th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
Because they are former coaches who are relatively young and have won Super Bowls.
December 17th, 2013 at 11:43 AM ^
he's 56 but he has said he won't back into coaching unless it's near where he lives (READ: NOT DETROIT).
Gruden has a nice paying job at ESPN booth where the pressure is low. He has been mentioned in literally every coaching vacancies and was never a serious candidate at the same time. He won SB with Dungy's player. Any coach would've take over TB and won SB that way. TB was an uber talented team.
December 17th, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
I didn't pay that much attention to Tampa Bay when they were good. Was Dungy the GM? Besides, aren't we asking the next coach to win with these players?
December 19th, 2013 at 7:03 AM ^
Marc Trestman is 57 and in his first year as an NFL HC, so I would say 56 is relatively young for an NFL HC.
Also, Mike McCarthy is 50, Leslie Frazier 54, and Jim Schwartz 47.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:20 AM ^
I put this is the Schwartz thread last night that was deleted, but I want the board's objective opinions. Who has been more disappointing this season- Lions or Michigan?
My vote is with the Lions due to emphasis on the bad season last year, good years before that, and the need to perform this year based on that. Add in all of the talent on the roster and they would be my choice. They really are not stepping up this year organization wide.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^
After having that buttery-soft schedule then looking terrible at footbal for essentially 2 months straight (Indiana doesn't count), it was far worse of a year for M.
Lions fans should have been conditioned to late-game/season collapses long ago.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:44 AM ^
December 17th, 2013 at 12:53 PM ^
are right, they have lots of pieces but for some reason the peices do not come together well in terms of a coherent finished product. I have no idea what the Lions are on offense. They have a complete absence of identity. "Throw it up to Calvin" is not a philosophy but it is the only discernable game plan that I take away from Lions games. I watch their games and I have no idea what they want their theme to be. Are we going to beat them this way? Are we going to attack this part? I don't feel like those questions have been thoroughly explored when I watch Lions games. It is a complete grab bag.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^
Detroit was gifted the division title, was in position to reluctantly take it all year, and has shat the bed harder and harder every game.