Lions Coaching Search Part II

A very good day to my fellow Lions fans,

Well my first blog on the Lions coaching search demanded a sequel so I am calling this blog entry Lions Coaching Search Part II. I know not very original but then again neither was the defensive play calling this past season. As of this posting the Lions have not decided on a coaching hire which is good because they need to be very thorough. The new coach will have to focus on the basic fundamentals of a strong defense that stops the run and a offense that can run the ball. The linemen have got to be bigger, they need to tackle and they need to stop the run. Most of the failures on defense came from big plays we gave up and those were from the run. Big plays that we gave up resulted in other teams putting points up on the board. I know that is stating the obvious but these games of being down 21-0 before we even attempt a comeback has got to stop! There is a fan poll on the Detroit Lions homepage that asks what background the new coach should have and it comes as no surprise that the fans by a whopping 81% want a defensive background.

Jim Schwartz who has done two interviews with the Lions stresses strong defense after his eight years of being the Titans Defensive Coordinator. I personally like Jim Schwartz because unlike our past few coaches, Jim Schwartz has experience as a talent scout with the Cleveland Browns. The Lions have also interviewed Miami Dolphins Assistant Coach Todd Bowles for a second time and my personal feeling is that he is another Rod Marinelli, a great guy-position coach not a head coach. The Lions are scheduled to interview San Diego Chargers Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera today and Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier on either Thursday or Friday.

Last blog I discussed some of the competition around the league. That got a lot easier when the Broncos named Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDainels head coach and when Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy retired they kept it in-house and hired Jim Caldwell as their new Head Coach. It is unsure if the St. Louis Rams are sticking with Jim Haslett, so your guess is as good as mine. The new threat that has emerged is with the Kansas City Chiefs announcing Patriots General Manager Scott Pioli will be their new GM. On a side note when I heard that announcement I felt like the guy who dated the girl who got away and is now getting a wedding invitation that she is marrying someone else. I know the Lions could have gotten him as GM but William Clay Ford Sr. wants Yes Men and that ruled him out.

What this now means is that Herm Edwards days are much like the dinosaur, numbered. Scott Pioli will appoint a new coach but the question will be when. This now makes the Chiefs coaching vacancy much more attractive to other candidates although I have heard Jim Schwartz would not be considered for that coaching vacancy. I would suspect that Scott Pioli would want to talk Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. A lot of the times when a potential coach interviews somewhere it is to make their own stock rise with another potential team. So being down to the Jets, Raiders, Chiefs and the Rams as competitors might seem a bit daunting but I believe we will get Schwartz especially if Frazier decides on the Rams.

There are good candidates out there and Lewand and Mayhew seem to be doing their homework. The question will be when it is exam time will this be another blanking out and totally missing the mark? Time will only tell. Like most of you I eagerly await the announcement which I thought could come at the end of this week but I am hearing that Rex Ryan of the Baltimore Ravens is a potential candidate and will have to wait until after this weekends AFC Championship game in order to talk to.

It can’t rain every day Lions fans and we will get our day in the sun. If the Cardinals can right their ship and host the NFC Championship game then that is hope we can claw onto. I hope to have another posting by the end of the weekend when more information is available.

Until next time GO LIONS!