By Charlie Portelli
Two things drive NFL teams these days, quarterbacks and head coaches. I believe the Lions have their franchise quarterback in Matthew Stafford. He can make all the throws and not only does he want to win; he wants to win in
The current problem is the head coach Jim Schwartz.
Jim Schwartz took over a historically bad football team when
he got hired in as the Lions coach after the infamous 0-16 season. To give
credit where credit is due, he turned that football team into a playoff team
just three seasons later after going 10-6 which was no easy task, obviously. He
was immediately anointed as an excellent leader and football coach and most
everyone in the city of Detroit
thought that they had found their “savior”. However, the following season he
went on to lead the Lions to an abysmal 4-12 season and took a considerable
step back to being considered among the leagues worst teams.
One of the biggest problems Schwartz dealt with even
throughout his success in the 2011 season was having terrible discipline with
his players which led to them being one of the most penalized teams in the
league. He also dealt with multiple player arrests in the offseason in which he
did not properly resolve. This all led to the downfall that was the 4-12 season
for Jim Schwartz and the Detroit Lions. Another problem with Schwartz is the
way he handles himself on and off the football field. Passion is great, but
slamming your headset after you beat a winless Redskins team? Come on pal, act
like you’ve been there before. He coached under arguably the greatest NFL coach
of all time, Bill Belichick in Cleveland
but he certainly did not learn how to remain cool like Belichick does and not
get overly emotional. As much as Lions fans do not want to admit it, this stuff
matters. It matters a lot in fact. It sets the precedent for your football
team. The head coach is the leader, he should act mature.
The Lions have the talent on their roster to win despite
Schwartz and Lions management making poor draft selections year after year.
This is very much a team and a job that hopeful NFL coaches would die for if
the job were ever to become vacant. There aren’t many teams out there that are
looking for a coach which have a franchise quarterback that has experience and
is ready to win now, perhaps the best football player in the league at wide
receiver, a young a ferocious defensive line and a much improved secondary.
They are most definitely not a perfect team, but they have a foundation set
that the right coaching would turn into a playoff contender given the chance.
I am a die hard Lions fan and I would love nothing more than
to be wrong about Schwartz and have him lead us to playoff victories, but I do
not see that happening. Therefore I am ready for this team to get started in a
new direction. I thought that it was the wrong move to bring back Jim Schwartz
and the rest of his coaching staff after the 4-12 season. How many
organizations in the NFL do you know that have gone 4-12, yet their head coach
and both the offensive and defensive coordinators were retained, 4 years into
the regime no less? I can’t think of any. Management should have moved on
instead of spinning their tires by bringing the core of the coaching staff
back.
The Lions impressive victory yesterday over the Bears does
not suddenly change my mind either, and it shouldn’t change yours if you were a
Schwartz doubter. I am not discrediting what was a great victory for Schwartz
and the Lions but lets keep it in perspective, they won a home game over a team
that was bound to lose. Jay Cutler looks improved under his new system and
coaching, but he is still Jay Cutler, a walking turnover machine.
The Lions are off to a great 3-1 start but it’s a long
season and I do not expect it to end with Jim Schwartz keeping his job as
Detroit Lions head coach.
I want to say a shit ton about the wings and there past and present leaders but no one wants to talk hockey. Ill just mention the classiest leaders which have amounted to several Stanley Cups in my time. Bowman and the meanest cock in town, Mike. You would think the Lions could take some notes and figure it out because I also hate how Jim Shwartz controls his body language and emotions. Bowman and Mike never show a ounce of emotion. Unless pissed at themselves or own team. Shwartz was great for Detroit and put us in another direction but now its time to take the next step. Thats why it's a rebuilding process. I dont think he can do any more than his 10-6 yr. but as always .....it doesnt matter. ( we are fans speaking to a blackhole)
ReplyDeleteThose are great examples. Look at the NFL examples, Belichick, Cowher, Tomlin, McCarthy...the list goes on. So glad you mentioned body language, another thing that reflects on what kind of coach he is. The way he interviews also bothers me. He's too cocky and I just don't particularly like how he handles himself.
DeleteI agree 100%. I'd like to take it one step further speaking to the offensive and defensive coordinators. I understand the lions have not had an issue putting up points or yards this year, but Linehan has one of the most vanilla playbooks for the weapons he has at his disposal. And for the defense... we will talk they can actually stop an end-around or a screen pass. Good coaches know these weaknesses exist, and that's why we always lose to good teams.
ReplyDeleteObviously both of the coordinators fall under Schwartz's regime, and I would have no problem seeing this ugly leadership leave town.
p.s... Piggybacking on the draft picks, why would you draft dudes with behavior and legal problems if you know you have no control or discipline over your team (i.e. small titties young and mikel leshoure)
Proud to be 3-1 but not optimistic that we have numerous playoffs wins with this existing coaching staff. Maybe if Schwartz could dance like Jimmy Leyland I would be more accepting
Great post, thanks for commenting. I am also happy to be 3-1 of course and the schedule actually looks favorable going forward but I am not enthused with this coaching staff in the slightest. The draft picks have been awful. After Millen was gone, I think we all hoped that we would draft better, it hasn't improved, its been just as bad. All these teams that are succeeding now have drafted well and gotten top of the line starters later in the draft. Not saying you're going to nail every 4th and 5th round selection but occasionally you should. Our 2nd round has been awful under Schwartz.
DeleteIf you cant dance like Jimmy, then get out of town! haha loved that. ...but as always does that really matter??
DeleteThe Detroit Lions have had a long history of hiring bad coaches. At least coaches that aren't able to succeed in Detroit. Try to get anyone from another respectable organization to leave their job to coach the Lions is unheard of.
ReplyDeleteWe could take the route of the Pistons and hire an experienced, yet average head coach (Mo Cheeks).
The reason I believe that he is still around is because of his emotion and energy that he brings to Detroit. I can see anyone winning with the Lions and get a thrill out of it. He should have passion for his job. I think it isn't a concern for the Lions. Players, coaches do the same thing from all different ends on the talent spectrum. Look at Pete Carol's time at USC or every TD catch Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, & Randy Moss ever had. People's emotional state get overlooked if they can produce. Depends on the personality. Use Schwartz's talent as a head coach and use this as his final season to produce.
I agree I can't stand the energy a player exerts after they get a sack or INT. Act like you've done it before and don't consider it your play of the game. I believe that as Detroit becomes a more respectful organization, they will present that type of class. I don't believe you clean up the body language then the penalties will disappear. Despite what people say about the challenge flag last Thanksgiving, the Lions screwed up in many other ways to lose that game.
Sure I don't agree with trying to run the clock out at the beginning of the fourth against Arizona or running the clock out with :53 seconds and 3 time outs left. Probably even the fact that Pettigrew is still playing as much as he is. The thing we have to remember is that this has been a crummy organization for the last 50 years. This is nothing new. Suddenly we win a few games and it's pointed out that things should be done differently in order to achieve more success. Detroit needs a leader that can understand his team, one that works with what he has. We don't have the most talented team, nor do we have a for sure QB of the future. Stafford has good numbers, but he doesn't have the confidence of a leader and enough faith in himself to throw it to someone pass the first down markers, while trying to convert on 3rd down.
Overall I agree that this is his final season to correct things and make it back to the playoffs. If that is not done, fire him. IF he is someway able to win games against respectable opponents this year, make it to the post season, and win a game in the playoffs. Then by all means bring him back. Should he fall short of any of those qualifications, then I'm sure someone respectable will believe they can make Detroit winners.
"The thing is we have to remember this has been a crummy organization for the last 50 years?" So what? Does that mean we have to be a crummy organization for another 50 years? I am a Lion fan, I want to win. I want to win now. This thing is getting to the point where I can actually see it getting turned around and can envision success. I tasted it a little bit when we went to the playoffs in 2011 and I it was one of the most exciting experiences as a sports fan and all we did was make the playoffs. To go backwards from there in unacceptable.
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