Any opposition to...

[zyxt9]

So Austin is good DC because we had better talent last year than this year? That makes no sense at all. An adequate DC gets the team ready to play. Maybe makes a second half adjustment to get his guy to play better.

You can't blame Lombardi because of bad offense but not blame Austin because of bad defense. I'm curious why Austin gets a pass this season.

You are forgetting how that talent underperformed in years prior to Austin. He came in and turned them into a top rated D

 

[brewer229]

You are forgetting how that talent underperformed in years prior to Austin. He came in and turned them into a top rated D

2014 had a few things in its favor: A number of contract years, a schedule that had very few offensive talented teams, and a offense that didn't turn the ball over.

I don't think Austin is a bad coach at all, however he does deserve some blame. Especially early in the season people just exposed the short crossing routes and he just couldn't make the adjustment it didn't seem.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

2014 had a few things in its favor: A number of contract years, a schedule that had very few offensive talented teams, and a offense that didn't turn the ball over.

I don't think Austin is a bad coach at all, however he does deserve some blame. Especially early in the season people just exposed the short crossing routes and he just couldn't make the adjustment it didn't seem.

Either way.....I think Austin will be the victim of circumstance. I highly doubt he survives what will surely be a house cleaning party by the Fords......and if he did survive that.....will a new head coach want to keep him on as DC?? Doubtful.

Austin will get the ax at some point in the next 9 weeks......but I don't think he deserves it. He will quickly find a DC job somewhere.

Personally.....what I would do......is fire everyone now.....keep Austin (and Jim Bob I guess)and give him the intern head coach title and see what happens. It's putting him in a terrible situation.....I get that......but there is a 99% chance he's gone at the end of the year anyway......why not give him a shot to catch lightning in a bottle?

Mayhew.....gone
Caldwell....gone
Lewand.....see ya

 

[zyxt9]

It would be beneficial to the organization to go ahead and fire Mayhew and Lewand after the trade deadline is up on Tuesday. If the thought is to fire them at the end of the year, it would actually be more beneficial to fire them after the trade deadline. It would give the new GM a chance to formulate their offseason plan, including the new coach possibilities. Caldwell can be a lame duck coach till the end. No reason to put the losses which belong on Caldwell's record and resume onto someone else's...that's just not being fair to the replacement since coaches are judged by their W/L record.

 

[tomdalton22]

It would be beneficial to the organization to go ahead and fire Mayhew and Lewand after the trade deadline is up on Tuesday. If the thought is to fire them at the end of the year, it would actually be more beneficial to fire them after the trade deadline. It would give the new GM a chance to formulate their offseason plan, including the new coach possibilities. Caldwell can be a lame duck coach till the end. No reason to put the losses which belong on Caldwell's record and resume onto someone else's...that's just not being fair to the replacement since coaches are judged by their W/L record.

I am fine with firing everybody right now but to fire MM & Lewand now so you can hire replacements...who are they going to hire? Not very likely that other teams would allow the Lions to interview potential candidates in the middle of the season.

 

[zyxt9]

Exactly, no team is going to allow their coordinators to be poached mid season...at least not any that are on winning teams.

It is akin to how UM did it last year. Bring in the new GM midseason so they have time to adjust to new environment and begin their list of potential candidates to pursue. They might be able to extend some feelers to get an idea who might be willing to consider the job and shorten their list.

Challenge is finding a good GM this time.

 

[tomdalton22]

Exactly, no team is going to allow their coordinators to be poached mid season...at least not any that are on winning teams.

It is akin to how UM did it last year. Bring in the new GM midseason so they have time to adjust to new environment and begin their list of potential candidates to pursue. They might be able to extend some feelers to get an idea who might be willing to consider the job and shorten their list.

Challenge is finding a good GM this time.

I wasn't just talking about the coaching staff but the GM too. Most of the time you hire someone from another team. Most teams aren't going to let the Lions poach their upper management mid season.

 

[LKP]

Don't think you are allowed until January to go after front office guys.

 

[grandy]

I wasn't just talking about the coaching staff but the GM too. Most of the time you hire someone from another team. Most teams aren't going to let the Lions poach their upper management mid season.

I mentioned something like this in a previous thread. The pool of candidates is likely going to be limited at this point in a season. The only options are probably promotion from within (lol) or hiring an unemployed former GM.

 

[zyxt9]

Point being, after the trade deadline Mayhew is a lame duck. There really is zero benefit to having him around. Do the Lions really want him potentially even discussing contract extensions or anything with current Lions players? No. Do they want him beginning to formulate potential targets for FA or the Draft? No.

They can fire him and have zero negatives come from it. There is the positive that potential candidates have 100% confirmation that the position is available instead of wondering about it. If they have an agent or other point of contact, they can have them pass along their interest to be contacted at the end of the year. Nothing illegal about a person interested in the position sending an appointment saying "let's have lunch on this date!"

 

[boogerlovejoy]

I mentioned something like this in a previous thread. The pool of candidates is likely going to be limited at this point in a season. The only options are probably promotion from within (lol) or hiring an unemployed former GM.

That's why I say give Austin the reigns......nothing to lose. Everyone in management should be on an intern basis the rest of the season. EVERYONE.

The Lions new slogan should be "get better or get the fuck out"!!!

Any candidate worth a shit is employed right now.......but instead of just wasting the last 9 weeks of the season.......I say try ANYTHING different. Give Austin his shot. See what kind of show he runs for the last 9 weeks. Couldn't hurt.

As far as GM........wait until the trade deadline then send Mayhew packing. Again, you won't find a qualified candidate until the off season but there is no reason to keep him around. Let everyone see the heads roll......fear is a great motivator!!!!

 

[LKP]

Austin can't fix the offense being a HC. Austin showed focus on fixing the damn defense.

 

[grandy]

Point being, after the trade deadline Mayhew is a lame duck. There really is zero benefit to having him around. Do the Lions really want him potentially even discussing contract extensions or anything with current Lions players? No. Do they want him beginning to formulate potential targets for FA or the Draft? No.

They can fire him and have zero negatives come from it. There is the positive that potential candidates have 100% confirmation that the position is available instead of wondering about it. If they have an agent or other point of contact, they can have them pass along their interest to be contacted at the end of the year. Nothing illegal about a person interested in the position sending an appointment saying "let's have lunch on this date!"

Still not sure if it matters. I'd like to think that contract negotiations require the stamp of approval from ownership, if they're not willing to keep Mayhew around then he probably won't be allowed to do much at this point. I'd also like to think they're looking into candidates whether Mayhew is employed or not. If all he's capable of doing right now is picking up filler FAs to fill holes the rest of this season, I don't have much of an issue with it since the season is a dumpster fire anyway.

I guess I just look at the practical side of things, it won't make much of a difference on the outcome or even preparations for next year if they plan on cleaning house anyway. I think firings should have a purpose, a change for immediate impact, firing a coordinator in the hopes to shake things up and turn the season around makes sense, firing somebody when the season is already lost just feels pointless and more trouble than it's worth. I'm not even sure if it sends a message....we let you run the franchise into the ground for the past 7 years, but we're gonna let you go 2 months early because we're not happy. In fact the message has already been sent regardless of when they clean house, and it's not a good one.

 

[mhughes0021]

Stafford is a bigger reason the defense is failing then Austin. Im sure all the flamers will be outraged but the proof is in the pudding. Thru 3 qtrs MOST of our drives ended in either a 3n out or an INT. Thats ridiculous and no defense will do well put in those circumstances.

 

[LKP]

Stafford is a bigger reason the defense is failing then Austin. Im sure all the flamers will be outraged but the proof is in the pudding. Thru 3 qtrs MOST of our drives ended in either a 3n out or an INT. Thats ridiculous and no defense will do well put in those circumstances.

20 turnovers in 8 games does hurt the D. But they got abused in run defense yesterday (over 200 yards). And Kelce and Maclin had some clutch catches on 3rd down.

And we gave up TDs on opening drives of both halves.

Defense is a big problem (granted no Levy, Walker and Mathis and Wilson was out most of the game). Austin needs to focus on that. He's not fixing the offense as HC.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Austin was a first time DC last year now you want him as a HC? Even interim because lets say they win a game or two. He becomes perma HC because the Fords, well they're not very football smart.

Blame Matt. But those 3 and out's, the other team still has to move the ball. Look at Chicago, Matt was fine and the defense caved. Same against the Vikings. It's always the players but if Lombardass gets canned because of the offensive woes, the same fate should go to Austin.

Great 1 year, its all Austin. Bad the next, hey it's the players. Sound logic, lol.

 

[inkfreq]

Austin was a first time DC last year now you want him as a HC? Even interim because lets say they win a game or two. He becomes perma HC because the Fords, well they're not very football smart.

Blame Matt. But those 3 and out's, the other team still has to move the ball. Look at Chicago, Matt was fine and the defense caved. Same against the Vikings. It's always the players but if Lombardass gets canned because of the offensive woes, the same fate should go to Austin.

Great 1 year, its all Austin. Bad the next, hey it's the players. Sound logic, lol.

100% agreed. Austin should get the axe as fast as Dumbardi did. And while we're at it, axe the strength and conditioning coaches and any medical staff we have. If they can't keep our guys healthier than this, they need to be gone too.

 

[Mitchrapp]

And maybe play the young guys. See what they got. No point in playing Tulloch anymore..

 

[zyxt9]

I never said I wanted Austin to be HC. I'm saying it would be a good move for new coach to consider keeping Austin as the DC. Lets say they get an OC able to match or do better than what Linehan produced, add more talent on D only helps if the DC can do what Austin did last year. He showed he can do it, but this year the talent is considerably less and when adding in the offense's offensive play and a HC who continually quits on his team and you get a defense that is a bottom feeder. Partnering Austin and Linehan would have been great. They still have Austin, no reason to not see if new HC wants to keep him. It's that HCs choice, just saying I wont be upset if Austin stays.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I never said I wanted Austin to be HC. I'm saying it would be a good move for new coach to consider keeping Austin as the DC. Lets say they get an OC able to match or do better than what Linehan produced, add more talent on D only helps if the DC can do what Austin did last year. He showed he can do it, but this year the talent is considerably less and when adding in the offense's offensive play and a HC who continually quits on his team and you get a defense that is a bottom feeder. Partnering Austin and Linehan would have been great. They still have Austin, no reason to not see if new HC wants to keep him. It's that HCs choice, just saying I wont be upset if Austin stays.

If the defense can fall apart in a 4 game stretch, with the likes of Chicago, Minny, and KC - he's not worth keeping.