Caldwell's Staff

[cheeno]

I hope he steals a playbook on his way out. The Saints offense is a good fit for us to run right now with our running backs. Jimmy Graham is a wide out - basically Megatron...Grab that big 10-12 yard possession receiver Colston type in the draft...Ross/Riddick as the move slot. Hopefully he's not the last Lombardi to come to Detroit.

I like Caldwell...He's hiring some young guys who want to succeed in their first job, bringing some much needed energy to the organization. Unlike if we hired these types as our HC, Jim can reign them in and keep a level head and organize week by week, which was the downfall of a guy like Josh McDaniels. Basically a match between the old bull and youthful exuberance. It could fall flat and with us it usually does. But it is nice to see the skeleton of an actual plan - and shows some on the job learning from Jim recognizing how the league is changing. I think Dungy is helping us out here. If I was Mayhew I would have said okay your not coming back to coaching, but if we hire your guy...you are our best friend for as long as he's here. Interesting thought, which to me is plausible because of the moves we made don't seem to be like ones that are Caldwell's call alone....Ron Prince or Culley seem like Caldwell moves...this doesn't. But then again I could be totally misreading the situation.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I hope he steals a playbook on his way out. The Saints offense is a good fit for us to run right now with our running backs. Jimmy Graham is a wide out - basically Megatron...Grab that big 10-12 yard possession receiver Colston type in the draft...Ross/Riddick as the move slot. Hopefully he's not the last Lombardi to come to Detroit.

I like Caldwell...He's hiring some young guys who want to succeed in their first job, bringing some much needed energy to the organization. Unlike if we hired these types as our HC, Jim can reign them in and keep a level head and organize week by week, which was the downfall of a guy like Josh McDaniels. Basically a match between the old bull and youthful exuberance. It could fall flat and with us it usually does. But it is nice to see the skeleton of an actual plan - and shows some on the job learning from Jim recognizing how the league is changing. I think Dungy is helping us out here. If I was Mayhew I would have said okay your not coming back to coaching, but if we hire your guy...you are our best friend for as long as he's here. Interesting thought, which to me is plausible because of the moves we made don't seem to be like ones that are Caldwell's call alone....Ron Prince or Culley seem like Caldwell moves...this doesn't. But then again I could be totally misreading the situation.

I actually like them too, even more than Caldwell. What I don't like is the rumor he might be calling plays. Let the new guy do it..nonetheless I like the hire, I like the DC hire - just waiting on those last couple coaches..

 

[grandy]

Austin and Lombardi combined are 14 years older than Gunther

 

[grandy]

There's just no pleasing some Lions fans. If they promote a position coach to coordinator, he's an unknown and the Lions should've gone with experience. They hire an experienced coordinator, they'll call it just another retread. And of course, they'll always throw out a name of an established coordinator already under contract and has next to no chance of coming here.

 

[Mitchrapp]

There's just no pleasing some Lions fans. If they promote a position coach to coordinator, he's an unknown and the Lions should've gone with experience. They hire an experienced coordinator, they'll call it just another retread. And of course, they'll always throw out a name of an established coordinator already under contract and has next to no chance of coming here.

I'll take anyone that was at least near Drew Brees. Maybe something rubbed off..

That's how you move up, no one is going to leave a team to coach the same position for the Lions. You go and get secondary type coaches and move them up..

 

[Mitchrapp]

I heard Gase from the Broncos told the Browns he's not interested being their HC. Lol. Browns are on the lower rung when it comes to football franchises..

 

[tomdalton22]

I heard Gase from the Broncos told the Browns he's not interested being their HC. Lol. Browns are on the lower rung when it comes to football franchises..

probably the same rung as the Lions!

 

[michiganalex]

lions dont fire their coaches after only 1 season

 

[turok]

There's just no pleasing some Lions fans. If they promote a position coach to coordinator, he's an unknown and the Lions should've gone with experience. They hire an experienced coordinator, they'll call it just another retread. And of course, they'll always throw out a name of an established coordinator already under contract and has next to no chance of coming here.

There's just no pleasing Lions fans b/c the franchise has tried all of the above many, many times and the vast majority were utter failures. Can't say I blame most of us for being suspicious, leery, and distrustful, when we haven't seen much success (if any) in their coaching ranks over the decades, and only @ times being awful enough often enough to luck into drafting their two most famous BS RBs, a few decent TEs and several All Pro WRs.

They have drafted many QBs very high in the first round only to discover that they were complete garbage, or mediocre at best. Now we are @ a crossroads with our latest first-rounder, and from some recent indications, he may become just another Great Lions Hope, who flamed out and is headed for the scrap heap. But maybe not before he (briefly) plays for another team and gets a revenge win while starting a game vs his former club, since this seems to be the SOP of many ex-Lions QBs over the years/(I sure hope not, and am counting on the Lions' newest/latest iteration of a coaching staff to fix his most blatant "shortcomings" ASAP)

 

[mhughes0021]

Yeah, Lombardi certainly has a legendary bloodline, but often it is a promotion for an addition to an established HC and his staff, whose GM had fired the previous OC. (like the Ravens might have done to Caldwell) I'd be more comfortable with a promo from OL coach or a lateral move or a former HC, but I ain't running the Lions' popsicle stand.

We will see how this all shakes out next season, but I anticipate at least some instability, inconsistency, and "rookie" mistakes as these hirings under Caldwell will need to grow and learn on the job, and the team will be using a new and different playbook under new coaching So I am not expecting much if any improvement in the Lions overall record from last year at the close of the '14 season.

Lions homers could point to what Reid has done in just one season as HC for the KC Chiefs, but Reid's HCing resume is much longer and he is more experienced than Caldwell while improving that much under a new regime is not common. Not saying that it is impossible for the Lions to improve, but more improbable that the team would gain 4-5 games in the win column.

I browsed Reid's staff, and other than retaining a few coaches on O and D from the previous regime, he brought most of his staff from the Eagles with him to KC. Only major change is his DC Sutton, who was with the NY Jets, as a linebackers coach before serving as the team's defensive coordinator from 2006 to 2008, senior assistant/linebackers coach from 2009 to 2011, and as assistant head coach/linebackers in 2012.


Its not like Caldwell and his entire staff was uprooted and moved to Allen Park, his assembled staff will need to become familiar and comfortable with each other as well, and that, IMO, will take more than just one offseason and pre-season.

nice analysis. I agree with most of this...i think youll see some ups an downs until they gel and that takes time. The dynamic between caldwell and Lombardi should be interesting since Lombardi never really had to install his own offense before. This is going to be a learning experience for everyone from the HC down...wish them the best but to be honest....you cant be any worse than linehan/Stafford the 2nd half of last year.

 

[wheels002]

I like the fact that they are hiring younger people. I have had enough of the old guard and same old coordinators getting hired and fired throughout the league. That way hasnt done much for us. Lets hope the new guys with new ideas can spark something.

 

[coel73]

I'm just glad that for the most part, it seems like there won't be the same vanilla shit we've been used to with gunther and linehan. These guys aren't dummies so hopefully it won't take all year to adapt to the schemes these new gents draw up

 

[grandy]

There's just no pleasing Lions fans b/c the franchise has tried all of the above many, many times and the vast majority were utter failures. Can't say I blame most of us for being suspicious, leery, and distrustful, when we haven't seen much success (if any) in their coaching ranks over the decades, and only @ times being awful enough often enough to luck into drafting their two most famous BS RBs, a few decent TEs and several All Pro WRs.

They have drafted many QBs very high in the first round only to discover that they were complete garbage, or mediocre at best. Now we are @ a crossroads with our latest first-rounder, and from some recent indications, he may become just another Great Lions Hope, who flamed out and is headed for the scrap heap. But maybe not before he (briefly) plays for another team and gets a revenge win while starting a game vs his former club, since this seems to be the SOP of many ex-Lions QBs over the years/(I sure hope not, and am counting on the Lions' newest/latest iteration of a coaching staff to fix his most blatant "shortcomings" ASAP)

I can understand pessimistic Lions fans, they have every right to be. But I just don't get those purely negative fans bashing every hire because their pipe dream of a coaching staff will never come true. What's the point of being a fan at that point?

 

[LKP]

I can understand pessimistic Lions fans, they have every right to be. But I just don't get those purely negative fans bashing every hire because their pipe dream of a coaching staff will never come true. What's the point of being a fan at that point?

Those fans are usually the most misinformed. Every hire has positives and negatives.

You can spot a negative by someone giving Caldwell no credit for Manning. Obviously he gets some but not all. Manning himself and Reggie Wayne/Clark added helped a ton too.

 

[lucke]

Those fans are usually the most misinformed. Every hire has positives and negatives.

You can spot a negative by someone giving Caldwell no credit for Manning. Obviously he gets some but not all. Manning himself and Reggie Wayne/Clark added helped a ton too.

or those "fans" that actually think that Cowher/Chucky/Dungy would get back to coaching after a really nice cushy TV job. They've said it multiple times that they have no interest in returning to coaching, so what makes some of these "fans" think that they would just change their mind since the Lions came asking?

 

[mhughes0021]

Those fans are usually the most misinformed. Every hire has positives and negatives.

You can spot a negative by someone giving Caldwell no credit for Manning. Obviously he gets some but not all. Manning himself and Reggie Wayne/Clark added helped a ton too.

talk is cheap...you can say that Caldwell helped manning all you want....and people can disagree with you all they want. Stafford is a talented qb yes? He has the arm and hes smart enough to run a pro style offense. Soooooo....if he sucks this year...then Caldwell blows. And if if shows progress...then ill give Caldwell some credit. Its very simple. If I had to guess one way or the other Id lean toward Stafford performing better in Linehans offense just to the mere fact of comfort level alone. Since im a glass half empty guy when it comes to the lions this ofcourse allows for the chance to be pleansantly surprised if Caldwell turns him into the top 10 qb everyone thinks he is or better yet the top 3 qb hes being paid to be.

 

[LKP]

or those "fans" that actually think that Cowher/Chucky/Dungy would get back to coaching after a really nice cushy TV job. They've said it multiple times that they have no interest in returning to coaching, so what makes some of these "fans" think that they would just change their mind since the Lions came asking?

I agree. They are delusional. Mayhew said he even asked Dungy which was confirmed and denied quickly.

Lions went with the experienced offensive mind that can develop QBs with some nice young and smart coordinators to mix it up and be agressive (no huddle, more blitzing, different looks).

 

[LKP]

talk is cheap...you can say that Caldwell helped manning all you want....and people can disagree with you all they want. Stafford is a talented qb yes? He has the arm and hes smart enough to run a pro style offense. Soooooo....if he sucks this year...then Caldwell blows. And if if shows progress...then ill give Caldwell some credit. Its very simple. If I had to guess one way or the other Is lean toward Stafford performing better in Linehans offense just to the mere fact of comfort level alone. Since im a glass half empty guys this ofcourse allows for the chance to be pleansantly surprised if Caldwell turns him into the top 10 qb everyone thinks he is or better yet the top 3 qb hes being paid to be.

It's a fact Manning improved in comp % and ints and TDs after Caldwell arrived among other factors (Manning himself and Wayne/Clark). But let's see him do it again with Stafford. That's all that really matters now, if he can do it again.

Lions still need to find a Wayne and Stafford has to do his part with hard work.

 

[lucke]

even if we don't win the next few years, we still get to say that we brought a Lombardi to the D... LOL

small print (trophy not included)

 

[mhughes0021]

or those "fans" that actually think that Cowher/Chucky/Dungy would get back to coaching after a really nice cushy TV job. They've said it multiple times that they have no interest in returning to coaching, so what makes some of these "fans" think that they would just change their mind since the Lions came asking?

Cause the lions came out and said john gruden was seriously being considered for the job???