Next Lions Coach

[jswain]

Not trying to screw with you but why?

he took AZ to the SB.........Resurrected Rivers this year....and comes from Steelers organization...

http://espn.go.com/blog/san-diego-c...6/rivers-endorses-ocs-head-coaching-candidacy

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

This hinges on the NY Jets firing Ryan, but he would make a great fit here. He continues to get his guys defending at a very high level no matter who gets injured or cut from the team. Give him a bunch of blue chippers like we have, and we could probably have a top defense that actually creates turnovers. The offense is what it is until Stafford pulls his head out of his a$$, and should still pile up tons of yards and points when it isn't giving the ball away. Here's hoping the Jets continue their trend of mismanagement and fire Rex.

 

[jared]

Whisenhunt sounds good to me. As far as Ryan, I'm not sure about that one.

I want the next coach to bring a higher level of class to the organization. This team is hard for me to root for, even when they are winning. They have reflected Schwartz's personality while he's been in charge, and that's not a good thing, at least for me. Just my .02, but give me a guy like Whisenhunt instead of another big, headline grabbing personality type like Ryan.

 

[mhughes0021]

This hinges on the NY Jets firing Ryan, but he would make a great fit here. He continues to get his guys defending at a very high level no matter who gets injured or cut from the team. Give him a bunch of blue chippers like we have, and we could probably have a top defense that actually creates turnovers. The offense is what it is until Stafford pulls his head out of his a$$, and should still pile up tons of yards and points when it isn't giving the ball away. Here's hoping the Jets continue their trend of mismanagement and fire Rex.

3-4 guy would be an awful fit here imo....

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

3-4 guy would be an awful fit here imo....

I can see where you're coming from, but I disagree. Fairley can handle the nose position. Suh and Ansah would have little trouble converting to the DE positions (Suh could play the nose too for versatility). Ansah, being considerably better against the run than pass, is actually more suited at the moment to being a 3-4 DE. Young seems to be a pretty solid fit as a rush LB. Tulloch and Levy move to the middle (both are strong defenders in the passing game who can fill gaps). Obviously I don't know how good of a fit any of these players are for certain, but their games to this point suggest we would only have one real hole at OLB (which we have right now anyway). DBs are pretty much unaffected, and given the weakness there could use the help that Ryan's pressure schemes provide.

It may not be a perfect transition from day one, I'm not saying that. But even if we start out middle of the pack, that's STILL better than what we have now. The defense would only improve the longer Ryan had with everyone. Our D-line would still be a strength, and the versatility of guys like Suh, Fairley, and Ansah actually make a hybrid scheme (as most good teams really are) ideal.

 

[tomdalton22]

I can see where you're coming from, but I disagree. Fairley can handle the nose position. Suh and Ansah would have little trouble converting to the DE positions (Suh could play the nose too for versatility). Ansah, being considerably better against the run than pass, is actually more suited at the moment to being a 3-4 DE. Young seems to be a pretty solid fit as a rush LB. Tulloch and Levy move to the middle (both are strong defenders in the passing game who can fill gaps). Obviously I don't know how good of a fit any of these players are for certain, but their games to this point suggest we would only have one real hole at OLB (which we have right now anyway). DBs are pretty much unaffected, and given the weakness there could use the help that Ryan's pressure schemes provide.

It may not be a perfect transition from day one, I'm not saying that. But even if we start out middle of the pack, that's STILL better than what we have now. The defense would only improve the longer Ryan had with everyone. Our D-line would still be a strength, and the versatility of guys like Suh, Fairley, and Ansah actually make a hybrid scheme (as most good teams really are) ideal.

I think if they were to go to a 3-4 they would need another big DE. The problem is lack of great LBs. Look at most teams that play an effective 3-4 they have impact LBs. Ansan might be a great OLB in passing downs like Aldon Smith plays in SF. Willie Young has LB size in a 3-4 but not sure he is athletic enough. I think he would be too small to play DE in a 3-4.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I wouldn't mind a 3-4. Granted we need a couple players to make it work but we have a draft to work with. Get a 3-4 OLB in round one. A nice NT in round two. Granted we still have Fairley but I love 3-4 defenses. So many options. Does the right OLB rush or the left OLB rush or both of them. Move then around a little bit. It might not be perfect right away but come on get a 3-4 DC.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I think if they were to go to a 3-4 they would need another big DE. The problem is lack of great LBs. Look at most teams that play an effective 3-4 they have impact LBs. Ansan might be a great OLB in passing downs like Aldon Smith plays in SF. Willie Young has LB size in a 3-4 but not sure he is athletic enough. I think he would be too small to play DE in a 3-4.

I could see Ansan as OLB in the 3-4. Just grab a big DE in this year's draft and that helps a lot.

 

[cheeno]

I wouldn't mind a 3-4. Granted we need a couple players to make it work but we have a draft to work with. Get a 3-4 OLB in round one. A nice NT in round two. Granted we still have Fairley but I love 3-4 defenses. So many options. Does the right OLB rush or the left OLB rush or both of them. Move then around a little bit. It might not be perfect right away but come on get a 3-4 DC.

Both rush. We would need Kahlil Mack from Buffalo to do this. Ryan has Richardson and Wilkerson going off! He would beast Suh and Fairley.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Both rush. We would need Kahlil Mack from Buffalo to do this. Ryan has Richardson and Wilkerson going off! He would beast Suh and Fairley.

True. But I don't think it's too over the top on switching to a 3-4. It's never perfect when teams go from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Start with a hybrid.

 

[mhughes0021]

Need a De that can hold the edge and need a NT. Fairley is a good player.....but I think our defense up the middle goes from a strength to a weakness REAL quick if Fairley is playing nose in a 3-4. Ansah is big enough to play DE opposite Suh I guess but we would need a dynamic pass rushing OLB. Trade up for Anthony Barr and im in lol.

 

[Mitchrapp]

So we tank for a season, I don't think they have to try, grab a big ass NT in 2015 and bam. I know Some team plays a hybrid, I think SF. That could work to.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

The goal of the NT is to hold ground against the run and occupy multiple blockers if they can. They don't have to be 400 LBs, they just need to be strong as hell. I think Fairley and Suh both could fit that bill. That said, if you think we are a NT away, there's Louis Nix in the first round.

But more along the lines with Mitch, it doesn't have to be a perfect transition in one offseason with just the players we have. We have an entire draft this year if we make that switch, and most 3-4 teams also run 4-3 sets for a decent percentage of their snaps. Good defenses have at least some hybrid ability just to throw out different looks. This current 4-3 wide 9 isn't working. Maybe the 3-4 isn't the answer in and of itself, but with a coach like Rex Ryan, I have no doubts it will be better than what we have.

 

[motown1958]

I wouldnt mind sexy rexy as the DC but not as a head coach. I just dont think he is a sustainable style of coach. I am trying to think if we have the pieces for a 3-4 and while I am not sure we have a nose the idea of suh and fairley at the ends with Taylor, Ansah, and young getting a sprinting start from lb spots is pretty excellent. Plus I think having Levy and Tully in the middle gives us such a strong look.

 

[schles192]

Cower @ coach, sexy rexy @ DC, O cord??? switch to a 3-4. 3-4 DE's start around 280, Suh Fairley are a little heavier but they play lighter than they are. move Ansah to the left and let him drop back and use those instincts. Move young to the right and have him be the pass rush specialist. Draft a rush LB in rd 1-2 to eventually replace young, get a NT where ever you can in the draft. Mostly just a big guy that you tell to stand here and don't move from this spot. That takes Palmer off the field for a NT. secondary still sucks but it is what it is.

 

[jdeb]

i'd like Cowher or Dungy.

I don't think you get Cowher without Khan.

 

[jdeb]

It was weird how Gruden was kind of acting like a homer when he called the Monday night lions game....like he had a betting interest....or a coaching interest. Other than that weird behavior all sign point to gruden staying in the booth as well.

I keep hearing reports that weve contacted whisenhunts agent. Hes my Dark horse.....not a HUGE name but I think hed do well here and would be an upgrade over Shorts.

My favorite has been Obrien....if the report is true /drool. Not a retread and known to be an offensive mind that gets QBs to perform. Notice I didn't say QB friendly.....he gives tough love (see the tom brady sideline rant) and to be honest I think that's what staff needs.....hes been coddled way too much by this organization and hes regressed because of it.

Yeah, Gruden is flaky when it comes to his return to coaching. He does have a sweet gig but I think he is chomping at the bit to get back on the field. Heard his brother talking on XM 88 the other day and he said pretty much the same.

 

[biggunsbob]

I could care less who the next coach is as long as he wins period...

 

[mhughes0021]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooo
Never really expected the lions organization to spend the money for the right guy anyways....why fight for a guy that could turn your franchise qbs career around?...thatd make too much sense. Now....say the lions do fight for him and he CHOOSES to go to Houston....that should tell you what he thinks of Stafford. He choses the #2 pick in this years draft with a shitty qb class and no worthwhile qb on the roster over matt Stafford....that would be embarrassing.

Bill O'Brien has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to become the next coach of the Houston Texans, and the two sides are working to get a deal in place within the next week, league sources told ESPN.

O'Brien met with the Texans this week after Christmas at his home in Cape Cod, resulting in intensified discussions they hope will culminate with a finalized contract, the sources said.


The Texans still have a short list of candidates in case talks break down with the Penn State coach, sources added.

The Texans had been doing due diligence on O'Brien, including his six-year stint with the New England Patriots. The feedback has been strong in his favor, sources said, which motivated Houston to commence negotiations to get a deal in place.

O'Brien, 44, just finished his second season at Penn State, where he was the Big Ten coach of the year in 2012, followed by a 7-5 season this year while playing with a freshman quarterback (Christian Hackenberg) and amid heavy sanctions placed on the Nittany Lions after the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

O'Brien was a New England assistant from 2007 until 2012. He eventually became the offensive coordinator for a Patriots team that lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.

After O'Brien interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns last offseason, he returned to Penn State. But his interest in any prominent NFL head coaching job is not a secret.

As a condition to returning to Penn State for 2012, O'Brien and the school agreed to an amended contract that lowered his buyout to join an NFL team from $19.33 million to $6.48 million. There had been conversations to further reduce the NFL buyout.

The Texans will have either the first or second overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft and are expected to target a quarterback for the future.

The Texans, who will enter Sunday's season finale with a 2-13 record, are searching for a replacement for Gary Kubiak, who was fired earlier this month.

 

[biggunsbob]

O'Brien does not excite me at all...