If I were Gm

by harendaman365 on Dec 29, 2008 1:14 PM EST

Heres my plan for resurrecting the lions

1. Hire Jim Schwartz, defense coordinator for Titans, as head coach.

He's been a candidate for years now, and has shown hes an intelligent guy with a great understanding of NFL defense. Look what he did with the Titans this year.

2. Hire Mike Leach, Texas Tech head coach, as offensive coordinator

This is potentially a great move, one that the aforementioned Schwartz has expressed some interest in. Leach is a mad genius who has been running his innovative AIr Raid offense for years and years in various places, and one would think, after coaching in disparate places like Finland, he would jump at the chance to prove himself at the ultimate level by turning Detroit into a contender. We've seen how slow the NFL adapts to innovation. It too 6 weeks for the league to solve one formation (wildcat). Imagine how flat footed it would be against a whole new system. Detroit, be innovative for once.

3. Hire back Rod Marinelli for Defensive Coordinator

Crazy, and potentially stupid. But, i feel he still has a good mind and has the respect of the players. Barring that one of the fired coaches like Herm Edwards, Marvin Lewis, Eric Mangini, and Romeo Crenel could do well.

4. Don't waste the first pick on a QB

Especially in Leach's system, a QB is not born, he is made. Drafting a guy who did well in college wont help unless you put a team around him. Work on making an offensive line, draft guys like Michael Oher and Andre Smith, and work on the defense in general. Dont waste the first pick exepecting a magic QB messiah.

5. Dont draft Michael Crabtree

Self Explanatory

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit or its writers. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.

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more info on Leach and Schwartz

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/magazine/04coach.html?pagewanted=all

"Sometimes Joe (morgan) doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions."- billy beane
"That was a great pick...if this was 2002" Me, to guy who selected Barry Zito in a fantasy draft

by harendaman365 on Dec 29, 2008 1:17 PM EST reply actions

sounds good on paper

it all makes sense

by cridg1zt on Dec 29, 2008 2:12 PM EST reply actions

yup..

I agree I think bringing Marinelli back as DC would be a smart move. Maybe even Rex Ryan for HC someone.

by hate2lovelions on Dec 29, 2008 2:50 PM EST reply actions

Pioli and picks are the answer

Here’s my take on what needs to happen for the Lions to compete sooner, rather than later.
First, hire Scott Pioli as president and GM…no matter the cost. He then brings Cassel along with him. QB situation solved. As for the draft, trade the #1 pick to Philly for their two 1st rounders. As it stands today, we’d be sitting at #s 20, 22, 28 and 33 (2nd round). With these picks I go after OG Duke Robinson from Oklahoma at #20, the best available left tackle on the board at 22 (in this draft there will still be great quality here), and the best available MLB, DE, or DB at 28 and 33. With the 2 new linemen, that frees up Backus to be moved to guard where he might actually finally do SOMETHING for the team. I’d also consider drafting Curtis Painter from Purdue in a later round. He, at one time, was rated as one of the top QB prospects coming into this past season and could be a gem down the road.

by bigharleyman on Dec 29, 2008 11:49 PM EST reply actions

Vets and picks

I agree with bigharley. I think a trade with philly would be wise. I was thinking about offering the 1st overall pick for Mcnabb and the 2nd n 4th pik but the point here is we need so much more help than the 1st pick can give. Get value out of the first pick something that Millen"the Lion killer" never did. why did we get 4 WR’s. there were so many opportunities for detroit to trade that pick away and build a core through veterens. Take a look at some of the offensive line men that were in the draft last year. We took cherillius and he was one of the lower rated ones. We could have easily picked him up later and traded the pick we used to get him and added more picks. But Now we can all pray that the Lions will wake up! Miami did it so can we?

by Lionbcker on Dec 30, 2008 5:34 PM EST reply actions

We all have our opinions and this is mine.

Anyone would agree it would be a good move trading #1 for #19 and #30, except maybe the Eagles. You have to assume they are stuck with what the got which is not bad. For #1 pick up OT Andre Smith if he declares or OT Michael Oher. You can put whoever at LT and move Backus inside. This may allow a QB to stay healthy and open up more holes for a now proven Kevin Smith with the added benefit of increasing the time of possession the offense holds the ball. With #20 you got to help the DL because that’s where creating turnover begins. Look at what happened without Shaun Rodgers. Take DT Raji if he slips, if not either take DE Greg Hardy or best available defensive player and fill the DL with the #33 and #52. With #65 take a RB so Kevin Smith doesn’t end up injured like Kevin Jones did. With #84 take the best available on the either DL or OL and round out the rest of the draft filling needs. Miami and Atlanta are the exception to the rule of team building so don’t have expectation to do the same in ‘09 as they did this year. Since the playoffs are not realistic goal put Drew Stanton in and give him a shot. If he just sits on the sideline he is just another wasted pick. He did run a pretty good offense at Michigan State. There should be plenty of good QB’s available for 2010 draft if ’09 goes bust should they still need a QB. At least the line if front for 2010 should be decent if you continue to build it with this draft. If Stanton performs then you look like a genius and if not no harm done. Bottom line, trade down for more picks if possible but build up on both OL and DL because the game is still won or lost in the trenches.

by MonteCarlo7888 on Jan 1, 2009 10:27 PM EST reply actions

Create a Defensive Minded Identity

I recommend creating an identity of a place with a tenacious defense that is capable of shutting down any team. Granted the OL needs help, but the offense won’t be resurrected in 1 season. I like what MonteCarlo said about starting Stanton and taking our chances for a season. Also, depending on what happens with McNabb and the Eagles, maybe Runyan will come home and buy us some time on the line.

That being said,
Coach: Jim Schwartz or Raheem Morris

Free Agency: Either Julius Peppers or Terrell Suggs – Put his picture on a billboard and let the league and fans know that there will be a roar in the Lions in 2009!

Draft:

Trade down (get an additional 2nd or 3rd round pick) Then target Taylor Mays and Rey Mauluaga – Keep a couple USC boys together, it should help them during the transition and create some internal competition that motivates them play even harder.

The same thing can happen with Clay Mathews or Brian Cushing as early second rounders depending on how they perform in the combine

The goal would be to establish an identity that we will bring pressure, hit hard and not allow teams to come into Ford Field and rack up points against us.

Another alternative is to draft only defensive players in the first 3 rounds and target players like Orakpo or Curry if we are unable to land a major free agent. Then follow those picks with players like Marcus Freeman and Vonte Davis.

IDENTITY IDENTITY IDENTITY

If we stack the defense, we have enough offensive firepower to win a close game or two and maybe even surprise some teams and make a run at the NORTH.

by tmane333 on Jan 4, 2009 1:37 PM EST up reply actions