Saturday Notes: Schwartz Searches for Coordinators

by Sean Yuille on Jan 17, 2009 2:46 AM EST in Detroit Lions Notes

The length of Jim Schwartz's contract is four years.
Martin Mayhew wants to hire an "experienced talent evaluator" in the next few weeks in order to have the front office in place well before the draft.
Schwartz reportedly met with the remaining assistant coaches and told them they are free to look for new jobs. Although that doesn't mean that those coaches will be let go for sure, it certainly doesn't seem like their chances of being retained are very good.
Schwartz got permission to interview Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham. Cunningham was the Titans' linebackers coach from 2001-2003, meaning he worked under Schwartz while in Tennessee.
The Lions aren't set on running a 4-3 or a 3-4 just yet. Schwartz said on Friday that he won't hire a defensive coordinator for a specific scheme, as he wants someone flexible. A decision on the defensive scheme -- a 4-3 or 3-4 -- will be made sometime before the combine in February.
On the offensive side of the ball, Schwartz is reportedly interested in Broncos quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates and Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Bates and Schwartz briefly worked together in Cleveland in the 90s, so the two are likely familiar with each other. Schottenheimer is actually a candidate for the Jets head-coaching job, but if he isn't hired, speculation suggests that he will ask out of his contract. Both Bates and Schottenheimer seem like solid candidates for the offensive coordinator job, though I prefer Schottenheimer based on his experience as an offensive coordinator.
The Free Press was waiting for Schwartz at the airport when he arrived on Thursday night.
ESPN's Paul Kuharsky republished an article about Schwartz from 2003 that talks about he uses statistics with football.
Lions players seem very positive about Schwartz being hired.
Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand went on WDFN on Friday.
Tom Kowalski speculates that there is a chance that the Lions could sign Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who will become a free agent in the offseason.
The Detroit News' cover page featured an interesting placement of their top stories on Friday.
The Buccaneers hired Joe Barry to be their linebackers coach and then fired Jon Gruden. It is expected that Raheem Morris, an assistant for the Bucs, will take over as the team's head coach.

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Comments

"free to look for new jobs"

That is hilarious. He’s not firing the assistant coaches but he’s telling them to start looking for work. If I’m ever in a position of authority one day (not likely), that’s exactly the type of language and metaphor I’m going to use. I’m starting to like Schwartz already.

Pardeep Toor
It's Just Sports
http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/its_just_sports/

by pardeeptoor on Jan 17, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions

Schwartz looks like the Dog Whisperer

..kinda

by explosivo2k2 on Jan 17, 2009 5:43 PM EST reply actions

I put this on another post

but schwartz has expressed intrest in hiring Texas Tech mad genius Mike Leach as his offensive coordinator
link

"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 Jan 17, 2009 6:37 PM EST reply actions