:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62765744/usa_today_11648206.0.jpg)
On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions finally announced the news that we all expected was coming. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter is out as the team’s offensive coordinator, meaning for the second straight year, the Lions will make making some significant changes to their coaching staff.
For the past couple months, fans and analysts have had a head start on looking replacement candidates. This move seemed destined to happen months ago after the Lions’ offense was the unit that was actually holding the team back in November.
So now with a couple months of research in hand and a look at the other coaching candidates that may be available now that Black Monday has come and went, today’s Question of the Day is:
Who is your favorite candidate for the Lions’ offensive coordinator job?
My answer: There isn’t one guy that blows me away—seeing as pretty much every candidate is either a failed offensive coordinator elsewhere or a significant risk in promoting someone with limited or no experience.
However, there is one name that has emerged as a favorite that I can get fully behind: interim Browns offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. What he has done in just a couple months with the Cleveland offense and Baker Mayfield has just been really fun to watch. If you have the capabilities, I would highly suggest watching just one Browns game in the past couple week. They haven’t been an offensive juggernaut, but they’ve been much improved from when Hue Jackson and Todd Haley ran things.
They’ve also thrown some really creative looks and plays out there—something Lions fans have been dying for since Sean McVay took the NFL by storm. Here’s a sampling:
BROWNS TRICK PLAY pic.twitter.com/NewiF0rSJK
— Everything Is Earned (@CLESportsPod) December 23, 2018
Trick-play-Browns-TDpic.twitter.com/wriHXY7Sc6
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 9, 2018
Creative option play from the Browns. Speed option with the RB from a full house formation. Playside back arcs for the alley defender to block for the pitch, RB reads end for keep/pitch. pic.twitter.com/BMi0Yey4cB
— Taylor Kolste (@TaylorKolste) December 13, 2018
Gimme.
Of course, the Browns are currently in a coaching search of their own and Kitchens is a candidate for the head coaching job. He may not leave Cleveland, and even if he does, he may be a candidate elsewhere, as well.
Who is your favorite of the most popular candidate? Vote:
Poll
Who is your favorite candidate for the Lions’ next OC?
This poll is closed
-
18%
Rams passing game coordinator Shane Waldron
(289 votes) -
3%
Rams QB coach Zac Taylor
(61 votes) -
4%
Former Falcons OC Steve Sarkisian
(68 votes) -
48%
Former Dolphins HC Adam Gase
(756 votes) -
1%
Lions QB coach George Godsey
(21 votes) -
14%
Browns OC Freddie Kitchens
(230 votes) -
2%
Former Jaguars OC Nathaniel Hackett
(44 votes) -
6%
Other (add in comment)
(105 votes)