Posted by Lisa on January 9, 2009, 3:07 pm, in reply to "Head Coach..."
I've only heard that from Detroit media guys and fans from other teams.
Let's look at this logically. Denver has the plum opening, the best talent, the franchise QB, the o-line. But Pat Bowlen doesn't want to make the same mistake he made with Shanahan. He doesn't want the coach to be a GM. Nor does he want the guy to develop into Shanahan with all the power and none of the blame, even if he does win the superbowl. However, he is looking for a long term guy because he wants stability. That means probably a younger guy who isn't looking for the world.
Kansas City is considered the next best job. Primarily this is because the ownership is loyal and doesn't like to make lots of changes. They also have some young talent, but it can be shaped through the draft to reflect what the new coach believes in. Clark Hunt might let the new coach have more input on personnel decisions, but really nobody knows for sure because they are being very tight-lipped. Yes, I know that Herm Edwards hasn't been officially fired, but it's just a matter of time. I read this morning that Scott Pioli was offered the job of GM, but that is unconfirmed. Pioli is reputed to like Jim Schwartz or Kirk Ferentz as his HC, though I thought that Josh McDaniels was supposed to be part of the Pioli package.
Tannenbaum (Jets) believes in the separation of Football, Coach, and Contracts...which happens to be the way most teams are set up, by the way...so NYJ isn't going to entice a coach who wants personnel say any more than Denver or Detroit.
Oakland has Al Davis, and as long as Al breathes he is in charge of personnel...as messed up as that is.
St. Louis also is in the market for a HC, but they're having a problem attracting coaches because nobody knows how long they would have their job. Rams are on the open market, and instability of ownership means they're not attractive to any coaches looking for a long-term gig. Rumor is they are looking for a coach on the cheap.
Detroit has Mayhew and Lewand. Lewand is the business guy who works out the kinks in finance issues, and Mayhew is the football operations guy. He is going to hire a new personnel head who would report to him. That doesn't mean that the coach won't have any say. Just that Mayhew has the final say, like most of the 32 teams out there.
KC is the only team that might let the coach have some say in personnel. But since they have offered Pioli the job of GM, I would say he will have the ultimate say ... and not the coach.
So, I don't think Detroit is in last place at all in appeal. They have a lot of cap. They have a lot of draft picks. They have loyal ownership. They have great facilities. I think Detroit need not hang it's head and believe it's an underdog.
Mayhew is looking for a defensive minded HC, obviously. And he wants it to be for the long-haul, as well.
Steve Spagnoulo is the hot shot coach this year. But, frankly, I don't think he's all that. He's had a lot of weapons to work with in New York and I don't know that he had any bit of input on personnel decisions. Additionally, he thinks quite a bit of himself and is shopping around and feels he can pick and choose. If he's not careful he could wind up settling for the Rams. Mayhew doesn't want a guy who doesn't want to really be in Detroit and is "settling" so cross him off the list, IMO.
1. My top pick would be Jim Schwartz (Titans DC). They want to interview him a 2nd time, but they might have to wait until the weak between the conference championship game and the Sugar Bowl. He is also the one I see being more attractive to Kansas City, Pioli and Clark Hunt.
Ron Rivera (Charger's DC) is my 2a. He's a defensive guy with a background in Ted Cottrells 3-4, the T2, and Jim Johnson blitz-heavy 4-3 (which I really like). The problem is that the Chargers need to make it to the Super Bowl so that the Lions get pick #19 from the Cowboys, and that might be too late for the Lions to wait for a coach to become free. 
2b is Rex Ryan (Raven's DC/Asst HC). Same as Rivera, he won't interview until after this week's playoff game and he already has an interview set up for this Sunday, so it's unlikely he takes an interview with the Lions as well. However, he's got the most credentials to be a HC and has been working under Harbaugh this year as the Asst. HC. He has been in on a lot of the decisions that they've made. I'm just not 100% he's willing to change his scheme to fit the personnel. And that is a biggy for me.
2c is Todd Bowles (Dolphins Asst HC and DB coach). He's young, hungry and demanding (being a Parcells disciple). And he's very interested in going to the Lions, plus he has a history with Mayhew that makes me think they would work well together. And he is flexible on scheme. I read that he said he's not married to any one system. And I like that! However, I'm not sure what his short list would look like with OC and DC, etc. His credentials don't jump off the page, but he's an up and comer. I'm just not sure a rookie HC and a rookie GM should again be in Detroit.
Leslie Frazier (Vikings DC) is interviewing today. He's got a good defensive background with Buddy Ryan, Dungy's T2, and with Jim Johnson (similar to Ron Rivera). The Vikings had a top 10 defense this year and he's one of those guys that is going to be a HC. (Childress has pretty much said he expects Frazier to move on).
Josh McDaniels (Pat OC) would be next on my list if he had ever really been contacted by Mayhew. He's got both offense and defensive experience and is considered to be a good young mind. There is just so much we don't really know about him that I'm not completely sold.
Mike Mularkey (Falcons OC) is probably going to interview next week. He's been linked to Jerry Gray (who Mayhew likes) as his DC if he gets another HC gig. The best line on his resume is that he's been a HC before so won't have the same learning curve as the others, and he has already made his mistakes. Unfortunately, we don't know if he learned anything from them. I don't think he is terribly creative as a playcaller. But he fits what Mayhew wants to do with establishing the running game and playing safe offense.
Jason Garrett (Cowboys OC) has been linked to Dom Capers as his future DC. But frankly, I'm not interested in him. "He carries himself like a head coach" translates to he's arrogant and full of himself IMO. Of course, most Head Coaches have an ego, but I think without earning it is suspect. His playcalling was lacking, though he didn't get a lot of help from his playmakers.
Message Thread:
« Back to thread