Report: Jim Schwartz accepts Lions HC Job

[GTripp0012]

ESPN reports.

Link coming.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

That's a good move for them. With the two stooges gone, I think the Lions could really turn it around with a decent draft.

[MTK]

Yikes, best of luck to him I guess. If he can turn that mess around he will be a legend.

[GTripp0012]

I think it will all depend on how much control he really gets in the organization.

Jim Schwartz has three main strengths:

1) He's got abilities that make finding defensive talent much easier for him than most defensive coordinators.
2) He understands offense well enough to allow his coordinator to control that side of the football, but still tell him to take a hike in the event that he says "hey, we really should get this Lloyd guy."
3) He understands percentages well and will stay out of idiotic calls.

With that said, his abilities to turn the Lions around will be limited if they don't allow him to 'shop for the groceries' as well.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Yikes, best of luck to him I guess. If he can turn that mess around he will be a legend.

They'll improve w/ 1 win next year. There is only upside, unless they don't win any games.

[RMSkins]

I wonder if Gregg Williams is kicking himself for signing with the Saints when he could've reunited with Jeff Fisher in Tennessee?

[Ruhskins]

Here's the link.

Jim Schwartz to coach Detroit Lions after agreeing to deal - ESPN

I'm thinking, if Miami can go from 1-15 to a winning season and the playoffs, then the Lions can turn it around. They have a ton of draft picks (1st overall, another 1st rounder, etc., etc.), they are in a somewhat weak conference, and a good QB short of having a good offense. Plus....NO MATT MILLEN!

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I'm thinking, if Miami can go from 1-15 to a winning season and the playoffs, then the Lions can turn it around. They have a ton of draft picks (1st overall, another 1st rounder, etc., etc.), they are in a somewhat weak conference, and a good QB short of having a good offense. Plus....NO MATT MILLEN!

Well, Detroit has many fewer quality pieces than either Miami or Atlanta did this year. If they fill all the major holes as effectively as those other teams did, they are still only a 5-6 win team.

The Lions would have to find a way to add more great, talented players, particularly on the defensive side, to push past 8 wins next year. And that type of talent can be found in the free agent market, via trade, or through the draft, but it's still very hard to get no matter what.

Miami got Pennington, and Atlanta got Ryan, but for the most part the critical pieces (R. Brown, White, Norwood, Camarillo, Fasano, Porter, Martin) were already part of those losing teams. The Lions have Calvin Johnson, and not much else.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Well, Detroit has many fewer quality pieces than either Miami or Atlanta did this year. If they fill all the major holes as effectively as those other teams did, they are still only a 5-6 win team.

The Lions would have to find a way to add more great, talented players, particularly on the defensive side, to push past 8 wins next year. And that type of talent can be found in the free agent market, via trade, or through the draft, but it's still very hard to get no matter what.

Miami got Pennington, and Atlanta got Ryan, but for the most part the critical pieces (R. Brown, White, Norwood, Camarillo, Fasano, Porter, Martin) were already part of those losing teams. The Lions have Calvin Johnson, and not much else.

I put the Dolphin example as the extreme end of the spectrum...will the Lions go to the playoffs next year? No. While it is true that winning 1 game is an improvement, if Schwartz brings talent to the team's defense, and if they get a good QB (although the pool is thin), they could win a couple of games, heck maybe even 8 games.

[Bushead]

Didn't they average more points than the redskins? Maybe it's just a Defensive thing.

Edit: I just looked it up. They are only right above the redskins meaning they don't exactly throw down some points either. They didn't have many yards to go with it either.

[saden1]

There's nothing to lose except the obvious...games. It can't get lower than 0-16 and even if he wins 2 games next year that's a step in the right direction. If he sucks for the next 3 years and gets shit canned it ain't all on him and he can always get coordinator gig.

[Dirtbag59]

Great move for the Lions, horrible move for Swartz.

[FRPLG]

I am concerned about Schwartz. He was a hot name last year and didn't get much and from what I know didn't get much attention other than Det.

[SmootSmack]

You may remember me from such posts in past years as "If Joe Gibbs retires, why not go after Jim Schwartz"

I think he's a great coordinator. And I suspect he can be a good coach but there are a lot of legitimate concerns. First, he's an extremely cerebral guy which may not translate to the intangible leadership, big-picture qualities needed of a head coach. Second, there are some questions of how much he was doing and how much Fisher was doing with that defense in Tennessee (I don't buy those concerns personally). And finally, and most importantly, the Lions are bad. Really really bad. Not bad like the Chiefs who actually have some good young talent to build on. But bad like...well the Lions who have so little to build on. But I'll give him 3 to 4 wins his first year.

[GridIron26]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Miami got Pennington, and Atlanta got Ryan, but for the most part the critical pieces (R. Brown, White, Norwood, Camarillo, Fasano, Porter, Martin) were already part of those losing teams. The Lions have Calvin Johnson, and not much else.

Lions also have Kevin Smith, Ernie Sims, and Bodden (cb)