Monday, January 12, 2009

News Conference Was Unfair To Lions Candidate Schwartz

I thought the way the Lions held a news conference for head coaching candidate Jim Schwartz Monday was unfair to Schwartz.
It seemed as if team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew were putting him to the test to see how he does with the media in the news conference setting that has become such a firestorm in recent years.
In theory, it would seem like a smart thing to do - a test under fire. Problem is, it's far too public an exam given that Schwartz isn't the head coach yet.
I didn't think there was anything wrong with his, "It's probably time to replace Bobby Layne" line. Especially when it is taken in context. But if he does get the job, it's something people will never forget. It will be mentioned before the draft. And after the draft. It will be mentioned a lot when a Lions' quarterback struggles. It could become to Schwartz what Marty Mornhinweg's "The bar is high" was to him, and Rod Marinelli's "We're going to pound the rock" line was to him.
That alone far outweighs whatever benefit the Lions got during their hiring process.

Random Thoughts

- When the Lions name a head coach, the key isn’t necessarily going to be just the coach himself. It’s going to be the staff of assistant coaches he puts together.
In retrospect, wasn’t that Rod Marinelli’s great downfall? Mike Martz may be one of the most decorated offensive coordinators in the history of the NFL, but Marinelli had trouble overcoming his presence his first two years. He also didn’t pick a defensive coordinator in Donnie Henderson that fit his scheme. Obviously, his son-in-law Joe Barry wasn’t the answer, either. Nor Jim Colletto on the offensive side of the ball when Martz departed.
The problems ran deeper than the coordinators. The Lions staff from top-to-bottom was lacking. The Lions had similar issues with Marty Mornhinweg’s staff. That’s why it is important when the Lions hire a coach it is not just based on what he knows, but who he knows, and who he is able to get on staff.
It will make or break the next Lions head coach.

- Do we know more about the Pistons after they split their four-game trip West? Not really. But we will know more after they play six games in eight days, while working Richard Hamilton back into the lineup.

- Those waiting for Michigan’s basketball team to fold, might be waiting a long time. The Wolverines look like an NCAA tournament bound team to me. Laval Lucas-Perry has definitely made U-M much more formidable. He can shoot and is a smart player. Averaging 26 minutes of playing time and 12 points per game is more than could have been expected. What a boost to an what had been an already emerging squad.

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12 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Do the tigers have any shot at getting Young from Texas?

1:43 PM 
Blogger maddog52 said...

Well with Saito off the board. Tigers fans can't be very happy sitting here watching every option with TALENT go off the board. I don't think there will be much enthusiasm with the same crap in the BP that we had the last 2 years.

With Rip I think he will benefit. He will still get his minutes. I think he provides more coming off the bench. 1 he can spell both TP and or AI. Plus I think Rip and AI are a contrast in styles. Plus it is only for 1 year. Hell all he has to do is look at Ginobli. Looks like it worked with SA. IF he doesnt' go with it then well it will show his true colors. Team player or not?

ON the lions book to be honest I am just sitting and watching. Everyone is right. What ever doesn't make sense seems to be the way the lions gravitate. WHich is why they will probably draft a bradford. THey will hire a shmuck. They will probably be the last of the 4 remaining to reach a Super bowl. But if they can get a schwartz, lure a haynesworth, bring in a Juan Rivera or Jason Garrett type coordinators, draft properly... who knows... but all we as lions fans can do is watch.

2:39 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why is there not more outrage in this town about Jack Morris getting screwed over for the baseball HOF? So much emphasis is placed on raw stats and the claim that he would have the highest ERA ever in the HOF that there has been a complete loss of perspective here. Come on. This guy was the winningest pitcher in the 1980's, was the ace on 3 world series staff's in 1984, 1991 and 1992. Sparky Anderson, who also managed a pretty decent pitcher named Tom Seaver, said he was the best pitcher he ever coached. You can't tell me if Jack Morris had pitched that 10 inning shutout that in Game 7 of the World Series for the 1986 Red Sox (or the Yankees, Cubs or Dodgers) instead of the 1991 Twins that he wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame with the eact same numbers. It's a travesty. I think he deserves it more than Blyleven even. Blyleven was a good pitcher on the Pirates World Series champion team and the Twins' 1987 World Series champion team and had over 3000 strikeouts, but no way was he as dominant as Jack Morris. He got most of those numbers on crappy Indians and Twins teams. And don't even get me started on Andre Dawson beating both of them. Jack Morris' career also overlapped with Lee Smith who received more votes. Would any GM in his right mind have traded Jack Morris straight up for Lee Smith. Maybe in Morris' last 2 seasons when he was done, but that's it. How many game deciding home runs did Andre Dawson hit in the World Series? How many guys did Lee Smith strike out in the 9th inning of game 7 of the World Series? None. It's a complete joke. You can't capture how great Jack Morris was just by the number on the back of his last baseball card.

-Phil

5:38 PM 
Blogger Eric Chase said...

Pat - Let's speculate really randomly...

If they hire Schwartz, would/could/should they draft Andre Smith, to protect Kerry Collins, and then find a QB later in the draft.

Collins, Smith, Stud OL, CJ...respectable offense

8:30 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Phil,

It is definitely a surprize that Jack Morris isn't in the Hall of Fame to me, because he was probably the best clutch pitcher of all time. Plus he was the Ace on three completely different World Series teams (Detroit, Minnesota, Toronto), so it isn't like he was only a locally known commodity.

At the same time, it is the Baseball Hall of Hame, and there are hundreds of players that seem to have been left out. It is hard to be outraged about a single player, when so many seem to have been left out on the curb.

Some say that it makes their HOF more meaningful than others, but I actually think the baseball HOF has less meaning, since politics seem to play more into getting in than actual play. I know that I could care less who makes into the Hall, because I hold no meaning to the Baseball HOF.

-Marty

p.s. Actually on topic, I liked the press conference, but agree it wasn't fair. It would have been better if it was a closed event, with reporters who were not allowed to publish the results. I understand why they did it, but they need to start respecting their players and personnel if they ever want to change the organization around.

10:16 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe the Lions have sealed their present fate by promoting two of the four architects of the poorest team in NFL history.

What name coach would ever work under these clowns? They are boxed into taking a chance promoting a coordinator or a flawed retread.

12:14 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Andrew M. Fanco,
No. They don't have prospects to give up and trying to limit payroll. I bet he stays in Texas.
Caputo

5:50 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Maddog52,
Saito would have been OK for the Tigers' closer - assuming he is healthy. There is nobody left on the board anymore. Guess it will be Fernando Rodney until the kids develop.
Caputo

5:51 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Phil,
Couldn't agree with you more about Morris. I vote for him every year. The knock is his ERA - at 3.90 it would be the highest in the hall. But look at the era he pitched in?
Caputo

5:53 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Eric Chase,
You and I will have to agree to disagree on that one. The last two things I think the Lions should do is sign a veteran QB or draft an offensive lineman - particularly first overall. Offensive line isn't a strength, but it's less of weakness than defense and QB. They need to find a QB for the long term, not short term.
Caputo

6:56 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Marty,
I have to admit I am a little "outraged" about the Morris exclusion. From 1979-91, he had 33 more wins than the next winningest pitcher over that period.
Caputo

7:03 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Anonymous,
It was definitely disappointing the Lions stayed with the the same old, same old. Time will tell.
Caputo

7:08 PM 

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