As this writer sees constant media speculation on who the next coach of the Detroit Lions will be, I have learned many things. One, Martin Mayhew will take his time, two, names will be bandied and three never believe Bleacher Report or else we will welcome the next coach of the Detroit Lions, Vince Lombardi.
As Lombardi has been dead longer than most of our followers have been alive, it’s safe to say he won’t walk through the door. Some, though not dead, also won’t walk through the door. Tony Dungy will not give up the cushy gig at NBC Sports waxing witty with Dan Patrick. It’s low stress and fun for him. He can spout off about the Lions job being the best in football and never know the exquisite joy of working for one William Clay Ford…Senior or Junior. Since Tony Dungy won’t make these guys grow to winners but not quite champs, Jon Gruden won’t have a job to cherry pick…get him out of your head too. Bill Cowher and his chin enjoys the banter with Marino, Brown and the crew so ixnay on illBay.
There are three candidates I will assess them in ascending order from least desirable to “Oh Yeah let’s hire this guy ASAP.”
3. Mike Munchak: He’s been a coach and very recently a coach. The erstwhile head coach of the Tennessee Titans. When he had Jake Locker healthy, it almost appeared he was cooking with gas. The Titans were rolling along looking like they may make some noise but a teams’ fortune is very often intertwined with their back up quarterback and if your counterpoint to Jake Locker is Ryan Fitzpatrick…well you are a hall of fame player looking to coach somewhere other than the home you’ve known nearly 30 years. I don’t dislike Munchak as much as my Facebook posts appear but I wouldn’t be over the moon to get the guy. Plus there’s that Tennessee connection and it’s too ‘Jim Schwartz’ for my liking.
2. Jim Caldwell: Been to a Super Bowl, has had some meaningful success and ultimately would not be a bad coach in Detroit; but I can see that to some, that last year in Indianapolis lead to some questions about his leadership abilities. I grant that Peyton Manning was injured in Caldwell’s last year as Colt coach, but I have a hard time believing any one player even one as brilliant in the regular season as Manning is the difference between 11 victories and 2 victories. Again though Lion fans remember the wonder that is Dan Orlovsky at quarterback.
Which brings me to my number one choice Ken Whisenhunt. I get it I really do, he was coaching a mediocre team to a Super Bowl. I know that Arizona collapsed without Kurt Warner, I know he never had a rapport with John (not to be confused with Red) Skelton and Kevin Kolb, but I also see another track record. Ben Roethlisberger was a rookie quarterback that excelled under Whisenhunt’s offensive plan, Warner was on the scrap heap of almost Hall of Fame quarterbacks and resurrected his career in Arizona…and Philip Rivers was on the verge of being cut by the Chargers. All three of those QB’s young, old and middling all excelled. It’s conceivable Matthew Stafford is more talented than all three of them. Imagine what Whisenhunt can do with this guy if Staff wants to take the initiative and listen to him. I get that it’s a big “if” but this guy could be the coach that commands the respect of the locker room and makes the Fords as ‘off limits’ as possible.
So again Munchak, lukewarm, Caldwell not bad, Whisenhunt, hire him the second San Diego loses…we may have to wait til the Super Bowl finishes, but I believe him worth the wait.
