Detroit Lions’ search for a ‘safe’ hire may be a fool’s errand

Posted January 14, 2014

The Lions (7-9) lost six of their last seven games en route to missing the playoffs for a second straight year. (Paul Sancya/AP)

When the Detroit Lions went searching for a head coach in 2009, they focused squarely on the assistant coaching ranks Leslie Frazier, Todd Bowles and Ron Rivera among the names considered then alongside Jim Schwartz, who they eventually hired.

The focus this time around though GM Martin Mayhew insisted he would not pigeon-hole himself in such a way appeared to be on those with head coaching experience, like Gary Kubiak and Mike Munchak. For a Lions organization which feels it can contend for a playoff spot and has whiffed on its last three rookie head coaches (Schwartz, Rod Marinelli and Marty Mornhinweg), that approach presented itself as a more unassailable one.

And therein may lie the issue with Detroits coaching search, the teams sixth since 1997, which ended Tuesday with the pick of Jim Caldwell: There is no such thing as a safe, slam-dunk hire in the NFL. Bill Belichick tanked in Cleveland before eventually landing in New England. Pete Carroll was a bust with the Jets and Patriots, only finding his footing with Seattle more than a decade later. The Lions certainly are hoping especially after Whisenhunt fell out of the mix that Caldwell can find similar success in his second go-round as head coach. But is there any guarantee he will? Conversely, is there any assurance that Whisenhunt has a brighter future in Tennessee than any of the options Detroit was considering after he chose San Diego?

Hardly.

Obviously, experience as a head coach is important, Mayhew said. It doesnt matter what side of the ball it is. I also think we can take into account a coachs ability to change our culture a little bit. It has to be something bigger than just scheme that somebodys bringing to our table.

So, how was a franchise thats tried just about everything supposed to avoid repeating its mistakes of the past?

Short of plucking a head coach from college, a risky venture in its own right, the Lions have banged down every door over the past decade-plus. They hired the grizzled and experienced veteran (Bobby Ross); a promising offensive mind who was being groomed to be a head coach (Marty Mornhinweg); the big-name star (Steve Mariucci); a well-traveled defensive guru (Rod Marinelli); and, finally, the up-and-coming, coveted rising talent (Schwartz).

Only two, Ross and Schwartz, were able to even make the playoffs. Neither won once there.

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Detroit Lions' search for a 'safe' hire may be a fool's errand