Hey Ford Family! Promote Mike Martz (Before Someone Else Does)
By everyone’s account, offensive coordinator Mike Martz is set to be the hottest coaching candidate in the NFL in a few short weeks. In fact, I am sure that several owners around the NFL are already getting offers ready. One of those teams should be the Detroit Lions.
Rod Marinelli has tried to bring a new culture of toughness to the Lions. It has shown up in spots, and the team in general has a “Hey, we can win this thing” outlook that is refreshing. However, the real bright spot for the team has been the offense under Martz. Kitna is playing well, Kevin Jones is looking better every week and Roy Williams is a shoo-in for the Pro-Bowl. The Lions are starting to look more and more like the Rams, but they need a few more playmakers to get over the hump. Why not let Martz make those player decisions? In fact, why not promote Lions to GM and Head Coach? He can choose the players, install the offense completely and take things to the next level.
As for Marinelli, well… I think that the jury is still out. But, Lions fans are tired of waiting, even for one more year. So, I would offer Marinelli the opportunity to stay on as Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Coach. Sure it’s a demotion. Well… Get over it. Martz has won Super Bowls and he is doing a great job. The Marinelli led defense? Not clicking. At all. And it’s not his fault. He simply doesn’t have the players. Maybe as Defensive Coordinator, Marinelli can focus strictly on getting the right players to fit his Tampa Two scheme and get better results.
Obviously, this won’t happen. Martz, the best thing that has happened to the Lions in years, will be handed the GM and head coaching job somewhere else (and probably take them to the Super Bowl). Matt Millen will probably stay on and draft a bunch of malcontents and underachievers that don’t fit the team’s needs. Marinelli will have to play “tough guy” to all of these underperformers and the team won’t make it to .500. And then, Marinelli will be fired. And everyone will wonder what happened. Again.
Hey Ford family: Wake up! Martz is the guy. Give him the keys and let him drive.
Posted: November 16th, 2006 under Coaching, Ownership.
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