Well the Lions' head coaching search has ended with Jim Schwartz. The 42 year old former Titans' defensive coordinator has agreed to a 4 year deal. Out of all of the candidates that the Lions supposedly interviewed, and out of the two that they trotted out to pre-hire press conferences, Schwartz is the best man for the job. He provides a decade of experience running an NFL defense, and he has background as a scout under Bill Belichick in Cleveland. I think his age is also a great bonus, as it has been proven that coaches really decline around age 60, and he's a relative baby at 42.
Lions fans can now turn their attention to their own personal Super Bowl, the draft. Schwartz said in his pre-hire press conference (more on that later,) that "It's time to find the next Bobby Lane." Schwartz had better be sending smokescreens to other teams or had assumed Sam Bradford was entering the draft, because that is not the answer right now. First off, the available QB's are not worthy of the first overall pick. You can't use the first overall based on need, especially for a QB. Ask the 49ers and Alex Smith, the Raiders and JaMarcus Russell, or the Texans and David Carr. Secondly, a rookie QB would have no success in the Lions' current organization. This is the year to build a team. The Lions have 5 picks in the first 90, and none should be used on skill players. The first overall should be either an O-Lineman or speed rushing Defensive End, end of story. The next picks should all be O-Lineman and defensive players. If the Lions can put pieces in place they will be better suited next offseason when they are in all probability drafting in the top 10 again, and Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow are available. Now is not the time to use the #1 on Mark Sanchez because you need a QB.
But we have until April to dissect the draft, so let's turn our attention to the coaching hire. The Lions proved their ignorance by inventing the pre-hire press conference. Everyone assumed three days ago that Schwartz was the next coach when he concluded his second interview with a press conference. Uhhh, but we haven't named him coach yet, we all thought. Then the very next day Miami Assistant Todd Bowles held a press conference after an interview. Ummm, what exactly is going on guys? We all thought. And we are still wondering. The Lions coaching candidates were holding press conferences before being named anything, giving plans, answering questions... it was and is absolutely absurd. Just so mind boggling. But these ARE the Lions we're talking about. Anyway it's about as good of a hire as we could have hoped, but they all sound great until we start making moves and playing the games... Let's just hope he makes the right moves.
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