Caldwell To Coach Lions (1 Viewer)

[LinusMarr]

Just picked up David Akers

I wish i could pick up the punter and somehow get points for that...

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Bringing up the "at least we arent the Browns" argument?

Id rather be a Browns fan, and know we are going to lose, than get #### teased by a team stacked w talent that can't win a damn thing to save it's life.

Well the Browns do have the best receiver in football...

 

[JFS171]

Coach before Caldwell at Wake Forest (Bill Dooley): 29-36-2 (.448)

Caldwell at Wake Forest: 26-63 (.292)

Coach after Caldwell at Wake Forest (Jim Grobe): 77-82 (.484)

Coach before Caldwell at Indianapolis (Tony Dungy): 85-27 (.759)

Caldwell at Indianapolis: 26-22 (.542)

Coach after Caldwell at Indianapolis (Chuck Pagano [/bruce Arians]): 22-10 (.688)

Just saying.

I was literally just about to look this up. People see Wake Forest and think, "Oh they suck, no wonder Caldwell wasn't good there."

He brought a new level of suck to the sub-par performance of a small, academically-challenging, private school in a major athletic conference.

I can't believe a man best remembered for calling that completely absurd TO against the Jets in the playoffs is getting another HC job.

This part from Barnwell over at Grantland sums it up best (note the link to the story about that absurd TO):

Caldwell has received glowing endorsements from former Colts colleagues Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, but he was their handpicked choice to take over for Dungy in 2009, and while the Colts went 14-2 and made it to the Super Bowl during his first year at the helm, things fell apart quickly. Caldwell was a horrific in-game coach, infamously taking a timeout in the following year’s playoff loss to the Jets that beggared belief. The next year, with Manning injured, the Colts fell to 2-14 behind a dismal season from Curtis Painter, leading to Caldwell’s firing after the season. He took over as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator late in the 2012 season and helped lead it to a shocking Super Bowl victory, with the offense — notably, Joe Flacco — taking a huge step forward in the process.

In his first full year at the helm for the Ravens, Caldwell’s offense fell apart; the Ravens were 25th in points scored, 30th in DVOA, and nearly became one of the few teams since the merger to average fewer than 3.0 yards per carry. Flacco, who had put together an astounding 11-touchdown, zero-interception Super Bowl run, threw 22 interceptions in his worst season as a pro. The basis for hiring Caldwell comes down to his two seasons as a head coach with the greatest quarterback in the history of football under center.

 

[Soulfly3]

Bringing up the "at least we arent the Browns" argument?

Id rather be a Browns fan, and know we are going to lose, than get #### teased by a team stacked w talent that can't win a damn thing to save it's life.

Well the Browns do have the best receiver in football...

 

[domvin]

He can't be worse than Schwartz

People should stop bashing a guy who turned an 0-16 team around into a playoff contender, I think this is a downgrade for sure.

It's not like they were going to go 0-16 forever if they didn't have Jim Schwartz. The NFL is designed so that bad teams get better. The Lions had tons of high draft picks and cap space to work with, and once they replaced the worst GM ever they were able to start accumulating talent like a normal team. Schwartz then took that talent to one playoff appearance and two 2nd-half collapses.

You seem to have forgotten the Millen Years?

Read the sentence right after the one you bolded.

I see it now, I stand corrected.

I happen to agree with your stance, Schwartz would be better than Caldwell, but I think the climate in Detroit needed change. The Culture, and sloppy penalties doomed Schwartz.....and not taking the division in a watered down NFC north doomed him. There was no discipline...

 

[mikel0254]

Bringing up the "at least we arent the Browns" argument?

Id rather be a Browns fan, and know we are going to lose, than get #### teased by a team stacked w talent that can't win a damn thing to save it's life.

Well the Browns do have the best receiver in football...

Until he gets 1 more strike...

 

[UlyssesNorris]

Coach before Caldwell at Wake Forest (Bill Dooley): 29-36-2 (.448)

Caldwell at Wake Forest: 26-63 (.292)

Coach after Caldwell at Wake Forest (Jim Grobe): 77-82 (.484)

Coach before Caldwell at Indianapolis (Tony Dungy): 85-27 (.759)

Caldwell at Indianapolis: 26-22 (.542)

Coach after Caldwell at Indianapolis (Chuck Pagano [/bruce Arians]): 22-10 (.688)

Just saying.

I was literally just about to look this up. People see Wake Forest and think, "Oh they suck, no wonder Caldwell wasn't good there."

He brought a new level of suck to the sub-par performance of a small, academically-challenging, private school in a major athletic conference.

I can't believe a man best remembered for calling that completely absurd TO against the Jets in the playoffs is getting another HC job.

This part from Barnwell over at Grantland sums it up best (note the link to the story about that absurd TO):

Caldwell has received glowing endorsements from former Colts colleagues Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, but he was their handpicked choice to take over for Dungy in 2009, and while the Colts went 14-2 and made it to the Super Bowl during his first year at the helm, things fell apart quickly. Caldwell was a horrific in-game coach, infamously taking a timeout in the following year’s playoff loss to the Jets that beggared belief. The next year, with Manning injured, the Colts fell to 2-14 behind a dismal season from Curtis Painter, leading to Caldwell’s firing after the season. He took over as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator late in the 2012 season and helped lead it to a shocking Super Bowl victory, with the offense — notably, Joe Flacco — taking a huge step forward in the process.

In his first full year at the helm for the Ravens, Caldwell’s offense fell apart; the Ravens were 25th in points scored, 30th in DVOA, and nearly became one of the few teams since the merger to average fewer than 3.0 yards per carry. Flacco, who had put together an astounding 11-touchdown, zero-interception Super Bowl run, threw 22 interceptions in his worst season as a pro. The basis for hiring Caldwell comes down to his two seasons as a head coach with the greatest quarterback in the history of football under center.

Anyone who thinks Schwartz was a poor in-game coach should read that article Barnwell linked, in case they've forgotten that Jets / Colts playoff game. Sheesh.

 

[Soulfly3]

Bringing up the "at least we arent the Browns" argument?

Id rather be a Browns fan, and know we are going to lose, than get #### teased by a team stacked w talent that can't win a damn thing to save it's life.

Well the Browns do have the best receiver in football...

Until he gets 1 more strike...

he's good

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Coach before Caldwell at Wake Forest (Bill Dooley): 29-36-2 (.448)

Caldwell at Wake Forest: 26-63 (.292)

Coach after Caldwell at Wake Forest (Jim Grobe): 77-82 (.484)

Coach before Caldwell at Indianapolis (Tony Dungy): 85-27 (.759)

Caldwell at Indianapolis: 26-22 (.542)

Coach after Caldwell at Indianapolis (Chuck Pagano [/bruce Arians]): 22-10 (.688)

Just saying.

I was literally just about to look this up. People see Wake Forest and think, "Oh they suck, no wonder Caldwell wasn't good there."

He brought a new level of suck to the sub-par performance of a small, academically-challenging, private school in a major athletic conference.

I can't believe a man best remembered for calling that completely absurd TO against the Jets in the playoffs is getting another HC job.

This part from Barnwell over at Grantland sums it up best (note the link to the story about that absurd TO):

Caldwell has received glowing endorsements from former Colts colleagues Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, but he was their handpicked choice to take over for Dungy in 2009, and while the Colts went 14-2 and made it to the Super Bowl during his first year at the helm, things fell apart quickly. Caldwell was a horrific in-game coach, infamously taking a timeout in the following year’s playoff loss to the Jets that beggared belief. The next year, with Manning injured, the Colts fell to 2-14 behind a dismal season from Curtis Painter, leading to Caldwell’s firing after the season. He took over as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator late in the 2012 season and helped lead it to a shocking Super Bowl victory, with the offense — notably, Joe Flacco — taking a huge step forward in the process.

In his first full year at the helm for the Ravens, Caldwell’s offense fell apart; the Ravens were 25th in points scored, 30th in DVOA, and nearly became one of the few teams since the merger to average fewer than 3.0 yards per carry. Flacco, who had put together an astounding 11-touchdown, zero-interception Super Bowl run, threw 22 interceptions in his worst season as a pro. The basis for hiring Caldwell comes down to his two seasons as a head coach with the greatest quarterback in the history of football under center.

Anyone who thinks Schwartz was a poor in-game coach should read that article Barnwell linked, in case they've forgotten that Jets / Colts playoff game. Sheesh.

What does "playoff game" mean?

 

[The Captain]

This feels a lot like the Marinelli hire.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Coach before Caldwell at Wake Forest (Bill Dooley): 29-36-2 (.448)

Caldwell at Wake Forest: 26-63 (.292)

Coach after Caldwell at Wake Forest (Jim Grobe): 77-82 (.484)

Coach before Caldwell at Indianapolis (Tony Dungy): 85-27 (.759)

Caldwell at Indianapolis: 26-22 (.542)

Coach after Caldwell at Indianapolis (Chuck Pagano [/bruce Arians]): 22-10 (.688)

Just saying.

I was literally just about to look this up. People see Wake Forest and think, "Oh they suck, no wonder Caldwell wasn't good there."

He brought a new level of suck to the sub-par performance of a small, academically-challenging, private school in a major athletic conference.

I can't believe a man best remembered for calling that completely absurd TO against the Jets in the playoffs is getting another HC job.

This part from Barnwell over at Grantland sums it up best (note the link to the story about that absurd TO):

Caldwell has received glowing endorsements from former Colts colleagues Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, but he was their handpicked choice to take over for Dungy in 2009, and while the Colts went 14-2 and made it to the Super Bowl during his first year at the helm, things fell apart quickly. Caldwell was a horrific in-game coach, infamously taking a timeout in the following year’s playoff loss to the Jets that beggared belief. The next year, with Manning injured, the Colts fell to 2-14 behind a dismal season from Curtis Painter, leading to Caldwell’s firing after the season. He took over as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator late in the 2012 season and helped lead it to a shocking Super Bowl victory, with the offense — notably, Joe Flacco — taking a huge step forward in the process.

In his first full year at the helm for the Ravens, Caldwell’s offense fell apart; the Ravens were 25th in points scored, 30th in DVOA, and nearly became one of the few teams since the merger to average fewer than 3.0 yards per carry. Flacco, who had put together an astounding 11-touchdown, zero-interception Super Bowl run, threw 22 interceptions in his worst season as a pro. The basis for hiring Caldwell comes down to his two seasons as a head coach with the greatest quarterback in the history of football under center.

With 29 seconds left, the clock running and the Jets having the ball at the Colts’ 32-yard line, Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell made a surprising decision: He called timeout.

The TV cameras caught the look on Peyton Manning’s face on the sideline, and Manning was obviously thinking the same thing many of us were thinking: “What in the world is Caldwell doing?”

Caldwell was asked to explain after the game.

“I didn’t care. I was going to make sure that they couldn’t. Make them snap the ball. They were in field goal range,” Caldwell said. “We wanted to try to make them snap the ball as many times as they possibly could.”

Yes, the Jets were in field goal range: In range for what would have been a 50-yard field goal, which is no chip shot for Jets kicker Nick Folk, who went 5-for-11 on field goal attempts of 40 yards or longer this season. As it turned out, on the very next play after that timeout, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez hit Braylon Edwards on an 18-yard completion, and on the next play after that Folk kicked the game-winning 32-yard field goal as time expired.

Frankly, Caldwell’s explanation doesn’t make any sense because his decision doesn’t make any sense. Making the Jets snap the ball again just gave the Jets another opportunity to make the field goal easier, and that’s exactly what they did.

Caldwell should have known better, because he made the same mistake during the regular season at Jacksonville, using two timeouts during the Jaguars’ final drive and helping Jacksonville set up a game-winning field goal. Caldwell didn’t learn from that mistake, and the Jets benefited on Saturday night.

 

[Spartans Rule]

As a Michigan State/Lions fan, the Caldwell timeout debacle makes me think back to the time MSU scored a touchdown with a couple minutes left and Bobby Williams elected to kick an extra point to go up 6 rather than try for two and a 7-point lead. Simple decisions that bad are definitely cause for concern.

 

[UlyssesNorris]

Coach before Caldwell at Wake Forest (Bill Dooley): 29-36-2 (.448)

Caldwell at Wake Forest: 26-63 (.292)

Coach after Caldwell at Wake Forest (Jim Grobe): 77-82 (.484)

Coach before Caldwell at Indianapolis (Tony Dungy): 85-27 (.759)

Caldwell at Indianapolis: 26-22 (.542)

Coach after Caldwell at Indianapolis (Chuck Pagano [/bruce Arians]): 22-10 (.688)

Just saying.

I was literally just about to look this up. People see Wake Forest and think, "Oh they suck, no wonder Caldwell wasn't good there."

He brought a new level of suck to the sub-par performance of a small, academically-challenging, private school in a major athletic conference.

I can't believe a man best remembered for calling that completely absurd TO against the Jets in the playoffs is getting another HC job.

This part from Barnwell over at Grantland sums it up best (note the link to the story about that absurd TO):

Caldwell has received glowing endorsements from former Colts colleagues Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, but he was their handpicked choice to take over for Dungy in 2009, and while the Colts went 14-2 and made it to the Super Bowl during his first year at the helm, things fell apart quickly. Caldwell was a horrific in-game coach, infamously taking a timeout in the following year’s playoff loss to the Jets that beggared belief. The next year, with Manning injured, the Colts fell to 2-14 behind a dismal season from Curtis Painter, leading to Caldwell’s firing after the season. He took over as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator late in the 2012 season and helped lead it to a shocking Super Bowl victory, with the offense — notably, Joe Flacco — taking a huge step forward in the process.

In his first full year at the helm for the Ravens, Caldwell’s offense fell apart; the Ravens were 25th in points scored, 30th in DVOA, and nearly became one of the few teams since the merger to average fewer than 3.0 yards per carry. Flacco, who had put together an astounding 11-touchdown, zero-interception Super Bowl run, threw 22 interceptions in his worst season as a pro. The basis for hiring Caldwell comes down to his two seasons as a head coach with the greatest quarterback in the history of football under center.

Anyone who thinks Schwartz was a poor in-game coach should read that article Barnwell linked, in case they've forgotten that Jets / Colts playoff game. Sheesh.

What does "playoff game" mean?

A contest occurring in the playoffs. It's when Lions fans find another team to root for.

 

[shader]

The media is all over this hire in a good way. Which is a joke.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

NFL Live guys love the hire

Brings discipline, is calm and is an offensive guru were the comments. I can't believe anyone would want Schwartz back, his teams were just sloppy, penalty-ridden, and often unprepared. I'd rank Monte Clark above him in Lions coaching history.

 

[False Start]

A lot of the talking head on ESPN and NFL NEtwork seem to think it is a great hire. Makes this feel even worse they, are rarely right.

 

[False Start]

The media is all over this hire in a good way. Which is a joke.

NFL Live guys love the hire

Brings discipline, is calm and is an offensive guru were the comments. I can't believe anyone would want Schwartz back, his teams were just sloppy, penalty-ridden, and often unprepared. I'd rank Monte Clark above him in Lions coaching history.

A lot of the talking head on ESPN and NFL NEtwork seem to think it is a great hire. Makes this feel even worse they, are rarely right.

3 posts saying the same thing at the exact time. Kinda funny.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

does the national media ESPN types ever critize a hire?

 

[msommer]

I remember the Indy fans describing Caldwell after winning :-o

and after losing :-o

and after ####### up so badly he personally lost the game for the team :-o

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Hope he works out for you guys.

Two things that might interest Lions fans.

First, Caldwell really wanted the job and came prepaired.

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet4h

Jim Caldwell showed how serious he was about #Lions job by breaking down all of Matt Stafford’s throws in 2013, then watching tape with him

And second, it seems the one that got away had a mercinary streak because it sounds like he was more interested in a big pay day than getting the best coaching position.

Ed WerderVerified account‏@Edwerderespn2h

Most coaches receive 4-year deal, but Titans gave Ken Whisenhunt more than that and guaranteed the contract

 

[Leroy Hoard]

This feels a lot like the Marinelli hire.

So Caldwell does have a future on the NFL Network.

 

[Synthesizer]

Jim Caldwell? Seriously Detroit? That's the best you could do?

No qualified coaches have faith in this front office. So yeah, that's the best they can do. Same as settling for Schwartz, Marinelli, Mornhinweg, etc.

 

[False Start]

Hope he works out for you guys.

Two things that might interest Lions fans.

First, Caldwell really wanted the job and came prepaired.

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet4h

Jim Caldwell showed how serious he was about #Lions job by breaking down all of Matt Stafford’s throws in 2013, then watching tape with him

And second, it seems the one that got away had a mercinary streak because it sounds like he was more interested in a big pay day than getting the best coaching position.

Ed WerderVerified account‏@Edwerderespn2h

Most coaches receive 4-year deal, but Titans gave Ken Whisenhunt more than that and guaranteed the contract

All very interesting, now they are saying Lazor will be the new OC.

 

[dickey moe]

Seems like the type of measured and rational decision the Lions' general management brain-trust would make.

 

[Da Guru]

Hope he works out for you guys.

Two things that might interest Lions fans.

First, Caldwell really wanted the job and came prepaired.

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet4h

Jim Caldwell showed how serious he was about #Lions job by breaking down all of Matt Stafford’s throws in 2013, then watching tape with him

And second, it seems the one that got away had a mercinary streak because it sounds like he was more interested in a big pay day than getting the best coaching position.

Ed WerderVerified account‏@Edwerderespn2h

Most coaches receive 4-year deal, but Titans gave Ken Whisenhunt more than that and guaranteed the contract

They should have hired Caldwell as the QB coach then. All I remember about Caldwell from Indy is him standing there not saying a word while Manning ran the show. I remember Manning waving off the punt team right in Caldwells face.

 

[Slapdash]

First, Caldwell really wanted the job and came prepaired.

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet4h

Jim Caldwell showed how serious he was about #Lions job by breaking down all of Matt Stafford’s throws in 2013, then watching tape with him

Not sure how this is a plus....shows that he expected to lose his current job and didn't have a lot of other interviews to prepare for....

 

[JohnnyU]

Jim Caldwell? Seriously Detroit? That's the best you could do?

No qualified coaches have faith in this front office. So yeah, that's the best they can do. Same as settling for Schwartz, Marinelli, Mornhinweg, etc.

I like the avatar.

 

[FUBAR]

Bringing up the "at least we arent the Browns" argument?

Id rather be a Browns fan, and know we are going to lose, than get #### teased by a team stacked w talent that can't win a damn thing to save it's life.

I'd feel confident saying the Browns win more games than the Lions do during the "Caldwell era"

 

[FUBAR]

Hope he works out for you guys.

Two things that might interest Lions fans.

First, Caldwell really wanted the job and came prepaired.

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet4h

Jim Caldwell showed how serious he was about #Lions job by breaking down all of Matt Stafford’s throws in 2013, then watching tape with him

And second, it seems the one that got away had a mercinary streak because it sounds like he was more interested in a big pay day than getting the best coaching position.

Ed WerderVerified account‏@Edwerderespn2h

Most coaches receive 4-year deal, but Titans gave Ken Whisenhunt more than that and guaranteed the contract

All very interesting, now they are saying Lazor will be the new OC.

That hiring I could support.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

First, Caldwell really wanted the job and came prepaired.

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet4h

Jim Caldwell showed how serious he was about #Lions job by breaking down all of Matt Stafford’s throws in 2013, then watching tape with him

Not sure how this is a plus....shows that he expected to lose his current job and didn't have a lot of other interviews to prepare for....

Well it's a plus for him. He identified his best shot at getting a HC position and then made it happen.

The Lions on the other hand...

 

[Riffraff]

An oldie but goodie. The many Faces of Jim Caldwell.

 

[mphtrilogy]

My condolences lions fans...

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

how can the whole world see this is a terrible hire, yet the lions went ahead and did it anyway. Sheesh

Because they didn't fire the guy that should have went with schwartz, the GM.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

NFL Live guys love the hire

Brings discipline, is calm and is an offensive guru were the comments. I can't believe anyone would want Schwartz back, his teams were just sloppy, penalty-ridden, and often unprepared. I'd rank Monte Clark above him in Lions coaching history.

Schwartz was bad, Detroit is a better team today than they were week 17. Whether Caldwell can turn the corner for the Lions, i've been wrong before. If Barry Switzer can win a SB....

 

[fatness]

Baltimore radio has been speculating that Caldwell would not be brought back as the OC because he was so terrible.

That's typical Baltimore sports radio. They know how much the Ravens offense picked up when they fired Cameron and hired Caldwell. But as soon as they believe Caldwell's leaving it's "oh, he stunk".

Please see the Ravens offensive statistics in 2013. That he stunk is not really up for debate.

Please see them in 2012 before and after Caldwell replaced Cameron. Fill us in on that.

Then lose Boldin and have the entire offensive line collapse, and tell me about 2013.

In 2012 Caldwell still used Cameron's plays, in 2013 he used his own playbook. That's the story of 2013.

You didn't mention the loss of Boldin and the O-line deterioration in 2013.

Baltimore Ravens agree: John Harbaugh’s decision to fire Cam Cameron and install Jim Caldwell turned season around

"Everybody has a clear understanding of what's expected, how we're trying to attack defenses and what we're trying to do on offense," wide receiver Anquan Bolden said. "That's the main thing that he's brought to this offense."

 

[fatness]

I can't believe anyone would want Schwartz back, his teams were just sloppy, penalty-ridden, and often unprepared.

I agree with you there. Once Millen was gone the Lions had shed their anchor of doom and had a chance to succeed as other teams do. They do have some pretty good players. But they always looked disorganized, messy, and more like a collection of individuals than a team. That's on Schwartz.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

He can't be worse than Schwartz

People should stop bashing a guy who turned an 0-16 team around into a playoff contender, I think this is a downgrade for sure.

It's not like they were going to go 0-16 forever if they didn't have Jim Schwartz. The NFL is designed so that bad teams get better. The Lions had tons of high draft picks and cap space to work with, and once they replaced the worst GM ever they were able to start accumulating talent like a normal team. Schwartz then took that talent to one playoff appearance and two 2nd-half collapses.

No, he turned an 0-16 team, a franchise that has traditionally stunk in the SB era, he took a team the had no talent and got them back to respectability quickly. Believe what you want but I find your post to be pretty out there in logical thought.

You make it sound like Jim Zorn or Cam Cameron could have done the same job, weak.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Worst HC I have ever seen.

Really?

 

[ummich10]

Coach before Caldwell at Wake Forest (Bill Dooley): 29-36-2 (.448)

Caldwell at Wake Forest: 26-63 (.292)

Coach after Caldwell at Wake Forest (Jim Grobe): 77-82 (.484)

Coach before Caldwell at Indianapolis (Tony Dungy): 85-27 (.759)

Caldwell at Indianapolis: 26-22 (.542)

Coach after Caldwell at Indianapolis (Chuck Pagano [/bruce Arians]): 22-10 (.688)

Just saying.

I understand the point here, and I'm not commenting on his Wake Forest years because I don't know anything about it, but the Indy records aren't exactly even comparisons. Indy owner cleans house and the new coach does better with Andrew Luck than Curtis Painter? I'm by no means a Caldwell supporter, but I'm not holding 2011 against him too much.

 

[MoveToSkypager]

Worst HC I have ever seen.

Really?

He must be new to football. Anyone can fire off a handful worse than him in a few seconds.

 

[Billy Bats]

NFL Live guys love the hire

Brings discipline, is calm and is an offensive guru were the comments. I can't believe anyone would want Schwartz back, his teams were just sloppy, penalty-ridden, and often unprepared. I'd rank Monte Clark above him in Lions coaching history.

Schwartz was bad, Detroit is a better team today than they were week 17. Whether Caldwell can turn the corner for the Lions, i've been wrong before. If Barry Switzer can win a SB....

Switzer?! Yea because he did so much with so little. Even Rich Kotite would've gotten that team to the playoffs.

 

[FUBAR]

He can't be worse than Schwartz

People should stop bashing a guy who turned an 0-16 team around into a playoff contender, I think this is a downgrade for sure.

It's not like they were going to go 0-16 forever if they didn't have Jim Schwartz. The NFL is designed so that bad teams get better. The Lions had tons of high draft picks and cap space to work with, and once they replaced the worst GM ever they were able to start accumulating talent like a normal team. Schwartz then took that talent to one playoff appearance and two 2nd-half collapses.

No, he turned an 0-16 team, a franchise that has traditionally stunk in the SB era, he took a team the had no talent and got them back to respectability quickly. Believe what you want but I find your post to be pretty out there in logical thought.

You make it sound like Jim Zorn or Cam Cameron could have done the same job, weak.

The team has talent. Most of it drafted or signed (Reggie) after he took the job.

I'll give him some (very little) credit for improving the team and getting them to the playoffs for the first time in the 2000s when Gus Frerotte was the QB (damn this franchise sucks) but 1 playoff appearance, no playoff wins, and one season over .500 is just not good, no matter what franchise you're coaching for.

 

[Bob Magaw]

Coach before Caldwell at Wake Forest (Bill Dooley): 29-36-2 (.448)

Caldwell at Wake Forest: 26-63 (.292)

Coach after Caldwell at Wake Forest (Jim Grobe): 77-82 (.484)

Coach before Caldwell at Indianapolis (Tony Dungy): 85-27 (.759)

Caldwell at Indianapolis: 26-22 (.542)

Coach after Caldwell at Indianapolis (Chuck Pagano [/bruce Arians]): 22-10 (.688)

Just saying.

I understand the point here, and I'm not commenting on his Wake Forest years because I don't know anything about it, but the Indy records aren't exactly even comparisons. Indy owner cleans house and the new coach does better with Andrew Luck than Curtis Painter? I'm by no means a Caldwell supporter, but I'm not holding 2011 against him too much.

It isn't like Irsay was anxious to win a few more games so they could not get Luck after Manning was going to be cut. That season was more scripted and choreographed than a Jerry Springer show.

 

[BobbyLayne]

20,106

numbers of days since Detroit last won an NFL Championship

f'n Lions

 

[The_Man]

First, Caldwell really wanted the job and came prepaired.

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet4h

Jim Caldwell showed how serious he was about #Lions job by breaking down all of Matt Stafford’s throws in 2013, then watching tape with him

Not sure how this is a plus....shows that he expected to lose his current job and didn't have a lot of other interviews to prepare for....

Why didn't he break down all of Flacco's 2013 throws and then explain how come he couldn't fix his current QB from throwing a career-high in INTs and lead a 30th-ranked offense?

 

[TwinTurbo]

Caldwell is not HC material. This is an absolutely horrible hire. But if you want a HC that is really good at standing on the sideline, looking confused most of the time, then Caldwell is your guy. I have seriously never seen a coach with a more perpetual deer-in-the-headlights look than Caldwell, which the media praises as "calm demeanor". A cardboard cutout would be more animated and have better clock management skills than this guy. So pissed right now as a Lions fan.

 

[pizzatyme]

A guy that led his team to 14-0 and to a super bowl in his rookie season gets zero respect by fans, which is amazing.

But I'm in agreement with the general consensus. This guy, to me, looked absolutely clueless on the sidelines.

I could have done what he did with the Colts. As could anyone else. The only thing he managed to do was hold the offense back by punting instead of going for it, FGs instead of TD attempts, etc.

Welcome to continued futility, Detroit.

But at least they'll make Stafford happy.

 

[TwinTurbo]

A guy that led his team to 14-0 and to a super bowl in his rookie season gets zero respect by fans, which is amazing.

But I'm in agreement with the general consensus. This guy, to me, looked absolutely clueless on the sidelines.

I could have done what he did with the Colts. As could anyone else. The only thing he managed to do was hold the offense back by punting instead of going for it, FGs instead of TD attempts, etc.

Welcome to continued futility, Detroit.

But at least they'll make Stafford happy.

Yes a cardboard cutout with headphones could have led that Peyton team to Superbowl XLIV and wouldn't have been as badly outcoached by Sean Peyton in that game either.

 

[Spartans Rule]

He can't be worse than Schwartz

People should stop bashing a guy who turned an 0-16 team around into a playoff contender, I think this is a downgrade for sure.

It's not like they were going to go 0-16 forever if they didn't have Jim Schwartz. The NFL is designed so that bad teams get better. The Lions had tons of high draft picks and cap space to work with, and once they replaced the worst GM ever they were able to start accumulating talent like a normal team. Schwartz then took that talent to one playoff appearance and two 2nd-half collapses.

No, he turned an 0-16 team, a franchise that has traditionally stunk in the SB era, he took a team the had no talent and got them back to respectability quickly. Believe what you want but I find your post to be pretty out there in logical thought.

You make it sound like Jim Zorn or Cam Cameron could have done the same job, weak.

I don't see how you give Schwartz all the credit for that. The Lions' improvement was mostly due to getting better players, and Schwartz didn't have control over personnel decisions. It's not like he took the same guys that went 0-16 and won with them. They added a franchise QB, an elite DT, and lots of other key pieces.

The Lions probably overachieved a little in 2011 and I'll give Schwartz his due for that, but they should've been back in the playoffs the last two years and they went 11-21, including 2-14 in the second half.

 

[Spartans Rule]

You know who's a really, really terrible coach based on the logic in this thread? Tony Dungy. He went to one Super Bowl in 7 years with a Colts team that a cardboard cutout could've won championships with.