Jacksonville Jaguars Fan Forums

Per CBSSports.com

Cleaning house. NFL Network is talking about Stafford potentially being traded or moved. Jim Caldwell is probably gone at the end of the season

It's amazing that Matt Millen's right-hand man was given the job in the first place, tbqh.

Quote:Cleaning house. NFL Network is talking about Stafford potentially being traded
or moved. Jim Caldwell is probably gone at the end of the season

 

That has to be just filler. Who's gonna trade for that contract? He's $22 million against the cap for the next two years each.

Quote:Cleaning house. NFL Network is talking about Stafford potentially being traded or moved. Jim Caldwell is probably gone at the end of the season

I thought Caldwell was an awful hire anyway....

 

What did he do to deserve a HC job?

He took Dungys team and did nothing worth a flip with them.

 

That F.O.

had the Lions ALMOST there....

and then poof.... worst team in the NFL, again.

Gus and Alualu for Calvin ?

Quote:That has to be just filler. Who's gonna trade for that contract? He's $22 million against the cap for the next two years each.

 

I can see the Cleveland Browns (because they're dumb) trading for both Stafford and Calvin Johnson, they have the cap space and are in desperate need of a young QB (not named Manziel) and receiver.

Quote:I thought Caldwell was an awful hire anyway....

 

What did he do to deserve a HC job?

He took Dungys team and did nothing worth a flip with them.

 

...

 

I'd love to have Caldwell here as a QB Coach though. No offense to Nathaniel Hackett, but Peyton Manning attributed a lot of his development to Caldwell and when he was on the staff in Baltimore in 2012 he got Flacco a Superb Owl ring. Might not be much of a Header, but he seems to do well with QBs.

Quote:Per CBSSports.com

 

I'm awaiting official word from D6.

Quote:It's amazing that Matt Millen's right-hand man was given the job in the first place, tbqh.

 

I knew this was going to be Millen's fault somehow.

Why would they get rid of Stafford? He's for sure having a down year but this is a guy who broke 5k yards passing...I'd find someone to work with him and cut down on the turnovers

Quote:Why would they get rid of Stafford? He's for sure having a down year but this is a guy who broke 5k yards passing...I'd find someone to work with him and cut down on the turnovers

Mike Shula

Quote:Gus and Alualu for Calvin ?

 

How about Stafford, Ansah, and Calvin for Gus, Alualu, Lee, Branch, and Henne?

Quote:I'm awaiting official word from D6.

 

Adam, I didn't think Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand would be fired before the end of the season,   even if the Lions were 1-14 entering the last game.   I certainly was surprised that they were fired at this time.   Martha Ford has proven to be vastly different than her late husband,  who often had the patience of Job and was loyal to a fault. 

 

Having said all of this,  both deserved to be let go.   To their credit,  under their leadership the Lions did reach the playoffs 2 times in their 7 seasons.   That wasn't enough,  considering the potential the team had in recent seasons.   But it was far better than the Matt Millen era,  in which the Lions broke many records of futility.    Last season,   if Nick Fairley and Larry Warford could have stayed relatively healthy,  I think the Lions could have gone deep in the playoffs.   Even if the Lions didn't have the horrible officiating call in the Dallas playoff game go against them,  I don't think the Lions would have beaten Seattle on the road the following week barring the possibility of Fairley and Warford returning and being at or near their best. 

 

Both Mayhew and Lewand were responsible for the Lions losing Ndamukong Suh.   As it turned out,  the team didn't come close to effectively replacing the ultra durable Suh.  Haloti Ngata hasn't been able to stay relatively healthy for extended periods and probably has seen his best football days.    Only getting 17 plays out of Pro Bowl caliber LB DeAndre Levy really set back this team in 2015.   But every team has to compensate for injuries.   The Lions have had plenty of injuries this season but the team should be noticeably better than it was in the first half of the season.   Even if one assumes the Lions would have beaten the Seahawks if not for a horrible officiating call,  the team would still be on pace for a 12 loss season.   That's inexcusable after the team went 11-5 last season.   

 

Regarding Mayhew,  other than his terrific 2013 Draft,   his other Drafts,  especially from 2010 on,  weren't good enough.   Mayhew did a better job with signing other teams FA's than with drafting.    Mayhew's track record with trades were mixed.    The Lions have aged in a hurry at a number of positions  (  I'm not even counting Rashean Mathis ) on Defense.  

 

What likely contributed greatly to Mayhew and Lewand being fired is the combined results this season of Jim Caldwell and now former Tennessee HC Ken Whisenhunt.  These were their two finalists for the Lions 2014 HC job.   While Caldwell did a good overall job last season,   his mistake of hiring Joe Lombardi as Offensive Coordinator  ( Lombardi and the team's two Offensive Line Coaches were fired 10 days ago )  contributed greatly to the team's current plight.     Ultimately,  the responsibility is with Mayhew and Lewand,   even though Caldwell chose Lombardi.  Whisenhunt proved that his success in Arizona was largely because of Kurt Warner.

 

What remains to be seen is if the Lions will try to retool in 2016 or begin a major rebuilding program.   A case can be made for both options. 

D6, do you think the Lions stick with Caldwell until the end of the year? With Teryl Austin and Gunther Cunningham on the payroll, they've got a couple of coaches who could walk right into the head job if necessary.

Quote:D6, do you think the Lions stick with Caldwell until the end of the year? With Teryl Austin and Gunther Cunningham on the payroll, they've got a couple of coaches who could walk right into the head job if necessary.

 

     Martha Ford seems to want to keep Jim Caldwell in place the rest of the Lions season.   Whether it will be a viable option remains to be seen.   Before the Lions host the 49ers the 2nd to last game of the season,   the Lions next 6 opponents are :  at Green Bay,  Oakland,  Philadelphia,  Green Bay,   at St. Louis,  and at New Orleans.   The way the Lions have been playing in the last 6 + quarters,  combined with the level of these opponents,  winning even one of these games is going to be an uphill battle.    Especially,  if the players focus more on their own futures than playing team football and concentrating on the task at hand.   It's not a given that Caldwell is going to make it through the season,  despite current intentions.

 

   I agree with you that Teryl Austin and Gunther Cunningham have the skills to be the Lions interim HC.   In the case of Teryl Austin though,  being that he's Defensive Coordinator and the coaching staff is minus 3 coaches after last week's firings,   it will be difficult for Austin to be able to handle the role of interim HC and Defensive Coordinator.   Because Gunther Cunningham's role since Jim Caldwell became HC is more along the lines of advising the G.M.  and helping with game planning,   it would be easier for the Lions to function with Cunningham in the interim HC role.    My guess though is Austin would be named interim HC if Caldwell was let go before the end of the season.   The Cunningham suggestion is a good one though that I didn't previously think of.   Cunningham was the team's Defensive Coordinator during the 5 years Jim Schwartz was HC.   Cunningham has been in the background for the most part since.   When he was DC,  the highlight of the football week leading up to games for me was on Friday's when Cunningham spoke to the media.   Cunningham said what was on his mind.   He's the antithesis of tight lipped Schwartz and Caldwell. 

 

   It's unlikely that Jim Caldwell will remain Lions HC for 2016.   The one chance Caldwell might have is if the team plays much better the remainder of the season and if someone with ties to Caldwell becomes the Lions new G.M.   Bill Polian might have interest in the position if it would mean that his son Chris,  who of course currently works for the Jaguars,  would take over after a certain period of time.   It's also possible that Chris Polian could be hired to be the Lions G.M. from Day 1.    It's anyone's guess what direction the Lions will be going in beyond this season.   

Quote:That has to be just filler. Who's gonna trade for <a class="bbc_url" href='http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/detroit-lions/matthew-stafford/'>that contract</a>? He's $22 million against the cap for the next two years each.

Dallas

Quote:     Martha Ford seems to want to keep Jim Caldwell in place the rest of the Lions season.   Whether it will be a viable option remains to be seen.   Before the Lions host the 49ers the 2nd to last game of the season,   the Lions next 6 opponents are :  at Green Bay,  Oakland,  Philadelphia,  Green Bay,   at St. Louis,  and at New Orleans.   The way the Lions have been playing in the last 6 + quarters,  combined with the level of these opponents,  winning even one of these games is going to be an uphill battle.    Especially,  if the players focus more on their own futures than playing team football and concentrating on the task at hand.   It's not a given that Caldwell is going to make it through the season,  despite current intentions.

 

   I agree with you that Teryl Austin and Gunther Cunningham have the skills to be the Lions interim HC.   In the case of Teryl Austin though,  being that he's Defensive Coordinator and the coaching staff is minus 3 coaches after last week's firings,   it will be difficult for Austin to be able to handle the role of interim HC and Defensive Coordinator.   Because Gunther Cunningham's role since Jim Caldwell became HC is more along the lines of advising the G.M.  and helping with game planning,   it would be easier for the Lions to function with Cunningham in the interim HC role.    My guess though is Austin would be named interim HC if Caldwell was let go before the end of the season.   The Cunningham suggestion is a good one though that I didn't previously think of.   Cunningham was the team's Defensive Coordinator during the 5 years Jim Schwartz was HC.   Cunningham has been in the background for the most part since.   When he was DC,  the highlight of the football week leading up to games for me was on Friday's when Cunningham spoke to the media.   Cunningham said what was on his mind.   He's the antithesis of tight lipped Schwartz and Caldwell. 

I did look at the Lions' remaining schedule before posting, and came to the same conclusion you did. Keeping Caldwell is akin to an admission of tanking. Cunningham was a pretty good defensive coordinator, and was flat-out screwed as a head coach in KC essentially because ownership wanted a flashier name running the show. He's pushing 70 and wouldn't be even the slightest consideration for the permanent job, but promoting him would accomplish a couple of things: one, it presents the image that the Lions are actually trying to make some dramatic changes and win this year, and two, it insulates Teryl Austin from the type of criticism that would come with being promoted to interim coach and being hammered every week. That's important if Mrs. Ford is of the opinion that Austin might be someone that a new GM would want to consider as a head coach.

 

The main reason I can find for not firing Caldwell at this point, honestly, is that the Lions are already down several coaches, and firing their offensive-minded head coach after firing the coordinator and line coaches already might leave Cooter in completely over his head. Promoting Cunningham would alleviate the "short deck" element of losing yet another coach by taking someone who's already got more of an overall focus rather than taking someone from a very specific role, but it would still leave the offensive staff further hamstrung. That alone might be enough to keep Caldwell around.

Quote:That has to be just filler. Who's gonna trade for that contract? He's $22 million against the cap for the next two years each.

 

According to Peter King (today's MMQB) Stafford is now on a non-guaranteed contract - if they want to deal with the dead money. I don't think he'll be released - who they got otherwise - but I guess it could happen. But they, and a new coach, could do a lot worse.

 

D6 - thanks for the insight. You need to get that front office in shape! Perhaps you need to become real friendly with the 90 year old owner. I hear she's single!

I read Jim Caldwell's job is safe. Why would anybody think that after the president and GM were fired? Our new GM fired the HC, so Caldwell should be the next to go.