Quote:I've already said on multiple occasions that I don't think Jim Bob Cooter is going to get an NFL HC offer in the 2017 coaching cycle. He's probably at least a year away. However, regardless of whether Teryl Austin gets an NFL HC job or not this coming winter,  I'm absolutely convinced he's earned the opportunity.  I felt that way the previous 2 years as well. Even with the injury situation on Defense,  the Lions have not given up more than 20 points in a game for 7 straight games. The last time that happened was 1961. Austin's communication skills, adjustments, and leadership ability have contributed greatly to the results the Defense has been getting. It's not a unit that's getting many style points but all that matters is bottom line results.

 

Cooter will be a HC eventually. You root for the Cardiac Cats. How quickly he turned around Detroit's offense after Joe Lombardi was fired and his ability to sustain it is very attractive. Is it just inexperience being almost a rookie and too young to run for president (I hope you get the reference) that would keep him in Detroit longer?

 

I had a bad feeling in previous coaching cycles teams only interviewed Austin because he is black. Now that the Lions are winning with defense it will be less about the Rooney Rule than last year.

 

Quote:I prefer defensive coaches to offensive coaches as head coaches, but to be successful in today's game I think they have to be willing to let the offense breathe a little. Mike Smith seemed able to do that in Atlanta. Del Rio, on the other hand, wanted three yards and a cloud of dust. Gus, meanwhile, is just now getting the defense under control. Maybe in four more years the offense will be competitive.   

 

JDR was working with our strengths. David Garrard was an average QB handing off the ball to elite runners and did not have good receivers. At the time we had good run blockers. Any smart coach would do the same thing. Look at what he is doing in Oakland: telling Derek Carr to throw all over the place. Fans did not like it because running all the time is less exciting and more predictable, but it worked.

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