Detroit Lions Weblog

Press Conference provides More Clarity in Lions Coaching Situation

After the dust settled, the Lions have cleared up exactly whom will serve in which roles in charge of offensive personnel in 2008. Jim Colletto, will remain offensive line coach, and will have the added responsibility of play calling duties, as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Kippy Brown, formerly receivers coach, will serve as assistant head coach and passing game coordinator. Shawn Jefferson, once an offensive assistant, will be promoted to wide receivers coach. Defensive assistant Fred Reed and offensive assistant Tim Martz will not return. The one remaining question mark is, what happens with running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery?

The other mystery is what exactly happened with Martz? He wasn’t officially fired, according to the Lions press conference, he is just not going to return.

In lieu of Martz’s departure, more details have emerged about the Lions offense. They will retain Martz’s basic system and terminology, but will simplify it and utilize more balance in their play calling. Apparently, Colletto designed the running plays as the season drew to a close. In the Cowboys game, Colletto’s running game plan was more successful than in most games throughout the ‘07 season.

Colletto’s approach, is similar to one of Vince Lombardi’s most basic tenets, keep the plays simple so that the offensive unit can feel comfortable and focus on the few plays that they have been given. The impetus is placed upon the players to execute the plays to near-perfection, ala the “Packers sweep” play, since they will have fewer plays to utilize.

Jeff Backus, for one, mentioned that the team was lacking “bread and butter” plays with which they could rely upon as an offense. In regards to Backus, please provide less talk about “bread and butter” plays and exponentially more talk about improving upon your 17 sacks allowed in ‘07!!

This whole concept is antithetical to Mike Martz’s approach, since a large part of the design and philosophy of his offense was to confound, and make uncomfotable, opposing defenses.

The new Lions approach, will be to utilize less plays and formations, but execute them well enough that there is little their opponents can do to stop it. It remains to be seen how successfully this will all apply, but hopefully it will allow them to shore up their situational offensive efficiency in the red zone, short yardage, and 3rd downs, all scenarios where they have languished under Martz.