Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Hyping New Offensive Scheme, Rod Marinelli Head Defensive Line Coach?

The Lions three day rookie minicamp has come and gone. Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli apparently took a concerted and direct interest in “08 3rd round draft pick DE Cliff Avril. Marinelli pulled Avril aside for some one-on-one instruction during training camp drills. Marinelli has also suggested that Avril watch game film of former Bucs pass rushing stalwart, Simien Rice, in order to learn more about playing his position.

Anything that the Lions can do to help generate a consistent edge rush, I heartily support. The success of the Lions defense is ultimately predicated upon the presence of a decent pass rush. I think that it is great that Rod Marinelli is on hand to provide his expertise to such an important newcomer.

That being said, I am more than a little concerned about Marinelli’s desire to remain so active with overseeing the defensive line, when there are so many pressing needs throughout the ENTIRE offense and defense. Is he missing out on valuable evaluation time with the other personnel groups, while he pitches in to help with the team’s defensive linemen?

The Lions “Pravda” has conveniently changed it’s course recently. As we all know, the Lions are going to feature a “new and improved” offensive scheme, without recently deposed Offensive Coordinator/Mad Scientist/Hegemonist Mike Martz’s influence.

The funny thing is, haven’t we have been served this variety of Lions “corn bread” before? How many “new and improved” offensive schemes have the Lions featured during Matt Millen’s abysmal tenure? By my count 3 or 4.

The Lions are also still talking about the importance of the establishment of a “signature” play, which I am not opposed to in principle, but I was wondering, what will become of the 3rd-and-Long “Wayne Fontes Draw” play and their costly, but patented “Red Zone Holding Penalty” play, if the Lions establish a new “signature” play to rely upon?

Finally, a lot of the talk this weekend was about the Lions offensive linemen needing to be able to move out into space, and that the Lions asked G Manny Ramirez to lose weight and work towards improving his footwork. Is this current offensive transition, much like the “west coast” offense and “Tampa-2″ defense which similarly preceded it, going to be a case of the Lions being caught with their pants down, yet again, because they don’t have the appropriate personnel to meet the demands of their “new and improved” scheme?

Hopefully, the “new and improved” scheme is a better fit with their current personnel, but I find that to be dubious.  Especially when you consider that many of the Lions players have been around long enough to see the short half-lives of other previous schema, and fully realize the likelihood that their respective careers in Detroit will outlive the current coaching staff and any “new and improved” scheme. Harrumph!