Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Hire Gunther Collett–Oops, I mean Cunningham as Defensive Coordinator

The Lions hired Gunther Cunningham as their defensive coordinator and assistant head coach today.

Cunningham has an extensive track record as both a head coach and defensive coordinator in the NFL. Cunningham represents a safe pick, someone whose experience Schwartz can rely upon and is simpatico with Schwartz’s defensive philosophy from their time together in Tennessee.

Cunningham is noted for his fiery intensity and it is a widely held belief that the Lions defenders will learn quickly not to cross him.

Cunningham has already stated that he is not a proponent of playing zone defense, like the Lions and his previous employer the Chiefs both did last season. Cunningham also noted that the Titans played a lot more zone defense than they had in the past last season, too.

Cunningham made it clear that he wants his defense to attack the QB and pressure opposing offenses, which is currently en vogue in league circles.

Schwartz and Cunningham have not decided if they are going to use a 3-4, 4-3, or both as a base defensive set next season.

If the Lions shift to a 3-4, they do have a boatload of DE’s (Redding, Fluellen, Alama-Francis, White) but are without a big, run-stuffing nose tackle, and have LB’s (Sims, Dizon) who might be undersized for that set. Cliff Avril would be a great 3-4 OLB, in my opinion.

I like the fact that Cunningham mentions that pressuring opposing QB’s is a priority. Their was never enough impetus placed upon getting to the QB during the Marinelli/Barry disaster.