Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Coaching Staff Churns, QB Coach Horton Leaves, Special Teams Coach Crossman In, Defensive Line Karmelowicz Leaving Next?

A much needed, yet underrated component of any particular team’s rebuilding process is establishing organizational continuity. Consistency is developed through repetition and adherence to the integrity of the organizational philosophy.

The Lions began their off-season with the necessary, and expected termination of Special Teams coach Stan Kwan, after Kwan’s units lost (or contributed terminally)2-3 games for the Lions this season, and struggled mightily all year. The mere fact that fans knew Kwan’s name, let alone called for his head, was an obvious symptom of the aggregated problems that determined his eventual fate.

Subsequently, the Lions hired Danny Crossman, who once played for the Lions and was also formerly a coach at Michigan State, and announced that QB coach Jeff Horton was leaving to coach at the University of Minnesota, and that Scott Linehan would now assume the double role of presiding over both the QB’s and the Offense.

Upon first glance, this makes sense. Linehan has been a head coach, and has handled both jobs before in the past. The Lions, at least publicly, have played it off that Linehan’s job description will actually change very little, and that their offensive quality control coach, Todd Downing, will now play a larger role in Horton’s stead.

The thing is, at least publicly, they are downplaying the increased organizational “juice” that Linehan has now accrued, as the team’s offensive coordinator and likely more importantly, as the coach who is most directly responsible for the growth and development of the player that the organization has cast nearly it’s entire lot with, and last year’s first overall draft pick, QB Matthew Stafford.

Alright Linehan, You're It!

Linehan will likely hold an enhanced sway over the scouting and draft processes, given his position in the organization, at this point.

By all accounts, it is apparent, at this early juncture, that the Lions will be drafting defensive player in the first round, and even more likely, a defensive lineman.

Gerald, Your position coach is going to be Bob Karmel...wait, I mean Kris Kocurek.

That fact makes it incredibly interesting that Lions Defensive Line coach, Bob Karmelowicz, did not join the rest of the Lions coaching staff to coach the Senior Bowl. Karmelowicz is believed to be contemplating his retirement, which makes things interesting, since the prize of this season’s draft is likely to be placed under the tutelage of a new position coach, an in-house candidate, Kris Kocurek.

As necessary as adding Crossman was, the inarguable intrinsic value of Linehan’s experience is, and the fact that Karmelowicz’s replacement is likely to be drafted in-house, these changes still shift the sands, and stir up the murk of sediment of that casts a pall over the organization’s intended desire for continuity. Hopefully, this will settle, and the organization will be productive moving forward. Only time will tell.