Detroit Lions admit that Matthew Stafford's game needs some work

The worst kept secret in the NFL was that Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford needed to be refined. He has regressed since the 2011 season when he threw for  5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns. Over the past two seasons Stafford has backslid. He completed 63.5 percent of his passes in 2011. In 2012 59.8 percent and in 2013 his percentage dove to 58.5, which was good for 30th in the league.

Stafford would always say there's nothing wrong, but his play on the field said otherwise. Fans started to watch the Lions and wait for the untimely interception off of an ill advised throw. The worse part was that former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was an enabler of Stafford's lousy performances.

Stafford threw 12 picks in his final seven games of last season, and was culpable for 14 turnovers overall during that stretch and the Lions finished 1-6 after a 6-3 start. Seven games doesn't make a career but the way the turnovers happened you don't see the elite quarterbacks make.

General manager Martin Mayhew finally admitted what many knew all along. Stafford needs some work.

"I think there certainly has to be some work done," general manager Martin Mayhew said this week. "I couldn't really quantify that."

"I don't think his confidence has fallen very far," he said. "I mean, think about it. In Week 9, his numbers were outstanding. We were winning games. We were playing really well.


"Didn't finish up the second half of the season the way we expected to, do the things that we wanted to do. But there are a lot of moving pieces to that. It's not all on Matthew. I've been in contact with him several times since the end of the season and he sounds pretty confident to me."

If the season were nine games the Lions might be in the Super Bowl. Instead they're watching from their lavish homes once again.

The team has taken steps to get Stafford back on track. The Lions have hired former Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell, who worked extensively with Peyton Manning. The Lions have tabbed former New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach, Jim Lombardi as their offensive coordinator. Lombardi worked with Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Considering the past of the offensive coaches brought on board so far, many of the hires are geared to help Stafford.

Tony Dungy not interested in coaching the Lions or anyone else

With the Detroit Lions reeling and fighting for a playoff spot that seemed a near certainty a month ago, many are predicting doom and gloom for head coach Jim Schwartz.

If Schwartz is indeed fired, you can cross NBC Sunday Night Football analyst Tony Dungy's name off the list of potential replacements.

Someone on Twitter asked Dungy if he would come back to coach the Lions if the job were available and Dungy replied "No I am done with coaching!"

Dungy was one of the most successful coaches in the NFL.

In 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, he compiled a 139-69 mark. He went to the playoffs 11 times, leading the Colts to a Super Bowl victory in 2007.

Even though Dungy is a Michigan native, he seems like he's comfortable sitting next to Bob Costas and Rodney Harrison. If Schwartz is gone at season's end the Lions will have to look elsewhere for a coach. Dungy will not coach in Detroit or anywhere else.

Lions players support coach Jim Schwartz

After seemingly having the NFC North division title firmly in their grasp the Detroit Lions are seeing their season slip away.

After being in control of the division with a 6-3 record with a sweep of the Chicago Bears, the Lions have dropped three of four and now sit in third place in the division at 7-7. The slump has put pressure on head coach Jim Schwartz to right the ship and get the Lions to the playoffs or risk being fired. Despite the Schwartz fielding questions about his job security the Lions players have came out and voiced support for the embattled coach.

Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was vocal about how he felt about Schwartz and the team.

 “Am I playing for Jim’s job? I think that’s a part of it,” Suh said today. “I’m sure everybody wants to win — the owners expect winning — but most importantly, you’ve got to play for winning, play to have a hunger to want to be a winner, and that’s what I play for.

“Obviously, I don’t want that coach to go anywhere. I love his scheme, love the way things go, but I don’t think that has to do with anything right now. What we need to do is focus on getting these next two wins and, most importantly, we got to go and take care of business at home against the New York Giants.”

Maybe he doesn't want Schwartz to go because he never disciplines him when he does anything wrong. Maybe a coach that would come in and be hard on him and make him accountable is something he might not like.

Nate Burleson knows that it's the players that ultimately decide games but coaches always pay the price.

“You look at all the losses we’ve had, it’s came down to plays we didn’t make,” receiver Nate Burleson said. “It seems like there’s always a point in the game where we have a chance to extend the lead or put ourselves in position to control the rest of the game, and we don’t do that, so we can’t look further than the guys wearing the jerseys.

“Maybe it’s just older guys talking; we want to shoulder the responsibility anyway. I think that’s the best way to look at it anyway. The coward’s way out is trying to point the finger in other directions. So if anybody wants to give criticism, give it to the players, not the coaches. They don’t suit up. They make the calls that put us in the position to be successful, and we’ve got to capitalize and make those plays happen.”

Correct Nate, but when it's third and short Schwartz shouldn't be cosigning play calla that have an empty backfield and shotgun formations. That's why fans and media always jump on the coach.

The Lions have a chance to stop the bleeding as they will face the reeling New York Giants on Sunday. the way things are going for the Lions this game won't be a gimme. They'll be favored but with both teams struggling something will have to give. The Lions still have a shot at the division crown but will need help by the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers and they'll have to take care of business themsleves.  

 “We let go of an opportunity to put these other teams away,” Suh said. “We opened the door back for them. We still have an opportunity to take care of business, and it’s most important that we do our part, or none of it matters. And that’s what we’ve yet to do, to this point, is do our part and close the door. So now we’ve let a bunch of ants in the house and now you’ve got to go get an exterminator to get them out.”

Time for the Lions to put up or shut up.

Bears think Israel Idonije gave their line calls to Lions

Some Chicago Bears players told a Chicago ESPN reporter on Sunday that they thought former Bears defensive end Israel Idonije, who now plays for the Lions, had tipped the Lions off to their stunts because every time they ran a power stunt, Reggie Bush saw it and made the most of it.

“I really think that’s ridiculous, I think it takes away from the players on the field.’’ Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. “We rushed for a lot of yards because we blocked them and Reggie Bush broke tackles. To say Reggie Bush is 8 yards behind the quarterback and he can hear what a line call is I think that’s ridiculous.’’

Bush ran for 139 yards including a 37-yard touchdown scamper.

“I’d also like to point out they signed Landon Cohen last week,’’ Schwartz said. “Landon had been here a long time and we haven’t changed our scheme since Landon was here I didn’t see that being a big difference in the game. Stuff like that comes up, it’s just the nature of the NFL.’’

"I like to concentrate on the players on the field and what happens on the field and stuff like that."

"I like to say that our guys did a good job of being in position and blocking and ran the ball well," Schwartz said. "We ran the ball for a lot of yards and it wasn't for any reason other than we blocked well and had a good scheme. Our running backs did a good job when we gave it to 'em."

Even if Idonije did tip the Lions off about the Bears' schemes it's up to the coaching staff to mix things up so whatever knowledge a former player might have is nullified. If they didn’t change the calls, knowing Idonije was on that line for 10 years, it’s just bad coaching.

Jim Schwartz scolds young Lions

After the latest off field fiasco involving Nick Fairley trying to play the role of the bandit, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz couldn't take it anymore. Schwartz had a lot to say regarding the incidents involving Mikel Leshoure, Titus Young, and Nick Fairley, mentioning that their actions are tainting the reputations of their teammates.

"What we have here is a case of a few guys tainting the reputations of a lot of others," he said. "The actions of a few have affected the reputations of not just the other guys on the team but the organization as a whole and obviously, that's not a good situation."


"The issues we have here have involved young guys, guys coming off their rookie year," he said. "It's obviously a big concern that the problems have come up more than once with a couple of guys. You always approach this with the idea that guys will make mistakes and learn from them. It appears that a couple of guys haven't.


"It is a concern but they are still young and there is still a lot in front of them. We are hopeful that with the means at their disposal and the means at our disposal, they will eventually be able to put this behind them."


Combine that with Ndamukong Suh's on and off field behavior, Schwartz has every right to be concerned and angry.

Schwartz can "scold" players all he wants, but until they mature and learn how to police themselves it's gonna keep happening. Players don't call out each other for their bad decisions anymore and the vets in the locker room aren't respected if they haven't won anything. Maybe general manager Martin Mayhew needs to come in and threaten a few jobs to get some of them in line.

Tulloch and Vanden Bosch say there wasn't a bounty program in Tennessee

With the NFL focusing on bountygate, it seems that everyone is trying to find a connection from the past. Any coach or player that played for Gregg Williams has had their credentials questioned.

Detroit Lions head coach, Jim Schwartz, coached under Williams in Tennessee while both were with the Titans. During the week, Schwartz did say they ran an awards system in Tennessee for big hits. Not a cash bounty system like the New Orleans Saints were busted for earlier this month.

Current Lions players, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch deny any bounty system was being ran in Tennessee.

"I've never been a part of that in my career," Tulloch said. "I think it's unreal, man, to go out and have in your mind you want to take somebody's career out. You have to look at it like people are trying to feed their family. To go out with the mindset of taking them out is not right."


Cornerback Reynaldo Hill, who played for Schwartz from 2005-08, told The Tennessean, "There was never any talking about hurting another team's quarterback.


"That's a lie. I never heard anything like that. There never was a bounty; that is crazy."  

Schwartz said they gave out boxing gloves or a lacquered and engraved baseball bat to the weekly winner, but if they were penalized for the hit they couldn't win the award.

If you ask former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy if the Titans ran a system similar to the Saints, he'll tell you otherwise.

It's a case of he said/he said and I'm sure that Roger Goodell will have his boys investigating any possible bounty system.

Lions' Schwartz Not Pleased With The Officiating

After a disappointing 45-41 loss to the Green Bay Packers, a loss that extended their winless Lambeau streak to 21 years,  Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz didn't have much to say at the postgame news conference. When the subject turned to officiating, he had a mouthful.

Schwartz challenged two fumbles in the second quarter, winning one and losing the other. The personal eye test says he should've won both challenges. The second challenge came whebn Stefan Logan apparently fumbled a kickoff after a Green Bay score. It looked like he was stripped of the ball after he was down but the call was upheld. That left Schwartz with no challenges when Titus Young was ruled out of bounds on an apparent touchdown that made the difference in the four point loss.

"It's unfortunate the way the league plays those because like on a ball that's loose, they're going to keep their whistles in their pocket because they don't want to have a play that was a fumble that they can't get it reviewed because somebody ruled him down by contact," Schwartz said. "But they don't have a camera angle to overturn. I mean, the guy's down. And then we get the touchdown play, which every play this year they always rule in favor of touchdown knowing that it's going to get reviewed, I don't have any challenges left."

"The whole thing with replay's to get it right," Schwartz said. "Well, we didn't get it right."

Not to excuse the Lions' poor performance on defense yesterday, but they were victimized by a few bad calls that could've turned the result in their favor.

Jim Schwartz Clowns On Nick Fairley

Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz did a little clowning around on Nick Fairley after the Detroit Lions drafted Fairley with the 13th pick in the NFL Draft.  It was more of a welcome to the team kind of moment than anything, but it was still kind of funny.

"First, if we had seen what he was wearing yesterday with those glasses, we might have passed on him at 13," Jim Schwartz said. "I got more texts yesterday after we picked him that said, 'Why did you pick that big guy that looks like Urkel?'



"Well, none of those people are here, and I think if they were here, none of them would say the same thing, and I know no quarterbacks said that last year."

See, no harm, no foul there. Just a little fun at Fairley's expense. If Fairley performs anywhere like he did at Auburn there will be some sore quarterbacks in the NFC North.

The Lions Need To Save Stafford Until Next Year

There are reports circulating saying Matthew Stafford has started throwing again. Of course that means everyone will think he's coming back to close out the season and finish strong to give everyone some hope for next season. I think bringing him back would be the wrong thing to do.

First of all this season is lost. They're 2-10 and not going anywhere. The only thing the Lions can salvage by bringing Stafford back is one or two wins and getting knocked down a few slots in the draft. That shouldn't be a reason to bring him back.Why risk him getting hurt or aggravating the two injuries he's suffered to his shoulder this year. I do think if Stafford were healthy the Lions would be closer to the break even mark rather than 2-10. It's a lost cause to bring him back.

Let Stafford get some rest and rehab. Go back to the drawing board and get some more pieces to make the team a winner. Don't bring him back just to get some meaningless wins. I know coach Jim Schwartz is trying to change a losing culture, but don't possibly risk your so-called "franchise" quarterback's career for the sake of a few wins at the end of the year.

Hoping the Lions can get it right

I hate to admit it to others, but i am a diehard Detroit Lions fan.I know, i know, they're the butt of jokes all the and are constantly ridiculed.From ownership down they've been a farce of an NFL franchise.Also, it's pretty bad when the glory days are before my time and the early to mid 90's when they made the playoffs only to make a quick exit.Those days, the Wayne Fontes days, were exciting and also frustrating as they teased us and gave us Lions fans false hope.Look up the 58-37 beatdown in the 95 playoffs and you'll know what i'm talking about.Don't even get me started with the Millen error.He sold us a bad bill of goods.Remember him coming in saying "I want to win and win now", pounding his fist on the podium.Hiring Marty Mornhinweg, who they should've let Cleveland hire started it all.Fast forward to now and I think they might have actually got it right this time around.The jury is still out on Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand in the front office.They seem competent though and might be the people to get this franchise turned around.I think they had a decent draft, although i really didn't care for the Matthew Stafford selection.Mayhew made so decent free agent signings and trades.Also, the big one to many in this area was the hiring of the coach,Jim Schwartz.Many here in the Detroit area are hungry for a winner,and feel Schwartz may be the guy to bring one to town.Even though they currently stand at 1-5, i feel he doesn't try to sell us on false hope and tells it like it is.Check out what he said about the second half of the Chicago game.He knows it'll take time to build a winner here, but he also has to convince the players they are a good football team.Changing the culture will be difficult, be he seems committed to getting the job done.Let's hope ownership will have patience and give him the time to get the job done.He actually seems like a real coach, something that hasn't been around here for awhile.Give him time and he will get it done, i have confidence and patience.Like I mentioned before, let's hope ownership and fans for that matter give him the time to do the job.
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