Just days after the hiring of Gunther Cunningham as their new defensive coordinator, the Detroit Lions have signed former Rams head coach Scott Linehan to run the offense.

Linehan, who was hired by St. Louis in 2006, went 11-25 during his tenure there. He was fired just four games into the 2008 season after benching pro bowl quarterback Mark Bulger. After Linehan departed, Bulger was made the starter again but the Rams only managed to win two games this season...two more than the Detroit Lions did.

Linehan's previous success as an NFL offensive coordinator gives me hope that he is the right choice to turn around the Lions offense. Why? Detroit has a few components that he can build around in Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith. However, that's really all he has to build on, but it's at least a good jumping off point.

The Lions still need a quarterback and an offensive line to protect him and open lanes for Smith. Both are needs that must be addressed in this offseason in free agency and the draft.

Whatever the new coaching staff decides to do they have a long road ahead. Turning the Detroit Lions back into an NFL franchise won't be easy.