Jim Schwartz is the New Man in Charge in Detroit

The Detroit Lions have found their next head coach. Jim Schwartz. The Lions announced Wednesday that they have agreed with Schwartz on a 4-year deal that will make the former Titans defensive coordinator the new head coach of the first ever 0-16 team. Schwartz will become the Lions 5th head coach since 2000 replacing Rod Marinelli who was a combined 10-38 in his three seasons as the head coach in Detroit.

The biggest challenge in Detroit will be turning around the NFL’s last ranked defense. Fortunately, defense is Schwartz’s specialty. Since becoming the defensive coordinator for the Titans in 2001 Tennessee has had one the best defenses in the NFL. They’re tough against the run and create turnovers by pressuring the Quarterback into bad throws.

Schwartz has the knowledge to take advantage of the players he has and won’t try to force fit them into a specific scheme. Something Rod Marinelli tried to do throughout his tenure in Detroit.

Does this mean the Lions will change defensive schemes next year? I hope so. I’m tired of the Tampa Two. It can’t work with these players. And while I’d like to see Detroit switch to a 3-4 alignment Schwartz has been coaching the standard 4-3 in Tennessee.

If Schwartz is to keep the 4-3 in place he’ll have to upgrade all three levels of the defense. In the front seven, Detroit needs a dominant run stuffing defensive tackle to pair with Cory Redding.

Middle Linebacker has to be addressed this offseason because Paris Lennon is not getting it done. Either through the draft or free agency something has to be done in the middle.

Finally, the Lions need a safety. Someone in the mold of an Ed Reed, a ball hawk who will turn out your lights if you get too close. If these three positions are upgraded Detroit’s defense will be greatly improved.

Offensively the Lions have to upgrade the entire O-line and they need a true franchise quarterback. One of the perks that comes with having the worst season in NFL history is that you get the No. 1 draft pick which Detroit can either use on QB Matt Stafford from Georgia or any of these offensive tackles; Andre Smith from Alabama, Eugene Monroe of Virginia, or Michael Oher from Ole Miss.

Any of these four players would be a fine addition to the Lions. With the trade of Roy Williams the Lions also possess the first round pick of the Dallas Cowboys and may be able to draft one of the aforementioned tackles or former USC signal caller Mark Sanchez.

Personally, I’d take Stafford with the top pick. He has the best arm in the draft by far and ran a pro-style offense at Georgia whereas Sanchez is just a product of a dominant college football team. I don’t think he has the ability to lead an NFL franchise, especially not one the caliber of the Detroit Lions.

So, will Jim Schwartz work out and lead the Lions to NFL glory or will I be writing a similar piece again in three seasons? For the sake of my now sore fingers I hope so.