Detroit Lions: 8 Reasons Why Jim Schwartz Could Be Fired

Sunday's 38-10 loss in Arizona put Head Coach Jim Schwartz's record in Detroit at 22-37 overall. 

Schwartz did bring back the Lions from 0-16 to the postseason in three years, and it appears that Detroit reached its potential under Schwartz last season. 

Reaching the playoffs last season was a phenomenal accomplishment, but this team is capable of so much more. Yet it is looking straight at a 4-12 finish with home games against the Atlanta Falcons fighting for the No.1 seed, and a Chicago Bear team attempting to earn a playoff spot in the final week of the regular season. 

Mlive.com's Anwar Richardson wrote this morning that Schwartz has lost control of the team, and that Schwartz could have to at least clean house with a coordinator firing or something of that nature to appease ownership. 

However, with very credible former coaches and young intriguing coaching candidates who could be available, Owner and Chairman William Clay Ford, Sr., who will turn 88 in three months, will want to win right now. If he doesn't trust Schwartz to do that, there are potentially plenty of other coaches he could look at. 

Schwartz being fired is probably contingent on coaching candidates like Jon Gruden, Lovie Smith, Andy Reid, Josh McDaniels, Chip Kelly, Perry Fewell and Kyle Shanahan being available and interested in the position. 

The immense talent on the current roster and possible early draft position to add to that talent makes this position one of the best in the league with a franchise quarterback in Matthew Stafford, the league's best skill player in Calvin Johnson and a potential elite defensive player in Ndamukong Suh. 

If Schwartz loses the last two games anywhere near as badly as against the Cardinals, the team will finish with eight straight loses after a 4-4 start that left the playoffs as a possibility, and all bets are off that Schwartz will remain at the helm. 

Here are 8 reasons why Jim Schwartz could easily be fired. 

No. 1: Player off-the-Field Issues

NFL organizations, including coaches cannot be 24-hour babysitters. 

However, they must make sure that players stay disciplined in and outside the game, and the Lions failed that test in the off-season as four players were arrested a combined seven times (via mlive.com). 

Nick Fairley, Mikel Leshoure and Aaron Berry (who was later released and signed by Jets) were each arrested twice, with Johnny Culbreath arrested once. Potential young stars in Fairley, Leshoure and Berry getting into trouble was a bad sign for this team that would later have other young players act out of turn. 

Is all this on Schwartz? No, but until Berry's release, there was not much deterrent done on the coaches part to stop these arrests before they got out of control. 

No. 2: On-Field Discipline Issues

While Ndamukong Suh's two Thanksgiving Day incidents have put him as the poster child for on-field discipline issues for the Lions, one young player surpassed him for hurting his team with his actions. 

Despite Jim Schwartz complimenting him for his progress in training camp, second-year wide receiver Titus Young could easily be removed from the team this off-season after a tumultuous half of the past year documented below by Mlive.com's Anwar Richardson:

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Young was sent home from the team's practice facility for the third time in nearly six months. Young sucker-punched teammate Louis Delmas this offseason, which resulted in his first ban from the team's facility. The receiver was sent home after Detroit's loss against Green Bay last month after maliciously lining up to have the ball thrown to him, and for disrespecting coaches and players. Young was allowed back to the practice facility last week, but sent home for a third time when coaches realized his negative attitude had not changed.

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I haven't heard of a receiver acting so out of turn, let alone a team letting him do so for a period of time.

In Arizona, the Lions were penalized seven times for 63 yards, including three offside penalties and a delay of game penalty by Matthew Stafford that took away a fourth quarter touchdown catch by Kris Durham. 

Whoever is coaching Detroit next season should make sure the team uses its aggressive abilities and talents without making back-breaking mistakes or losing focus.

No. 3: Locker Room Tensions

Mlive.com's Justin Rogers asked Middle Linebacker Stephen Tulloch how the Lions have lost six straight, and got some headline worthy answers that could be looked at both as extremely honest but also as excuses: 

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"To lose six games straight with as much talent and ability as we have in this room, I don't know what to say," Tulloch said. "It's hard for me to explain. I know what these guys are made of, I know what this team is all about, we're just not producing right now."

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Tulloch referenced everyone needing to be accountable:

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"We have to be accountable across the board," Tulloch said. "Obviously the quarterback is the main guy, everybody wants to point fingers at him, but it's not just him, it's everybody."

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Tulloch then mentioned the off-the-field issues being a problem that caused on-field focus problems:

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"Football is a game of focus," Tulloch said. "If you're focusing on things going on outside the field, that's a problem. I'm not pointing to that one issue as to where we're at, but we've got to find a way to eliminate everything and just focus on the guys in this locker room. If you're with us, be with us, if you're not, keep moving."

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If that wasn't enough, Tulloch then said the play of lame-duck contract players was an issue:

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"Obviously, when you're playing in the last year of your deal, you have a lot weighing on you -- the pressure, the stability of your family, whatever it is. Sometimes players tend to do different things, try to make plays here and there. That kind of hurts a little bit."

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Finally, Tulloch made a cryptic remark that could lead to personnel and/or coaching changes:

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Whatever the Lions' problems may be, he trusts the coaching staff and front office will weed out the players that are holding the team back and replace them with guys who can help right the ship.

"This team, hopefully management and coaches, can make some moves where we can get this thing going and get some guys in here so we can move forward," Tulloch said. 

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Though Justin Rogers writes that Tulloch has confidence in the coaching staff to weed out under-performing players, the fact that a player would come out publicly with these statements speaks to a lack of institutional control of what is said inside and outside the team building. 

Plus, the Lions' assets and talent build-up are so much so that there shouldn't really be personnel changes at this point, but personnel issues have come about due to issues that will be expressed on the next two slides. 

No. 4: Draft Issues

In the 2011 NFL Draft, the value picks of Nick Fairley, Mikel Leshoure and Titus Young were looked at as three picks that would push the Lions to become consistent contenders. 

Almost two years later, Fairley has 5.5 sacks this season but is still an unknown off-the-field in terms of avoiding trouble. Leshoure has had conduct issues that led to a two-game suspension and is still trying to get back to full strength after a torn Achilles. Young may not wear a Detroit Lion uniform again.

This year's draft was made toward the offensive future when Detroit had obvious needs in the defensive backfield and offensive line, with first-round pick Riley Reiff playing as a backup tackle and second-round pick Ryan Broyles being the No.4 receiver before an injury to Nate Burleson and Young's issues pressing him into service, where he played well before tearing his ACL for the second straight year. 

Unfortunately, since the first-round picks of Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and Ndamukong Suh, the record of General Manager Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz drafting, especially in the early rounds, has been at least sub-par. 

Jahvid Best was the next pick after Ndamukong Suh and he didn't play a single down this season with concussion issues. With the level of concussion problems he has, ESPN's Kevin Seifert wrote in October that it would be hard to envision Best playing again in the NFL, and that the decision to draft Best was a massive risk that will most likely not pay off. 

Broyles also had injury concerns with his ACL tear, but the Lions again took a huge risk that may or may not work in their favor. The best player on the board theory under Mayhew and Schwartz has had its ups and downs, but with another potential top 5 draft pick, can the Lions' ownership afford to risk another potential failed early draft pick?

If the answer is no, a new coaching and front-office regime may have to come in. 

No. 5: Matt Stafford's Regression

Matthew Stafford is on pace to break the NFL record for passes attempted in a season, according to Bleacher Report's Eric Evans, even more so now after throwing 50 times on Sunday. 

But his efficiency, along with that of the Detroit Lion's offense, has certainly decreased from last season. The burden on him with a talented defense not playing up to par, a nearly non-existent running game that is still better than last season's and injury and inconsistency at the receiver position. 

Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan is certainly on the hot seat despite an offense scoring an average of 23.6 points a game, which in today's high-scoring NFL is only ranked No. 14 even though the Lions are second in total offense with just over 400 yards a contest.

Stafford seemingly has to win every other game when behind in the fourth quarter, and asking that of him is way too much. His regression is because of that due to teams getting used to their aggressive fourth-quarter offense that can be stagnant for three quarters. 

No. 6: Elite Talent on D-Line Hasn't Translated to Elite Status

Jim Schwartz was hired as the Lions' head coach in 2009 after being the Defensive Coordinator for the Tennessee Titans from 2001-2008, leading a team that had line stalwarts like Albert Haynesworth and current Detroit Lion Kyle Vanden Bosch. 

However, the wide nine scheme meant to create pressure has only resulted in a team that is ranked 18th in the NFL in sacks with just 31. Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh have been decent in garnering a combined 12 sacks, but neither playing anywhere near the level of a J.J. Watt, while Vanden Bosch only has 3.5 sacks. 

The wide nine gives big holes up the middle for rushing lanes, leading to Detroit ranking No. 22 in rush defense. Schwartz's identity as a defensive genius hasn't been proven to fruition the past two seasons, and talent on the roster does not seem to be the problem. 

No. 7: Need Offensive Coach to Develop Offense

With the offense not playing at the level of its capability, this maybe the best year to get an offensive guru as a Head Coach. 

Andy Reid could easily be fired if the Eagles finish 4-12, but his ability to get the best out of quarterbacks like Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb, along with his five NFC Championship game appearances could be the experience factor that gives him the position. 

However, the ever-evolving hurry-up and spread offense of the Patriots is coached by Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels, whose previous disappointing performance as head man in Denver may give him new perspective on how to be a head coach. If McDaniels can have a quarterback like Kyle Orton throw for nearly 4,000 yards in a season, imagine what he could do with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. 

The first wild card could be Oregon's Chip Kelly, whose quick no-huddle offense would be revolutionary, but the risk would be that he would either be the Don Coryell of his generation or a version of the failed Steve Spurrier experiment in Washington. 

Redskins Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan has prepared two rookie quarterbacks to have great success, and being under the tutelage of his father gives him great coaching pedigree. 

The second wild card could be Jon Gruden, who Cork Gaines of Business Insider says the Cowboys would go after if they miss the postseason. His Super Bowl title would possibly make him the best available option, if he decides to leave Monday Night Football. 

No. 8: Need Defensive Coach to Get Most out of Talent

If division rival Chicago misses the postseason, Lovie Smith could be made available. 

The Lions would have to consider Smith with his Super Bowl appearance and defensive mind. Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith writes that even a playoff appearance could not be enough, according to former Bears receiver and current sports talk show host Tom Waddle:

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“I think he’s on the hot seat now,” Waddle said. “It’s a bottom line business, and as of right now they’ve missed the postseason four of the last five years. If they make it five out of six, they’ve got a new general manager in place who has the autonomy to make the decision on the coaching position. I think in fact if they don’t get to the postseason, it’s very likely you will see a coaching change. And if they limp to the postseason and one and done, I still think it’s a possibility that Phil Emery, the new G.M., will make a change.”

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Perry Fewell coached the New York Giants defense to a Super Bowl with his patented NASCAR Defense that includes Outside Linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka being the fifth pass-rusher as either a stand-up linebacker or down lineman, according to the New Jersey Star Ledger's Jenny Vrentas (via NJ.com). 

Fewell could be the best guy to create packages for players like Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and Cliff Avril to put pressure on the opposing quarterback, and also use coverages like those with three safeties that he had used with the Giants.