It's Time for the Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan To Step Up

I have decided to write this column to share my concerns regarding offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. I was one of the few who did not like the hiring of Linehan last year, after watching his demise as the head coach of the Rams and the disdain that many of his players had for him.

He was an effective coordinator at one time, having some good years in college and at Minnesota with Culpepper and Moss. In my humble opinion, he has definitely regressed to what is now an ineffective, scared coordinator who does not utilize the players he has, nor put them in positions to make plays. 

He calls his best games when he is hopelessly behind as evidenced by the Browns game last year, or when the game is out of reach and his only option is to "go for broke".  In the majority of games, he is so predictable that many Lion fans can call the plays before they happen and if we can do that, you know Defensive Coordinators are licking their chops anytime they play a Linehan coached offense. 

We have heard the excuses from last year, he didn't have any "weapons", Matt didn't have full control of the offense, the opponents were doubling and tripling Calvin. We did have Bryant Johnson on the team last year, but we never threw to him, if he was that bad, why he is back on the team this year? 

Now it is 2010 and Linehan has begged Mayhew to sign Nate Burleson, this will take the pressure off Calvin and give Linehan unlimited options. Not to be outdone, Schwartz sees Javid Best on You Tube and begs Mayhew to draft Best. Were not done yet, throw in Tony Scheffler and you have the makings of an unstoppable and explosive offense. Linehan must be in 7th Heaven.

We hear all during camp and pre-season that this offense will be able to create mismatches, that #13, #85 and #44 will take the pressure off #81 and this offense will be explosive, dynamic and creative.

Fast forward to opening day at Chicago and watch as this vaunted offense is shackled by Linehan's pathetic game plan and reduced to a team reminiscence of past offensive coordinator Jim Colletto.

It was painful to watch, it was painful to think that these highly paid coaches spent one week developing a game plan that played into the hands of the Chicago Bears and their dynamic coordinator Rod Marinelli. Yes Lion fans, Linehan was out coached by "pad level Rod".

The Bears strength is their front seven, their perceived weakness was their secondary. Our game plan was to "concentrate" on the run and ignore our wide outs. We did not throw a pass over 20 yds until the final minute of the game.

That is insane, you at least have to have the threat of stretching the field. If you are not able to stretch the field because of the Bear pass rush, you should be able to work the middle of the field, throw slants, flares,  screens and get Best in space instead of running him between the tackles.

Let me give you a stat from last year when a team started a game throwing the ball 14 out of the first 16 plays, they went on to win the game and the Super Bowl. The New Orleans Saints, this is a team that was 3-13 when Sean Payton took over, leading them to a 10-6 record in his first year with a team that did not have much more talent than the current Detroit Lions. 

Three years later they win a Super Bowl. Why were they able to win so quickly? They had a coach, who was willing to take calculated risks, he was brash, creative, imaginative and fearless, he coached like he had nothing to lose because he didn't, nothing was expected of him, he was confident in his abilities to out coach his opponent even with inferior talent.

He did not let defenses dictate what he could or could not do, he did not say after games, that they took away our best receivers, he found ways to get them the ball. My point is you do not have to run the ball consistently to win games.

It won't matter who is at QB, Hill, Stafford or Stanton, this team will not win consistently with Scott Linehan calling the shots, unless he changes his mentality and starts coaching to win games instead of coaching "not to lose". He coaches afraid, he coaches like he has no confidence in his players, the players he coveted.

He is afraid to make mistakes, he is afraid to take calculated risks. He does not attack the opponents weaknesses, he does not adjust, he is out coached every game. I would imagine Schwartz signs off on these game plans and if so, that is discouraging, I like Schwartz, he is smart, not afraid to hold his players accountable, will he hold his coaches accountable or will he go down with Linehan?  

We will see, Schwartz has said, they will not alter the offense much with Hill, really. How could you make it any less productive