Lions

Defense

Offensive boss Scott Linehan has emerged as one of the most aggressive play-callers in the league, but it was fair to question DC Gunther Cunningham’s future after his unit was gutted by the Packers and Saints in back-to-back losses to end the season. Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman will also be back in 2012. Mayhew will now turn his attention toward extending coach Jim Schwartz.

Schwartz has only one season left on his four-year deal, and the Lions won’t let him enter 2012 as a lame duck. “We plan to try working on that in the next couple of weeks or so,” GM Martin Mayhew said. The Lions went 2-14 in Schwartz’s first season, but they are 14-6 in their last 20 regular season games.

Detroit’s recent string of arrests has cast a dark light on one of the most impressive rebuilding projects the NFL has seen in quite some time. Schwartz and GM Martin Mayhew have been at the controls, turning a team that went 0-16 in 2008 into a playoff club in 2011. The Lions’ won-loss record has improved in four straight seasons, and they’ve put together one of the league’s most explosive passing offenses to go with a ferocious front seven on defense. If they get the secondary fixed and keep the offensive backfield healthy, the Lions will have many more postseason trips in their future.

The Lions took a huge step back in 2012, and many observers are attributing it to a loss of control at the top. Immediately after Mortensen’s on-air report, one NFL executive texted to ESPN’s Adam Schefter the following: “Just heard Mort on Jim Schwartz. I believe he is right. The Fords can not be happy.” The Lions endured a seemingly endless string of offseason arrests, only to fall flat on their faces once the games began. There have also been rumors of “tension” between Schwartz and GM Martin Mayhew, the latter of whom is fully expected to be safe. If it came down to it, Schwartz would lose that power struggle.

Knowledgeable people around the league have never mentioned Schwartz among the possible head coaches getting the boot, but some Lions fans have called for his head. Schwartz and the Lions agreed to a multi-year extension through the 2015 season just last offseason. After leading Detroit to a 10-6 record and their first playoff appearance in 12 seasons in 2011, Schwartz has followed that up with a 4-11 performance in 2012 that was kicked off with a slew of offseason player arrests. Schwartz and GM Martin Mayhew really need to get the back end of the defense fixed, while getting some guys, like Jahvid Best, back from injury will certainly help.

Washburn was run out of Philadelphia in the middle of the season as his famed “Wide 9" scheme burned to the ground. Now he lands somewhere it’s already embraced. The Lions have the horses to get to the quarterback with just their front four, but registered only 34 sacks in a wildly disappointing 2012. Washburn’s arrival can only help current defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.

“If I had Williams Clay Ford’s number, you’d be hearing a dial tone right now,” said Reese, who drafted Pacman Jones and is currently an ESPN analyst. “It has a great owner. He’s got a lot of money. He wants to win very badly. One of the real uncut gems in the NFL is Detroit.” At least someone thinks so.

We’ll find for sure at a press conference that will presumably be held later Monday. There should be at least three coaches fired today. Romeo Crennel is a virtual lock in Cleveland, as is Marinelli, and probably Eric Mangini in New York. Other obvious candidates include Herm Edwards in KC and Jim Haslett in St. Louis. Dick Jauron in Buffalo is not expected to be fired for at least another few days. Jon Gruden is a sleeper to be 2008’s surprise firing.

Marinelli at least handled himself well during arguably the worst three-year run in NFL history. He went 10-38 after replacing Dick Jauron in 2006, including this year’s 0-16 disaster and a 1-23 record since midseason in 2007. Marinelli will catch on elsewhere, possibly as a defensive coordinator, but he needs to stop trying to make something out of nothing with ex-Bucs like Brian Kelly, Chuck Darby, and Dwight Smith. Marinelli leaves behind a roster empty on talent.

NFL.com’s Adam Schefter expects the Browns to inquire about Spagnuolo too and writes that “St. Louis is thought to be in the mix.” Both of the Giants’ coordinators are already drawing interest. The Lions would be a tall task for Spags, as they lack the pass rushers to make his blitz-heavy scheme work.