Usually when the topic of finding a head coach comes up, I usually throw Brian Billick's name into the mix, since he has shown an interest in coming back to the game as of late. Others mention Jon Gruden, others mention Parcells. But I want to focus on the group that calls for Bill Cowher.
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| *grumble grumble grumble* |
Why would I be behind luring Bill Cowher out of retirement? The recent firing of Ken Whisenhunt is why. The Titans staff will most likely be in a state of upheaval at the end of the season. The Lions could reform the head coach, the offensive coordinator, and the defensive coordinator that won the Super Bowl for the Steelers in 2005. It'd be similar to when the Jets brought on a kind of Dream Team of coaching, Parcells as the head coach, Bill Belicheck as the defensive coordinator, and Charlie Weis as the offensive coordinator. That staff took the Jets to the AFC Championship game, and was a quarter away from a Super Bowl berth. Dick LeBeau has always been known as an excellent defensive coordinator. Ken Whisenhunt has shown recently he's a better play caller then shot caller.
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| A combined head coaching record of 60-104. But as coordinators they won a Super Bowl. |
Hiring Bill Cowher, and recreating that Super Bowl winning staff gives the Lions something they have not had before, a head coach who has won a Super Bowl. Jim Caldwell is the most recent hire who has been to a Super Bowl and lost. Bobby Ross before him had done the same. Bringing in an actual Super Bowl winner would change the entire perceived image of the Lions from being just a house servant, to Cinderella.
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| It would probably look more manly. |
Some would say Steve Mariucci was supposed to do the same thing. The difference is, Mariucci took over a pretty talented team, and never got to the Super Bowl with them. Bill Cowher was in Pittsburgh for every part of the building of all of his Super Bowl teams, the loser and the winner. Make no mistake about it, this is a total rebuild the Lions need to enter going into next year. The offensive line is still young, but the scouting report on guys like Tomlinson and Warford are that they are maulers at the point of attack. Bill Cowher loves his running game. The Lions can help their two youthful guards if they add a mauler at center and right tackle, and bring on Russ Grimm to bring the nastiness out of them. Behind a strong running game, the Lions can afford to go one of three different ways; 1) keep Stafford and draft a quarterback the staff likes to develop, 2)trade Stafford and draft a rookie quarterback to start, 3) trade Stafford, sign a veteran quarterback, and draft a quarterback to develop. Ben Roethlisberger in 2005 threw for only 2400 yards, with 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. The Lions would do well to try to emulate that formula.
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| This guy was not very effective in 2005, the year he won a Super Bowl. |
The defense is also in a state of upheaval. There are guys in key positions that are just old, or clearly starting to decline. This might be the time to change from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Ansah, going into the last year of his rookie deal, would yield a nice chunk of picks. Levy could probably be able to be converted into a 3-4 scheme. Slay could be a competent #2, Ihedibgo needs to be replaced, and Quin could probably be traded for some picks. By the time the Lions are able to compete, he'd be at the age where he needs to be replaced also. Now would be a good time to convert to a 3-4, and build from the ground up.
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| You have to start somewhere. |
Before, I used to question whether or not Cowher knew how to find talent. He can clearly coach, as he frequently got the best out of his players all the time. But can he FIND talent? The Steelers have a history of being pretty good drafters, and never spending a lot in free agency. Part of the offer to bring him to Detroit would be that he would be able to hand pick his own general manager, and give him final say on the roster, similar to what Lovie Smith has in Tampa Bay.
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| Bill Cowher has the respect. He just needs to be persuaded by the power and money. |
Give him all the power, a boat load of money, and cross your fingers. If it doesn't pan out, then it doesn't pan out, and you lost nothing. But having a chance to reform a Super Bowl winning staff should be an opportunity too good to pass up.
