FanHouse LarryBeightol

If you run an NFL team, and you want success, you might want to make sure your coaches don't contradict each other out of childish spite.

The line's biggest collisions involved line coach Larry Beightol and offensive coordinator Mike Martz...

Sometimes, Beightol would give the linemen instructions on how to block a certain play. The linemen would follow his orders in practice, and Martz would yell at them for following Beightol's instructions.

The players were like kids caught in the middle of a big nasty divorce. Some weeks, they wouldn't know what they were supposed to do until Saturday.

That sound you're hearing is that of Lions season ticket holders expressing their gratitude for getting such a fine-tuned product for their money. In all fairness, I see what the Lions were doing -- in college, I always did best on the exams I crammed for last minute. You may call it a lack of cohesiveness, organization, and professionalism; I call it a bold managerial strategy.

With new starters in George Foster and Edwin Mulitalo, Martz is optimistic about the state of the Lions' offensive line. It doesn't hurt that, with Beightol gone, the players can focus more on blocking schemes and less on blaming themselves for the split and what weekends they get to see Daddy.

The Lions have found their replacement for the departed Larry Beightol. Jim Colletto, a former Purdue Head Coach, has agreed to assume the role of Lions Offensive Line Coach. Colletto, who had recently filled the same position at UCLA, is a seasoned NFL vet who has previously worked for the Raiders and Ravens. Most importantly, Colletto has had a previous working relationship with eccentric Lions Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz, who had developed a personality rift with the deposed Beightol, which should aid in the team's ability to field a cohesive coaching staff.

Colletto has a lot of work ahead of him. With the interest that the Lions expressed in Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas at the Senior Bowl (they reportedly wined and dined him), Colletto has one of the more important tasks on the entire staff, developing the hoped for Orlando Pace-styled Left Offensive Tackle that the Lions offense, and Jon Kitna, so desperately need. The Lions can't afford to have another busted draft pick, especially in one that should provide a cornerstone for the franchise. Colletto's hiring could become one of the most important decisions made during Head Coach Rod Marinelli's brief tenure.

Colletto does have two dependable returning components in OT Jeff Backus and C Dominic Raiola. Unfortunately, for most of '06 the Lions featured a patchwork, under-performing unit that was dogged by injury and disappointment. In order for Martz's offense to be effective, and Jon Kitna to remain in one piece, the Lions offensive line must improve. Colletto does have some raw substance to work with. Rookies Frank Davis and Jonathan Scott exhibited a lot of promise and journeymen like Clint Stickdorn, Blaine Saipia, and Stephen Peterman all provided yeoman's work as late season fill-in's for free agent disappointments Rex Tucker and Ross Verba. If Colletto can yield returns on former Pro Bowler and free agent disappointment Damien Woody, the Lions may become factors in the NFC North faster than expected.

The Lions Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz and Wide Receivers Coach Kippy Brown were both mentioned as candidates for recently available head coaching positions. Martz, who was mentioned as potential candidate for the jobs in Oakland and Miami, and Brown, who removed his name from consideration for the Grambling State University job, will both likely remain in Detroit for the 2007 season. Martz's name could resurface as a candidate as jobs become available, but his age and widely-perceived eccentricities may hinder his chances of being considered for any available positions,

The fact that Martz is probably staying, will have a major impact on the Lions future personnel decisions. The Lions are close to re-signing WR Mike Furrey, who would have already been re-signed had he and the Lions not disagreed over whether he should be paid as a number two receiver or not. The Lions will likely pursue Rams free agent WR Kevin Curtis as an outside receiver and move Furrey to the slot, if they are to sign Curtis. Martz's presence may also have an influence on whether the Lions draft an offensive skill player or offensive linemen with their upcoming 2007 draft pick.

The Lions are looking to replace recently fired Offensive Line coach Larry Beightol, who reportedly had numerous personality conflicts with Mike Martz. One name that has surfaced as a potential replacement is UCLA Offensive Line Coach Jim Colletto. The Lions may investigate other potential candidates while scouting prospects at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama this week. One intriguing candidate could be Steelers Offensive Line coach Russ Grimm, who was recently passed over for the Steelers head coaching job. Grimm interviewed for the vacant Lions head coaching position last year, but was not awarded the job. One school of thought is that Team President Matt Millen would offer his former Redskins teammate a position. That being said, one has to wonder whether he and Martz would see eye-to-eye on offensive line responsibilities, since Martz's pass-heavy scheme is drastically different from the smashmouth, run-first variety that the Steelers have subscribed to.

When Mike Martz agreed to be the Lions Offensive Coordinator many observers biggest fear upon his hiring was the fact that Martz would hold the position for too brief of a period of time to alter the Lions offensive struggles, since he would likely garner interest as a head coach for other organizations after the 2006 season. The coaching carousel is moving in full speed currently, and Martz's name has yet to appear on any of the short lists of potential candidates for the current job openings.

Martz is well known as an eccentric and innovative play-caller who often defies accepted NFL coaching conventions. His resume as a Super Bowl winning coordinator is unquestioned, but his unorthodox use of time outs and replay challenges, his offense's tendency toward a high number of turnovers, and a persistent passing attack in spite of game situations, have all marked him as somewhat of a wild card. With the Rams, while suffering from serious health issues, he attempted to phone in a play call from home that one of the team's executives refused to take to the team's offensive coordinator during a game. The Rams had made it abundantly clear that they were no longer interested in his services by the end of last season and may be the biggest contributors to what appears to be a sullied reputation among league circles.

The Lions receiving personnel featured a revolving door cast of players coming and going all season. Apparently, this roster turnover was the result of the fickle nature of Martz and how he can love a player one minute and want to be rid of him the next. The Lions fired their Offensive Line Coach Larry Beightol, reportedly due to personality clashes between Beightol and Martz. Beightol did a pretty good job, given the personnel he had for to work with for most of the season.

In some ways, I really like Martz and what he represents to the Lions organization. The NFL has become a lot more conservative in recent seasons and Martz's unconventional nature spiced up what was a wholly unremarkable Lions season. That being said, Martz's offense struggled horribly this season at times. The inefficiency of the Lions offense in the "red zone" may be particularly indicative that the league has caught up with Martz's schemes.

With the firing of Art Shell, there may be just one organization throughout the league willing to give Martz a head coaching shot. Martz is a natural fit in Oakland. As much as this might hurt the continuity of the Lions offense, the idea of the combined personalities of Martz, Al Davis, Randy Moss and number one overall draft pick, JaMarcus Russell all in one locker room is too precious not to ponder.

The Lions 2007 off-season has hit the ground running. Within 72 hours, the Lions garnered an implausible road victory against a playoff team, fired a position coach and coordinator, had another coach retire, retained a team president whose career record is 24-72 across six seasons, and replaced the aforementioned fired coordinator.

The Lions victory in Dallas has many Lions fans up in arms. Unexpected as the victory was, any meager success this organization can muster is valuable as it continues it's arduous and perilous march towards NFL respectability. As much as many detractors are disappointed about the team surrendering the first overall pick in the 2007 draft with a victory, I think it is safe to say that the prospects would be considerably more ominous if the current regime were allowed to make that pick, considering the complete lack of credibility that the Lions front office staff currently possesses. The fact that a 2-13 team can find a way to play hard and achieve a victory on the road, against a Super Bowl contender, is a small tribute to the direction of the team under Head Coach Rod Marinelli.

In moves that may call into question Marinelli's decision-making prowess, the Lions fired Offensive Line Coach Larry Beightol, who is highly regarded among NFL circles, and Defensive Coordinator Donnie Henderson, who is also well-regarded but has very different philosophies about defense than Marinelli. Meanwhile, long-time Special Teams Coach Chuck Priefer has decided to retire. The team promoted his long-time assistant Stan Kwan. Both Priefer and Kwan have weathered the Lions many coaching changes during recent seasons, so hopefully Kwan will be able to enact a smooth transition entering 2007.

In spite of potential accusations of nepotism, Marinelli hired former Tampa Bay linebackers coach Joe Barry to become the Lions new Defensive Coordinator. Barry, who is Marinelli's son-in-law, would have joined the Lions last season but the Buccaneers have a policy of making it difficult for their coaches to leave the organization while under contract. Barry's hiring is an indication that the organization is fully committed to implementing the Tampa Cover-2 Zone defense scheme, despite the difficulties the 2006 Lions have had in adapting to the new scheme.