rshetts
1843
The Lions just fired their special teams coach. He was actually well regarded and considered one of those hot up and coming coaches. While I think the firing was a bit harsh, it was justified. Apparently Coombs, went rogue and changed the head coach’s call of a punt on a 4th and 4. He instead, without consulting the head coach, dialed up a fake punt. It failed, barely but even if it had succeeded, do you allow an underling coach to do something like this, completely unauthorized? It sets a bad precedence and for a team that is trying to preach structure and accountably, it sets a bad example.
Yeah, that’s something you don’t do. It’s a way to wreck your career. Head coaches are going to be wary as hell to hire you after pulling a stunt like that.
Not disputing anything you said, but it adds another wrinkle that the “head coach” is Darrell Bevell, placed in that position as an interim choice after Matt Patricia was fired. Sounds like some serious organizational dysfunction.
I think this might reflect more poorly on Bevell than Coombs and will only up Coombs’ profile as an HC or coordinator candidate.
Disagree. Substitute “Interim President”, “CFO” and “Disbursed funds” for the above and I think the CFO for Big Detroit Co. Inc. becomes a “consultant” as a long term career move afterwards.
Of course he could attend the Saban Career Rehabilitation Center later. Or the Carroll Clinic.
Don’t know, seems like I’d rather give, “we were last place in our division and wanted to win. What did we have to lose?” is an answer I’d rather give on my next interview than, “he didn’t respect me, so I fired him”.
JeffL
1848
If an assistant coach disobeys the instructions of the head coach, yeah, he has to be fired. But I agree, it says a lot about the dysfunction at the coaching level that an assistant coach would even think to do that.
As a long time Chiefs fan who is finally enjoying it, I keep expecting them to lose every game. We’re playing with an offensive line that’s got basically 3rd team practice squad players starting. And now our top running back is out for the regular season and maybe the playoffs. I whine to my brother in texts every game (he’s a long time Titan’s season ticket holder) that it would be nice to actually start with a lead and build on it and have an easy game, but they seem incapable of doing that. He abuses me for whining about a team that’s won around 21 out of the last 22 games.
rshetts
1849
Absolutely no question that there is systemic dysfunction in the Lions organization. The new owner has stated several times that she wants to fix that issue going forward. Its, in part, why they fired Quinn/Patricia. That is why this stunt was so egregious. It completely undermines the structure of authority and responsibility. I do believe Coombs will land on his feet but I don’t disagree with Bevell’s decision, one made jointly with the front office. If standing up for your authority and responsibility as a head coach is a detractor for Bevell, then whom ever holds that against him is not an organization worth working for.
In case it isn’t clear, I absolutely agree they had to do this. It isn’t that Bevell stood up for his own authority, but that he had to in the first place that could conceivably reflect poorly on him (and this is without knowing anything else about the situation, mind you, just based on the basic facts). If I were considering him as my next HC, you can bet he’d be grilled about what happened. But I think he’s a smart guy and will have answers ready.
Mayfield has progressed to much more than a game manager this season.
Total QBR thru Week 14:
Aaron Rodgers 83.6
Patrick Mahomes 83.5
Josh Allen 79.6
Ryan Tannehill 78.0
Baker Mayfield 76.6
Drew Brees 75.5
Oh, agreed, he is definitely hitting his stride. I am just not convinced that his cap is as high as the first three on that list. But that is a damned steep hill to climb.
RIP Kevin Greene:
Dying at 58 is too young. NFL players take a pounding.
Pittsburgh really is sucking ass here.
If the Steelers drop their next game against the 10-4 Colts and the Browns win their next game against the 1-13 Jets, the final game of the season will be between both teams in Cleveland for the division title.
In case I wasn’t clear, I was specifically referring to the football team…
…and the Reference ‘splainer…
Between the rebroadcast of the Vikings and Saints overtime game from January and the holidays messing with my sense of which day of the week it is, I totally thought Vikings and Saints had played a day early and that the Vikings had won in OT. I couldn’t believe it. I blame covid.
Rock8man
1861
Today’s game didn’t keep my interest. Though from the part I did watch the highlight was Joe Buck quoting from Dumb and Dumber on behalf of Vikings:
So you’re telling me there’s a chance.
Joe Buck announcing a Vikings-Saints game is a butt farting on a human face forever.
