Wisenhunt to Lions done deal?

[RobBase]

Sure sounds that way based on what everyone (and I mean everyone local, national) is saying unofficially.

I'm excited. Pittsburgh roots, took AZ to the SB, brought Rivers back from obscurity (check his FF stats before vs. after for a quick peek). Stafford going from Linehan to Wisenhunt is a serious step up in coaching. My only question (not even a concern) is how will the D work?

 

[broncosmitty]

Maybe he'd just keep Gunny?

 

[RobBase]

Maybe he'd just keep Gunny?

Been thinking that too. Wouldn't hate that idea.

 

[LPinSLC]

Been thinking that too. Wouldn't hate that idea.

I'd hate it!

Unless it was Schwartz playing puppet master the whole time. I don't want to see 4 man rush with little success and rare blitzes...

 

[LPinSLC]

What are the best numbers any of his defenses have had? With the talent on defense I'd like to see somone come in that can utilize it. Tired of just treading water on D trying not to drowned. You guys talk about building around Suh, then better not settle for mediocrity leading Suh and co.

 

[gandydancer]

Maybe he'd just keep Gunny?

I would perfer the wide 9 be gone. Gunny could stay IMO. He has coached other schemes. Pretty sure wide 9 was all Schwartz???

 

[jayfan]

Sure sounds that way based on what everyone (and I mean everyone local, national) is saying unofficially.

I'm excited. Pittsburgh roots, took AZ to the SB, brought Rivers back from obscurity (check his FF stats before vs. after for a quick peek). Stafford going from Linehan to Wisenhunt is a serious step up in coaching.

Mike McCoy is the one with Quarterback Coach in his background. Not Whizenhunt.

 

[broncosmitty]

I doubt we'd see the same Wide 9 without Schwartz. Here's what Gunns said last time he had a coaching change at HC and remained DC : "I've gone through three years of playing zone defenses because I was loyal to (head coach) Herm Edwards and that's what he wanted,'' Cunningham said. "People here in town knew I was different than that. My idea is to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, it always has been and always will be." I'll also stick with my comments from earlier in the season in concern to this Lions team blitzing. Who should do it? Other than when Delmas was blitzing, there were major handicaps on pass coverage and/or susceptibility to draws.

 

[broncosmitty]

What are the best numbers any of his defenses have had? With the talent on defense I'd like to see somone come in that can utilize it. Tired of just treading water on D trying not to drowned. You guys talk about building around Suh, then better not settle for mediocrity leading Suh and co.

Best defense in the NFL, on the best team in the NFL. MartyBall was the winningest team in of 90's in KC. Gunny was DC for half of it. Gunther Cunningham Coaching Record - m.pfref.com

 

[Microwahevo]

I'd hate it!

Unless it was Schwartz playing puppet master the whole time. I don't want to see 4 man rush with little success and rare blitzes...

I agree. I hated that basic 4-man push. It worked sometimes, but they needed more blitzes mixed in. Hell, even just the look of a blitz to make the offense think it might be coming. If people thought our O was vanilla and predictable, out D was even more so.

 

[Microwahevo]

I would perfer the wide 9 be gone. Gunny could stay IMO. He has coached other schemes. Pretty sure wide 9 was all Schwartz???

Yeah I can't imagine we're gonna see that wide-9 any time soon, unless we play Cleveland in the preseason.

 

[broncosmitty]

Yeah I can't imagine we're gonna see that wide-9 any time soon, unless we play Cleveland in the preseason.

We still have Jim Washburn on staff as well. (And his son). Schwartz didn't teach and promote the style of defense to himself down in TN.

 

[RobBase]

Mike McCoy is the one with Quarterback Coach in his background. Not Whizenhunt.

Wisenhunt has worked with Big Ben and Phillip Rivers as OC.

 

[RobBase]

If Gunny was retained I think we'd be looking at an attacking 4-3. The wide 9 is gone w Schwartz.

 

[broncosmitty]

If Gunny was retained I think we'd be looking at an attacking 4-3. The wide 9 is gone w Schwartz.

I think we'd see it situationally. Old guys seem to incorporate bits of wisdom from over the years. But I don't think we'd see DEnds two yards off the tackles outside shoulder while we're in nickel on first down. Or atleast I'd hope not.

 

[LPinSLC]

Gunther has been a puppet for about a decade. He was Herms followed by Jimbos. A D Coordinator that ran his own scheme close to a decade ago? No thanks. Can we get someone innovative?

 

[Scooby-Doo]

As an individual who lived through multiple years of Wiz as a head coach for the Cards, allow me to give my 2 cents.

He is a solid offensive coach when he has a veteran QB running the show. When Warner was in AZ he flourished. Before and after Warner as the starter, he was below average. Todd Haley called the plays during the cards "playoff run" years and Wiz acted as more of a moderator of personalities, however he does call the plays in San Diego and the team has seemed to respond (again veteran QB). In terms of defense, he has little input. So what defensive scheme you run will depend on the coordinator.

The big knock on Wiz was his inability to make solid draft picks, add solid veterans through free agency and develop young players. He was the mastermind behind the Kevin Kolb trade which ultimately sent him packing. In addition, he used to get questioned all the time from the local media because of the amount of time he would give the team off from practice. They would play a game, and the team wouldn't get together for real practice until Wednesday. He will lose the team very quickly if there is no success. He is not a great motivator. But he is very good at managing veteran personalities in a winning situation. He is literally the exact opposite from Bruce Arians.

I think the Lions have a lot if similarities the Cardianals had when Wiz took over, so picking him up might actually work. It is definitely an upgrade over JS. If the players "buy in" to his coaching style, you may see some success with him at the helm. Hell, he took the Cardinals to the Superbowl!! He is the only coach in history to have that on his resume.

Good luck.

 

[RobBase]

The big knock on Wiz was his inability to make solid draft picks, add solid veterans through free agency and develop young players.

No GM in AZ during his run?

 

[RobBase]

I'm reading that Rod Graves was the AZ GM at the time, and had full power over draft and FA. Here's a weird comment from him about Kolb.

Former GM Rod Graves discusses Arizona Cardinals and NFL Draft, Kevin Kolb - Revenge of the Birds

Regarding Kolb, he subtly placed the blame for Kolb's performance, or lack thereof, on Ken Whisenhunt and the previous offensive staff.

He pointed out the obvious fact that the team need to keep Kolb healthy. Then he pointed to adapting to his supposed skill set.

"I think that Kevin is a guy that has ability, but the coaching staff has got to be willing to adapt to what he's capable of doing," he said. "I think he's more of a West Coast-style type of quarterback."

So the GM brought a guy in and expected his HC to change his whole offensive scheme to the West Coast? And when this failed he blames everyone but himself? He also says "the team need to keep Kolb healthy" yet ignored the O-line the whole time he was GM. Interesting.

Hard to see why Graves works for the Jets now. Seems like a great guy.

 

[jdwills126]

As an individual who lived through multiple years of Wiz as a head coach for the Cards, allow me to give my 2 cents.

He is a solid offensive coach when he has a veteran QB running the show. When Warner was in AZ he flourished. Before and after Warner as the starter, he was below average. Todd Haley called the plays during the cards "playoff run" years and Wiz acted as more of a moderator of personalities, however he does call the plays in San Diego and the team has seemed to respond (again veteran QB). In terms of defense, he has little input. So what defensive scheme you run will depend on the coordinator.

The big knock on Wiz was his inability to make solid draft picks, add solid veterans through free agency and develop young players. He was the mastermind behind the Kevin Kolb trade which ultimately sent him packing. In addition, he used to get questioned all the time from the local media because of the amount of time he would give the team off from practice. They would play a game, and the team wouldn't get together for real practice until Wednesday. He will lose the team very quickly if there is no success. He is not a great motivator. But he is very good at managing veteran personalities in a winning situation. He is literally the exact opposite from Bruce Arians.

I think the Lions have a lot if similarities the Cardianals had when Wiz took over, so picking him up might actually work. It is definitely an upgrade over JS. If the players "buy in" to his coaching style, you may see some success with him at the helm. Hell, he took the Cardinals to the Superbowl!! He is the only coach in history to have that on his resume.

Good luck.

Mayhew and Xanders will do the draft. I am sure he would get input but I don't see that as an issue.

Mayhew and Whisenhut are buddies from their playing days. I think Fauria and if they resign Pettigrew would both really benefit from Whiz. I would be curious who he brings in as O-Coordinator. I wonder if their is a tie to Norv Turner? Like him as a Coordinator hate him as a HC.

As for the defense I would like to some young guy with innovation. Guns better days I think are behind him. Tough old guy but would love to see a Chris Speilman Type get a shot. Example guys as I think Speilman has been out of coaching for awhile.

I think this was a done deal when they decided to fire Shwartz. I think if truth was ever known Mayhew would get zinged for tampering as I would bet he has talked to Whiz or his agent and already has a deal in lace.