The Detroit Lions ruffled more than a few feathers around the Motor City when it was announced they’d be retaining the services of head coach Jim Caldwell for the 2017 season.
There have been many who have been calling for yet another change of coaching for the Lions, who suffered another disappointing end to what looked like a promising season. Lions owner Martha Ford expressed full confidence in Caldwell and is giving him the chance to make things right on the field for her team.
What does he have to do in order to be here long term? The obvious choice is easy – win. More specifically, win the big games
The Lions were sitting with a 9-4 record with the chance to win their division and host a playoff game, yet they dropped their final three games of the season, blowing their opportunity. They instead had to go through the meat grinder of playing in Seattle and just like that, their season was over.
Caldwell’s supporters will point to the fact that the Lions have qualified for the playoffs two of the three years he has been here. He’s also well-liked in the locker room and has the support of team general manager Bob Quinn. Caldwell already has the best winning percentage of any Lions coach in a half-century.
The city of Detroit is yearning for a chance to play for a Super Bowl. One playoff victory since Dwight Eisenhower was president eventually starts to wear on a city.
If Jim Caldwell is able to guide the Lions back to the playoffs and put them in a position to make some noise, Lions fans will welcome him back for another year with open arms. But for now, they have every right to remain skeptical of the team’s decision to stay the course for now.
Michael Whitaker is the perfect example of a Lions fan who is more fixated on the past than the present. Forget Caldwell’s resume’. Forget the Lions losing, their playoff games and losses, forget all that. It’s hard, but it is necessary. Bob Quinn was polled this week and he received a 93% rating. That’s from fans just like Michael. Now, here’s what Quinn said when he was first hired and he reaffirmed that in his season ending press conference this year that he’s building a winning team through the draft. He’s only had one. Once he’s built that roster then it becomes a maintenance job to maintain that winning roster. The key was Quinn said it would take a long time. This is Quinn’s roster. It isn’t finished. Not even close. He took a huge first step last offseason. He’ll take another this offseason. Caldwell can’t win if he doesn’t have talent. The cupboard wasn’t bare when he first arrived but the roster thinned after his first year … bare bones thin. The trenches were Quinn’s first priority when he arrived and that job is only half done. I mention this because articles like Mr. Whitaker’s insinuates the job is already done and Caldwell can’t win with talent. With each offseason, with the addition of more talent, the expectations on Caldwell will go up. But to question his job status, especially at this time of year, is like asking a student during the summer if he will be expelled if he doesn’t make the honor roll next semester. Ridiculous, right?