This year in Detroit all four major sports teams have new coaches. Three of them have already coached and the results have been outstanding. The Red Wings won the presidents trophy with Mike Babcock at the helm, even though they were knocked off in the first round by Edmonton they had the leagues best overall record. They also set records for road wins and consecutive road wins. The Pistons with Flip Saunders got off to their best start in team history and ended up with the NBA's best record. Currently the Tigers have the best record in all of baseball with new skipper Jim Leyland calling the shots. You may need to read the previous sentence again, it isn't a misprint.
Now it is up to new Lions coach Rod Marinelli to prove his worth with the Lions. Can the rookie head coach have the Lions in first place in the NFC north or even best record in the NFL. It may be highly unlikely he will move them into first place or even make the playoffs but, he has put himself into a good position to make a run at it. They added new offensive and defensive coordinators and moved Joey Harrington to Miami so they don't have that drama to deal with. You may not think the Lions will do much this season but don't discount the mojo the city of Detroit has right now. Rod Marinelli understands that winning teams do all the little things and get every extra inch possible here and there to get most possible out of his players. The division this team has had in the locker room is almost as strong as Lions fans opinions. I read on a Lions forum that one fans doesn't care if the Lions go 1-15 as long as they beat Miami because Joey Harrington is their quarterback now. Some fans think that the Lions will or need to move one of their three first round draft pick wide receivers. Almost laughable when you look at 95% of all WRs in NFL history and what they were able to do in their first few seasons. There is power in numbers and they have plenty of numbers, but do they have any power? They like many other positions need time to develop. The problem is that Lions fans have been patient for long enough. It is time for the fans to be reimbursed for all the money spent, Sundays lost, emotions released, and support for a team that has only won one playoff game since 1957. The future is in good hands with Mike Martz coaching the offense. Can Mike Martz put together the pieces to a puzzle that has never been put together?It is now the Lions turn to do something for a city who has supported them for so long, with nothing in return but Barry Sanders memories and great sound bites from the coaches who have come and gone.
Interesting article. Of course, two of the new coaches inherited quality teams. The success of the Red Wings and the Pistons doesn't shock anyone. It seems to me that the Lions went from one extreme to the other when hiring Marinelli. I am not sold on him, but I do have hope.
I would like to see Kevin Jones run wide more frequently, then use his cut back ability. Blitzing the defense more frequently too would disrupt the opposing offense and help Detroit's defense. These two things might be enough to give the Lions a chance at winning their division.
DRCrain you are right, Millen has to go.
Dave you are also right, but the Tigers weren't proven to be a winner like the other two, so that is what I am banking (hoping) for the Lions
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2006 1st place league Champion fantasy baseball, 2003 and 2004 second place in fantasy football, 2003 second place in fantasy baseball and hockey, The last person out in Dodgeball in a record 17 of 22 games played in 1992 and led the gym class with over 175 kills in 92 - 93 (averaged 8.18 kills per game)
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This year in Detroit all four major sports teams have new coaches. Three of them have already coached and the results have been outstanding. The Red Wings won the presidents trophy with Mike Babcock at the helm, even though they were knocked off in the first round by Edmonton they had the leagues best overall record. They also set records for road wins and consecutive road wins. The Pistons with Flip Saunders got off to their best start in team history and ended up with the NBA's best record. Currently the Tigers have the best record in all of baseball with new skipper Jim Leyland calling the shots. You may need to read the previous sentence again, it isn't a misprint.
Now it is up to new Lions coach Rod Marinelli to prove his worth with the Lions. Can the rookie head coach have the Lions in first place in the NFC north or even best record in the NFL. It may be highly unlikely he will move them into first place or even make the playoffs but, he has put himself into a good position to make a run at it. They added new offensive and defensive coordinators and moved Joey Harrington to Miami so they don't have that drama to deal with. You may not think the Lions will do much this season but don't discount the mojo the city of Detroit has right now. Rod Marinelli understands that winning teams do all the little things and get every extra inch possible here and there to get most possible out of his players. The division this team has had in the locker room is almost as strong as Lions fans opinions. I read on a 
laughable when you look at 95% of all WRs in NFL history and what they were able to do in their first few seasons. There is power in numbers and they have plenty of numbers, but do they have any power? They like many other positions need time to develop. The problem is that Lions fans have been patient for long enough. It is time for the fans to be reimbursed for all the money spent, Sundays lost, emotions released, and support for a team that has only won one playoff game since 1957. The future is in good hands with Mike Martz coaching the offense. Can Mike Martz put together the pieces to a puzzle that has never been put together?It is now the Lions turn to do something for a city who has supported them for so long, with nothing in return but Barry Sanders memories and great sound bites from the coaches who have come and gone.
