We mentioned last week that Lions coach Jim Schwartz was due for some criticism in Detroit, even if we think it’s premature.
Following Detroit’s road loss to the winless Bills, the heat has turned up.
One headline on MLive.com this week says: “Jim Schwartz showing no signs of resurrecting Detroit Lions; should his job be in jeopardy?” The article says it’s time to put Schwartz “on the clock” and criticizes his “nauseating” first-half playcalling.
In the Detroit Free Press, Terry Foster writes, “It’s time to question Jim Schwartz’s ability as head coach.”
Foster doesn’t think Schwartz should be on the hot seat yet, but questions his game management skills.
Excellent beat writer Tom Kowalski writes that the loss to the Bills show how far the Lions have to go to reach respectability and that they aren’t much better than they were in the past. We agree with the first part.
“It was interesting to note that Lions coach Jim Schwartz credited the Buffalo defense for making huge changes this season to help improve their run defense,” Kowalski writes. “Really? That’s possible? You can actually make adjustments and improvements during the season?
Then riddle me this: Why aren’t the Lions making any improvements?”
We understand the frustration borne out of decades of losing. From an outside perspective, though, this is an overraction. As MDS wrote, the 2010 Lions are a historically unlucky team. They have upgraded the talent base dramatically with young players. Fixing the Matt Millen era was never going to be a two year job.
If the Lions are sitting at 2-7 a year from now, then it’s time to start questioning Schwartz.
