DETROIT LIONS
Marinelli's Hiring Heralds Yet Another New Era for Millen
Wide receiver Roy Williams caught eight touchdowns in each of his first two seasons. He may improve on that number with a new quarterback.
(By Harry How -- Getty Images)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Matt Millen has been taxing his job security karma, fielding teams that have managed to post double-digit loss totals in each of the last five years. He is the reason some fantasy football owners can keep a straight face when they say things like, "Hey, I can do his job!"
Yet Millen somehow avoids getting fired. Call it the Motown Miracle.
New coach Rod Marinelli, a firm disciplinarian who was an Army infantryman, is Millen's third head coaching hire since taking over as president in 2001. He is defensive minded, unlike predecessors Steve Mariucci and Marty Mornhinweg.
Millen is hoping Marinelli's tough style, which included cutting first-round draft flop Charles Rogers, will help draw better output from an underachieving group that includes Mike Williams, another disappointment. Tailback Kevin Jones (Virginia Tech) fell off last season after amassing 1,133 yards as a rookie in 2004.
In the addition by subtraction department, quarterback Joey Harrington is gone as part of a much-needed divorce for both sides.
Meanwhile, Marinelli scrapped the West Coast offense in favor of a more open style. Quarterback Jon Kitna is a solid veteran, and ex-Cardinal Josh McCown is capable. Wide receiver Roy Williams, a rare Lions draft success, is poised for a big year. The hope is that new offensive coordinator Mike Martz can turn around the underachieving offense.
The relative weakness of the division should help. But with so much change, the Lions will need time to see where the pieces fall.
