ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz was finally relieved of his duties today, a couple of weeks after it became obvious that he would not be back with the team in 2008.But there is a bit of a surprise as to who will replace Martz: According to Mortensen, the title of offensive coordinator will actually go to Jim Colletto, who joined the Lions this year as their offensive line coach. Previous reports had indicated that wide receivers coach Kippy Brown would get the offensive coordinator title, but Mortensen reports that Brown's title will actually be assistant head coach and passing game coordinator as well as running backs coach.
Per Mortensen, the Lions also fired Martz's son, Tim Martz, who had been working with the team as an offensive assistant, and promoted Shawn Jefferson from offensive assistant to wide receivers coach.
All this adds up to a lot of confusion, because it's not entirely clear who will call the offensive plays, Brown or Colletto. Like just about everything that has happened in the seven-year Matt Millen era, this move can't give Lions fans much reason for optimism.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-02-2008 @ 12:30PM
Randy said...
I disagree with the firing of Martz.
They blame him for not running the ball but until the Lions get an offensive line, the running game will be non-existent and Kitna will look like he's sleeping on the job because he will be on his back most of the time.
The problem with the Lions is the Offensive line and the scouting staff that has blown draft after draft. We need to get a GM/Dir. of Scouting like Dombrowski and Chadd from the Tigers.
Ever since Ron Hughes left, coincidentely when Millen arrived, our drafts have been a joke.
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 1:00PM
J.P.H. said...
Mike Martz should NOT have signed with Detroit ANYWAY! He is much more of a head coach to be with a solid winning orgainization rather than with/under a bunch of lossers and dummies ....and STARTING AT THE TOP with the owners ....THE FORD FAMILY!! THEY ARE THE REAL REASON the Detroit Lions WILL NEVER get it together UNTIL THE FANS BOYCOTT THEIR GAMES AND DEMAND for them to " SELL THE TEAM " ....or they will not attend or watch ANY of their games!!!!!!!!
THINK OF THIS: It has been now 50 years since the club has won it all! DETROIT has the reputation for being a ONE WAY TICKET into retirement!!! Barry Sanders said that loud and VERY CLEAR ...but few were listening ....he wanted to WIN in the worse way but knew deep in his heart IT WAS NEVER TO BE IN DETROIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
MIJ001@AOL.COM
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 1:23PM
Rob said...
I grew up in Detroit in the 60's and 70's and left Michigan after college. In the 25 plus years after I left, nothing much has changed with the Detroit Lions. The constant ingredient is the ownership of the Ford family, specifically William Clay Ford. Until the Ford family sells it's stake of the team it won't matter who coaches, what draft choices they make. "Jesus Christ" couldn't make winners out of Lions.
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 1:37PM
Double T said...
Good! Since our dopey head coach Lovie Smith and Martz are friends...the bears can hire him to be our offensive coordinator.Imagine him and Devin Hester????!!! Then when Lovie doesnt do anything the bears can fire his useless ass and make Martz head coach. I like this plan!!!!
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 2:57PM
kmusk64 said...
J.P.H., You hit the nail on the head! Until the Fords,along with useless Millen are gone, the Lions are doomed to be the laughing stock of football. As of the firing of Martz, I'm done with this joke of a team.
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 4:19PM
John H. Momtgomery Jr. said...
HE´LL PROBABLY GO TO BALTIMORE. HE WON´T BE WITHOUT A JOB LONG. DENVER GAVE THEM A 1,000 YARD BACK. HE MAY HAVE GOT 300 YARDS AT BEST. LAST FOUR YEARS THEY HAD 2 NUMBER ONES RECIEVERS IN THE NATION OUT OF USC AND THE NUMBER TWO OVER ALL OUT FLORIDA STATE. I DON´T KNOW WHAT THEY WASTED THE OTHER DRAFT ON. NONE OF IT HAS PAN OUT. THEY PASSED ON GETTING A TOP QB BECAUSE DITNA WINS THREE IN A ROW.THEY REFUSE TO LET SANDERS GO SOMEWHERE, WHERE HE COULD MAKE RECORDS NOBODY WOULD TOUCH. THEY HAVE BANDWAGON FANS. THRY WIN TWO IN A ROW AND YOU CAN´T BUY TICKETS. DITNA SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED FOR SAY SOMETHING INSANE ABOUT WINNING TEN GAMES.
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 6:16PM
microe said...
Let,s see, worst defense in the league, fire the offensive coordinater, yeah that sounds about right for the LIONS........
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 8:10PM
Steve said...
You got it Microe! Of course you fire the Offense. They were in the middle of the pack league wide. The defense was dead last....But that's the son in law of that coach that looks and sounds like Wojo on Barney Miller. Neither of them too bright.
Besides...Millen is teaching that Wojo guy how to scapegoat. I hope Martz comes back with Joey Harrington and burns Detroit's A*S to a crisp
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 8:13PM
Steve said...
The Lions organization is like a house full of feces. But when the clean up arrives, they won't let you clean the room with the biggest pile in it.
They can't smell the stink, they know the league will put up with it for all the advertising dollars of ford. And you have no choice but to breath and pay deeply. Notice Millen isn't going anywhere.
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 8:14PM
Steve said...
JUST KEEP FILLIN THEM SEATS AND BILLY FORDS POCKETS.
YOU GET THE PRODUCT YOUR WILLING TO SETTLE FOR.
Reply
1-02-2008 @ 10:59PM
Steve said...
Rick Forzano, Joe Schmitt, Wayne Fontes, Daryl Rogers, Tommy Hudspeth, Joe Don Looney, Nick Petrosanti, Yale Larry, Alex Karras, Milt Plum,( he always has p*ss poor excuses too) Nick Eddy, (wasted Heisman winner) Steve Owens (wasted Heisman winner) Bill Munson Joe Reed, Hipple, Billy Simms (Wasted Heisman winner) Monte Clarke, Passed on the opportunity to hire Schula, or Knox, Didn't need Knoll, Used up and then let him go, Barry Sanders.
Keeping Millen. Keeping the Wojo guy. I have seen it for nearly fifty farting years. No more. I will not pay one more cent for one piece of Detroit Lions crap. If anyone does, they will only continue this circle j*rk of tears. Think of how many more names you can add to the list. How many people see thier careers done on draft day. Hell, think of how much money (Against the Cap) is still being paid to non-playing draft picks. That helps get new talent.
By all means, keep Millen.
Reply
1-03-2008 @ 10:11AM
FeralLemur said...
I don't get this firing at all. It seems to me that Mike Martz was the only reason there was optimism and hope. The offense was really clicking for a while, and they jumped out to a 6-2 record. Then they had a horrific collapse to end the season. Why is that Martz's fault?
According to one poster, it's because the Lions didn't run the ball more. I suppose that's a ligitimate criticism, but can you blame a pass-happy guy for being pass-happy when the team has spent the past billion drafts taking wide receivers with top draft picks?
First poster is absolutely correct. Detroit needs to get an O-line in a bad bad way. Look no further than teams like Denver, Minnesota, Kansas City, and Jacksonville (and to a lesser degree Miami and Tampa Bay). They have all had multiple backs put up impressive games this year, and it has everything to do with their offensive lines.
Reply
1-03-2008 @ 6:16PM
Jeff said...
Kitna is 1 out of 8 NFL QB's in HISTORY to pass for back-to-back 4,000+ seasons. Reason: MARTZ! So as the Lions you take the offensive line coach (Yeah HE did good this year) and promote him to replace a legend. We could not run BECAUSE THE DAMN LINE COULD NOT MAKE HOLES!!!!!!!
I AM DONE!!!
I now HATE THE LIONS!!!
MILLEN and the FORDS go %$^# yourself
Reply
1-03-2008 @ 10:33PM
Steve said...
HEY JEFF...THAT'S MILLEN'S AND FORD'S LINE TO US.
Reply
1-04-2008 @ 1:23AM
Danno said...
Not a Lions fan, but Martz is probably the reason the Lions won 7 games instead of 4. I think he'll be missed.
Reply
1-04-2008 @ 1:54PM
Jerry Desaulniers said...
Just blame Martz! Look the guy has to be brilliant to have done something in St. Louis with Georgia Fronteri breathing down his neck. I've never been a Martz fan but must admit he is one of the best offensive minds in NFL history. I hope he lands a great job, just not with the Ravens(I'm a Browns fan)!
Reply