Motor City Bad Boys- A NFL Head Coach 09 Career

[Tampafan11]

Rod Marineilli has decided to retire. He has decided to take time off to spend more time with his family. This is odd timing as the 2008 draft has already occurred. If his picks aren't quality, they could really set the next coach back in the rebuilding process.
Gosder Cherilus was the headliner of the class. This is what USA Today had to say about the draft: "Detroit Lions: Need position at RT seems to have dictated choice of Gosder Cherilus, who should have gone lower. Bit of a reach but he plays with the sort of ferocity this team can use, especially after allowing 117 sacks over last two seasons and losing Damien Woody as free agent. LB Jordon Dizon is undersized but fits the Tampa-2 scheme and will play hard for them. RB Kevin Smith probably not the answer in a troublesome spot. Grade C-."
That is very troublesome for the new coach, so I do not envy him...

[Tampafan11]

Kirk Plum
Offensive Playbook: College Attack
Defensive Playbook: Cardinals Blitz
Super Star Personality
Pre-Season start

Kirk Plum Announced as new Head Coach of the Detroit Lions

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The Detroit Lions have announced who their new head coach is going to be. They have hired Kirk Plum to lead the team into the future. He was the University of North Texas Mean Green Head Coach from 1998-2006, while being the Pittsburgh Steelers Assistant Defensive Coordinator from 2005-2007.
When hired to lead the his alma mater, the Mean Green, in 1998, Kirk Plum took over a football program which hadn't had a winning season since 1994. In his fourth season at the helm, Plum's Mean Green won a share of their first Sun Belt Conference title and played in the first of their four consecutive New Orleans Bowls. From 2001–2004, Plum led UNT to four consecutive Sun Belt Conference titles.

From 2001-2005, Plum's North Texas teams won 26 consecutive Sun Belt Conference games, a streak that began on October 13, 2001 with a 24-21 win over Middle Tennessee State and ended on October 4, 2005 with a 13-10 loss to Troy University. In 2005, Coach Plum was hired to be the Assistant Defensive Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, while still being the Head Coach for the Mean Green.

During his tenure, Kirk Plum led the UNT to high profile wins over Big 12 schools Texas Tech (1999) and Baylor (2003). Additionally, the Mean Green posted a 2–1 record against Boise State during his time in Denton. In 2002, he guided the Mean Green to a victory over CUSA Champion Cincinnati in the New Orleans Bowl.

After two consecutive losing seasons in 2005 and 2006, and the view that his attention wasn’t fully on the Mean Green as he was also the Assistant Defensive Coordinator for the Steelers at the same time, Plum was fired. North Texas paid out the remaining years on his contract.

Current and former NFL players who played for Coach Plum at North Texas include:
Phil Armour center, Indianapolis Colts (2000)
Adrian Awasom defensive end, New York Giants (2005–2007)
John Baker punter, St. Louis Rams (2000–2001): Punted for the Rams during their Super Bowl XXXVI season.
Patrick Cobbs running back, Miami Dolphins (2006–present)
Brad Kassell linebacker, Tennessee Titans (2002–2005), New York Jets (2006–2007)
Cody Spencer linebacker, Tennessee Titans (2004–2005), New York Jets (2006–present)
Brian Waters guard, Kansas City Chiefs (2000–2007) Dallas Cowboys (2008): Pro Bowl (2004, 2005, 2006), First Team All-Pro (2004, 2005)

In a testament to Kirk’s character and hope that he gave the program, Coach Plum received a rare, curious honor in 2006 after being fired by the University of North Texas. A donor requested that school officials name the new football practice facility in honor of him despite his dismissal. The donor did not want to have his own name branded on the practice fields, but believed the program's accomplishments under his leadership deemed Plum worthy of the naming rights .

He also won a Super Bowl with the Steelers in 2005, his first with the team.

Coach Plum said during his introductory that he is excited about the talent this team has on offense. “While we definitely have to build more talent on this team, the wide receiver position is stacked with Calvin [Johnson] and Roy [Williams]. The most important thing to an excellent team though is the play in the trenches. Whoever has the most talent and depth on the lines win championships, so we have to get better there. It will be a long process to make a winner here, especially with the timing forcing me to not be able to get my own staff in here until after the season. I will evaluate the team after the season, so please, bear with me. I promise success, and I will do whatever possible to make that happen as soon as possible. I want to thank Mr. Bored and Mr. Millen for giving me this opportunity and I will NOT let the Lions down. Thank you for your time.”

Coach Plum sure said all the right things in his press conference. Let’s hope that he can do the right things on the field and in the front office.

[Tampafan11]

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Detroit Lions Stats - 2008
Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	YDS/G	LONG	TD	INT	RAT
Drew Stanton	135/389	2003	5.1	133.5	39	8	29	28.2
Rushing	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	20+	TD	YDS/G	FUM
Kevin Smith	161	475	2.9	15	0	2	29.6	1
Receiving	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG	20+	YDS/G	YAC
Roy Williams	39	562	14.4	2	29		35.1	60
Calvin Johnson	27	404	14.9	0	29		25.2	59
Naji Sweeney	24	300	12.5	0	35		20	53
Marcedes Lewis	23	425	18.4	4	39		26.5	35
	Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions
Defense	SOLO	AST	TOT	SACK	TLOSS	PD	INT	TD
Ernie Sims	165	-	165+	4	10	7	1	0
Leigh Bodden	95	-	95+	0	2	6	2	0
Cliff Avril	60	-	60+	4	8	2	1	0
Brent Hawkins	30	-	30+	8	11	1	1	0
	Field Goals				Extra Points
Kicking	FGM	FGA	PCT	LONG	XPM	XPA	PCT	PTS
Jason Hanson	11	17	64	54	11	11	100	44
Punting	PUNTS	YDS	LONG	AVG	NET	BP	IN20	TB
Nick Harris	101	4370	54	43.2	37.2	3	7	5

[Tampafan11]

Coaching Staff Changes:

OC: Jim Colletto (29)- Stump Mitchell (39)
DC: Joe Barry (31)- John Mitchell (57)
ST: Stan Kwan (28)- Pepper Johnson (27)
QBC- Steve Lindsey (7)- Tom Rathman (40)
RBC- Kippy Brown (64) retained
WRC- Shawn Jefferson (10)- Chad Merriam (54)
OLC- Mike Barry (25)- Tom Cable (40)
LBC- Phil Snow (13)- Ricky Hunley (47)
DLC- Joe Cullen (20)- Tim Spangler (23)
DBC- Jimmy Lake (5)- Ray Horton(26)
GM- Matt Millen (18)- Gil Darnell (54)
Trainer- Jon Lopez (14)- Ian Baker (90)

Kirk Plum’s comments on new coaching staff:

“I met Stump [Mitchell] at Super Bowl XL and at Cardinals Alumni functions, and we became good friends. He is a high class individual and a great coach. He was the running backs coach with the Seahawks from 1999-2007 and had great success. They made the playoffs in 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. He had a 1,000 yard rusher from 1999-2005. In 2005 was Shaun Alexander’s record breaking season, and in 2008 helped Clinton Portis to a 1,487 rushing season with the Redskins in 2008. He is an unbelievable offensive mind and will be a great offensive coordinator with us for a long time.”
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“I met John during my time with the Steelers. As a player, Mitchell was the first African-American to play football for the storied Alabama Crimson Tide. In his second year with the program he became the first African-American co-captain at the school. The next year he became the team's first black assistant coach and also the youngest coach to have ever been hired at Alabama. Later he would break another barrier by becoming the first black defensive coordinator in the Southeastern Conference. His coaching career has spanned nearly 40 years during which time he has worked with several icons of the football coaching pantheon, including college coaching greats Bear Bryant and Lou Holtz as well as Bill Belichick and Bill Cowher in the pros. Teams he has coached have won championships at both the college and professional levels. He had been the Steelers’ defensive line coach from 1994-2008. With the arrival of Mike Tomlin in 2007, Mitchell replaced Russ Grimm as the team's assistant head coach while retaining his responsibilities in coaching the defensive line. The Steelers led the league in stopping the run four times in the first fifteen years of Mitchell's tenure (through 2008). Steelers defensive linemen have participated in the Pro Bowl eight times since Mitchell's arrival: Casey Hampton (five Pro Bowls), Aaron Smith (once), Brett Keisel (once) and Joel Steed (once). The team as a whole has also had tremendous success during Mitchell's tenure, making the playoff eleven times and reaching the AFC Championship Game eight times in his first 18 years. They've also made it to two Super Bowls, winning the championship in 2005.In Super Bowl XL, we faced a tough test in slowing Seattle Seahawks All-Pro running back Shaun Alexander who ran for 1,880 yards and scored an NFL record 28 touchdowns in the regular season (under Stump) behind an offensive line that featured All-Pro linemen Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson on the left side. The defensive line would need to slow down the Seahawks running attack to keep the Steelers in the game, a challenge which Mitchell took personally. The players came through holding Alexander under the 100-yard plateau and most importantly preventing him from scoring, which was crucial to a Steelers win. After the game, Mitchell said of the strategy, "Our thing was 'keep him out of the end zone.' We didn't care if he got 300 yards; don't let him in the end zone." He is a team player, loyal, level headed, structured, competitive, dependable, values tradition, a problem solver, and a well-rounded individual. He is the best coach that I have ever worked with and will hopefully be here for the rest of his career if a head coaching job doesn’t catch his eye.”
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“Tom Rathman was a great NFL fullback for the 49ers. He has been a great offensive mind and has been a great runningbacks coach in the NFL since 1997. He has held that position with the 49ers (1997-2002), here in Detroit (2003-2005), and in Oakland (2006-2008). He won 2 super bowls as a player with the 49ers (XXIII and XXIV). He played with Joe Montana for both of those and played with Steve Young for his last season with the 49ers. He also played under Bill Walsh, so he has experience with Hall of Fame QB’s and arguably the best offensive coach of all time. He is cooperative, loyal, trusting, optimistic, energetic, and patient. He is another great addition.”

“Chad Merriam was my offensive coordinator at UNT. He helped us to 10 650+ yard rushers during our time at the program. He guided Ja’Quay Wilburn to a 754 yard season on only 128 carries in 1998, Ja’Quay [Wilburn] to a 1,016 yard rushing season and Broderick McGrew to a 32 catch season with 601 yards receiving in 1999, Ja’Quay [Wilburn] to a 756 rushing season in 2000, Kevin Galbreath to a 1,119 yard rushing season and George Marshall to a 32 catch season with 546 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns in 2001, Kevin [Galbreath] and Patrick Cobbs to 1,168 yard and 732 yard rushing seasons (respectively) and 8 and 7 touchdowns rushing (respectively) in 2002, Patrick [Cobbs] to a 1,570 yard and 17 touchdown season and Johnny Quinn to a 30 catch season with 653 yards in 2003, Jamario Thomas to a 1,801 yard 17 touchdown rushing season and Johnny [Quinn] to a 49 catch season with 785 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns in 2004, and Patrick [Cobbs] to a 1,154 yard season with 6 rushing touchdowns in 2005. Chad is an offensive guru who is humble, generous, conservative, contented, a team player, reserved, level headed, laid back, and values tradition. He is a great offensive mind that I am excited to bring with me to our staff.”
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“Tim Spangler was my defensive coordinator at UNT. He helped get 3 defensive players drafted into the NFL. He is a great coach that is cooperative, consistent, competitive, a team player, patient, aggressive, loyal, driven, laid back, and structured. I am really excited to get him on the staff.”
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“Tom Cable is an excellent offensive line coach. He is an analyst, problem solver, dependable, passive, perfectionist, flexible, and structured. A great coach”
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“Ray Horton was the secondary coach during my time with the Steelers. He is an unbelievable coach and I am ecstatic that he joined our staff. He is dependable, optimistic, structured, energetic, consistent, loyal, trusting, a team player, patient, and values tradition. Our secondary should be good for years to come.”

“Gil Darnell assistant GM during my time with the Steelers. He is good at everything. He likes to trade, draft best available players to have the best talent on the team, good at evaluating potential for all positions, while being among the best at linebackers, o-line, and d-line. He is also a good scout, and one of the best at running backs, tight ends, o-line, d-line, and linebackers. Some call him a small school insider and he has great accommodation for staff members. He is a commander, driven, loyal, realistic, consistent, dependable, patient, structured, competitive, efficient, and a problem solver. He is that hottest commodity at GM right now and we are lucky to get him.”

[Tampafan11]

Off season Moves:

Placed a $43mil bid ($7.7mil cap hit) for LG Logan Mankins and WON! One of the best offensive linemen in the NFL, he will anchor the left side of the lines for years.
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Placed a $15mil bid ($4.7mil cap hit) for TE Ben Watson and WON! A very underrated tight end. Is smart player and good receiver.ben watson.jpg

Placed a $16mil bid ($5mil cap hit) for RT David Stewart and WON! One of the best tackles in the league. Young and will be the anchor and focal point of the right side of the line for years.stewart_david_ci.jpg

Placed a $30mil bid ($5.4mil cap hit) for CB Antonio Cromartie and WON! One of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. High volume of interceptions and once he touches the ball, has a good chance of getting in the endzone.antonio-cromartie.jpg

Placed a $25mil bid ($4.5mil cap hit) for S Kerry Rhodes and WON! One of the best safeties in the NFL. Can excel at either safety spot. Smart and productive player with good coverage ability. Will be able to be leader of secondary for a long time.kerry_rhodes_jets.jpg

[Tampafan11]

2009 Ozzy Jones Draft
Your 2008 Heisman results are in and here are the results. In 5th place Ozzie Jones RB Oklahoma State, in 4th place Kavarrio Allen RB Tennessee, in 3rd place AJ Bishop RB Penn State, your heisman runner up was Joe Kain QB Florida State, and your 2008 Heisman winner in the Ozzy Jones Draft Path is Alex Hurst QB Alabama.
While Alabama quarterback Alex Hurst decided not to declare his teammate Freddie Bates MLB Alabama did. Now there is an open competition for who the top pick will be. The top 5 picks who have the best chance of being selected as the top pick are JeMarcus Boone DT Central Florida , Ozzie Jones RB Oklahoma State, Dravanti Jordan WR Notre Dame, Joe Kain QB Florida State, and Marques Acho LE California. Right now the early favorite of these 5 to get selected first is Boone, but Acho is right behind him and Kain could creep up due to the fact their is no one to rival his ability and due to the fact that there is competition on the defensive line for Boone and Acho along with competition for Ozzie Jones and Dravanti Jordan at their respective positions. That may ultimately lead to Kain being the top selection in April's draft.
In this class there are 5 defensive lineman who have top 5 talent those lineman are JeMarcus Boone DT Central Florida, Marques Acho LE California, Cauraun Lawrence RE Notre Dame, DeAndre Roe DT Tennessee, and Doki Somona LE Pittsburgh. All 5 of these defensive lineman have top 5 talent written all over them.
The other future 50 player to watch for besides Ozzie Jones and JaMarcus Boone is Notre Dame WR Dravanti Jordan. In the National Championship Miami edged out Colorado 35-34 in a shootout game. Kammerion Walker WR Colorado was the main reason the Buffaloes got all the way to the National Title. Danny Carey TE Miami FL was the games MVP as he guided the Hurricanes to the National Championship. Notre Dame has some other players besides Jordan and Lawrence that could make an impact at the next level.
Those two players are left guard Spencer Anderson and quarterback Noah Wyoming who guided the Irish to an 8-4 record with loses by 4 points or less in each game against Miami FL, Florida State, Colorado, and Alabama. The fact is Wyoming was only outplayed by the teams that made the National Title and the top two Heisman finalists.
The Pac 10 has two other standouts besides Acho. Those players are Scott Burke RG Stanford and Mister Wright ROLB Oregon. That's right I said Mister Wright what a ironic name. Secondary prospects include Karl Dixon CB Memphis who lead the NCAA in interceptions and Drew Goddard FS Colorado State.

2009 Detroit Lions Draft Recap
Pick	Player	College	Pos	Ht	Wt
1-2	Caraun Lawrence (24 yo)	Notre Dame	RE	6'4"	252
1-24	Ozzie Jones (24 yo)	Oklahoma State	HB	5'7"	190
2-2	Noah Wyoming (24 yo)	Notre Dame	QB	6'3"	225
2-21	Stacey Blake (24 yo)	North Texas	LE	6'1"	250
3-1	Tyshawn McBride (24 yo)	North Texas	LT	6'6"	306
6-2	Eric Branch (23 yo)	Central Connecticut State	WR	6'4"	210

Caraun Lawrence (RE)- Caraun Lawrence is a great prospect. He is physically gifted, smart, durable, and a great football player. He may not be the biggest at 252 pounds, but he is strong and can still over power defenders. He can stop the run and get to the quarterback. Even at the defensive end position, he is the fastest player on the field. To top that off, he is a team player that was a 4 year captain at the University of Notre Dame.
Outlook: Could become a dominant defensive end


Ozzie Jones (HB)- Ozzie Jones reminds many of another running back out of Oklahoma State who turned out to be one of the best ever: Barry Sanders.
He is listed at 5’7” and 190 pounds, but he may even be shorter than that. He is very fast and agile, and he has great hands coming out of the backfield. This guy can really make you miss. He’s a big home-run threat: he had 24 carries for more than 20 yards last season, and he can find the end zone between the tackles or as a return man.
Some teams question this kid’s durability to be an every play back, but he has enough talent to be worth a top draft pick.
Outlook: Could become the next Barry Sanders



Noah Wyoming (QB)- Reminds many of Joe Montana. He had excellent weapons around him at Notre Dame, so the case will be out to see if he has to have a strong supporting cast around him, or if he is a truly great quarterback. Has a strong arm, but needs to work on his accuracy. Great pocket awareness, and rarely gets sacked. An average athlete who is smart and loyal.
Outlook: Could become the next Joe Montana


Stacey Blake (LE)- Played under Coach Plum and defensive line Coach Spangler at the University of North Texas. HE was another 4 year captain at his respective University, so will pair with Lawrence to bring leadership to the defense. An above average defensive end already who has the potential to become great.
Outlook: Could become a great defensive end


Tyshawn McBride (LT)- An example of what every team always looks for: a franchise left tackle. He is among the best tackles in this class at both run and pass blocking, and he grades out evenly on both. He has great pass block footwork and strength, but needs to work on run game. Sometimes has tendency to get in bad positions due to frame on run blocking and can get over powered. With that being said, he is one of the most aware players on the field, and great at choosing who to block. He also played under Coach Plum at the University of North Texas, so there is familiarity with the Head Coach.
Outlook: Could become a franchise left tackle

[Tampafan11]

I'm through the 1st half of the season, will post the game results tomorrow!

If you are reading this, thanks for reading!!!

[Tampafan11]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tampafan11

I'm through the 1st half of the season, will post the game results tomorrow! If you are reading this, thanks for reading!!!

My file accidentally got deleted, so had to start over. We still went 0-16 but got Ozzie Jones draft path instead. Am going back to edit previous posts, thanks for reading!