Lions head coach Dan Campbell indicated that changes may be coming in Detroit after the team was eliminated from the playoffs on Christmas.
“I’m gonna be looking at a lot,” Campbell said (via Colton Pouncy of The Athletic).“I’m gonna be looking at a lot of things, because I do not like being home for the playoffs.”
Among them could be a change at offensive coordinator. Pass game coordinator John Morton took over the job after Ben Johnson left in the offseason. He got the Lions offense off to a hot start before slowing around midseason. Campbell took over play-calling in Week 10 and the unit bounced back. However, they could not carry a decimated Detroit defense into the playoffs.
Though the offense finished fourth in points and sixth in yards, Campbell could still consider swapping out his offensive coordinator this offseason, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. That would indicate he wants to hand play-calling duties back to another coach, which could also be a factor in attracting the best candidates. While the Lions’ job would be a step up for any offensive assistant, the availability of play-calling duties could draw coordinators who work under offensive head coaches and do not call plays. Those coordinators could jump at the chance to work with the Lions’ talented roster and strengthen their candidacy for a future head coaching gig.
An obvious wellspring of potential OC talent is in Chicago, where Johnson has quickly developed one of the league’s top offenses. He brought multiple assistants with him from Detroit, including wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett. Bears OC Declan Doyle also worked with Campbell in New Orleans, though the Bears could block Doyle from interviewing for the same position with the Lions.
Of course, Morton still played a role in the Lions’ offensive success in the past three years and may be more comfortable calling plays after going through some bumps in his debut year. Campbell could also decide to hold onto play-calling duties and keep Morton to run the rest of the offense.
Detroit had the winning TD vs. Pittsburgh in the final minute called back for offensive pass interference, not once but twice. Then on Xmas Day the Lions had 6 giveaways at Minnesota.
Such is what will get your OC the sack.
Detroit’s had a ton of injuries, and I was (still am) rooting for Shepard, but I think that they might be looking at the wrong coordinator.
Nice if he took some responsibility for himself. Obviously he is not the genius his media buddies have tried to create; looks like Ben Johnson was the real genius
The Lions just want to show everyone that they can have a late season fade like the Tigers (who lost 13 of their last 16 regular season games).
Campbell needs good coordinators that are in control of all their duties. He needs to just be an uplifting HC for the players. That is what he is good at, he is not good at calling plays and his over aggressive style already cost them a trip to the SB a couple of years ago. He needs to look at each situation and sometimes you must take the points.