(A new feature we’ll be having on D4L is a weekly Lions piece from a big time Detroit fan, Joe Dexter. Joe is a Detroit sports blogger and podcaster, who also spends his days working in the radio industry. You can follow him and his ramblings on twitter at http://twitter.com/joedexter.)
Football fans in the city of Detroit have become accustomed to the tradition of searching for the holy grail. The road has been long, winding, and never ending.
The performance in battle has been an extension of its leaders. A group that symbolizes the comedy group of Monty Python, more than the gridiron greats before them. In 1999 Bobby Ross became the first Lions coach since Buddy Parker in the early fifties to go the the playoffs in two of his first three years with the Lions. Since Ross’ reign, the head coaches of the Lions have led their clubs to a 35-100 record.
The quest for the holy grail has turned into overthrown passes, timely missed tackles, and a dumbfounded organization. They have run into the toughest barriers — three straight seasons (2001-2003) without a victory on the road, a sub .300 winning percentage since 2000, five different head coaches, and an 0-16 season. The list goes on and on.
Now the pressure lies on the shoulders of the seventh coach of our beloved losers in the last ten years. Jimmy Schwartz, the bar is high. Your shovel better be sharp. It’s time to build a new foundation and start an new era.
Because the fans can only stand behind you for so long.
For Jimmy, it’s not about preseason wins (Heck, Marinelli went undefeated last season) or showing that they can dominate lesser talent. It’s about a vast improvement on the defensive side of the ball, more consistency on offense, and being a representative of a city. A true class act, with a football IQ — something the Lions front office hasn’t seen at the coaching position since the great Wayne Fontes.
Jimmy Schwartz is well on his way already. From being brutally honest about where team stands, to stating he is ready for the challenge, Schwartz has shown character.
Already his defining line to the public speaks volumes to his intelligence. “It’s probably time to find a replacement for Bobby Layne” was a statement that was bold, daring, and truthful. Especially for someone that wasn’t even named to the job yet.
And once he got the job, his personality instantly started becoming a fan favorite. From praising the fans, to telling Goodell how it is on Turkey day, to making fun of his new quarterback on the first day of formal practices. His attitude is shining through his players as well. Newcomers Brandon Pettigrew, Louis Delmas, Julian Peterson, Larry Foote and Matt Stafford are ready to play football. Ready to play the game right.
It will be a long and winding road through the 2009 season. The team will have it’s low points, it’s high points, times of inconsistency, and times where the offense clicks. The defense will have us cussing at our screens, and Jimmy Schwartz will be one frustrated coach at many points in the 2009 season. It won’t be the prettiest thing in the world.
But at least Schwartz is making the long winding road toward success a bit clearer. Once that fog clears, maybe, just maybe, we will see the fumbling and bumbling of the past football warriors turned turned into a military unit, with more precision and timely success pushed by the unique leadership of it’s head general.
Only time will tell, but like most Lions fans, I am optimistic. Simply because, there is nowhere to go. Nowhere to go but up.
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