Carlos Monarrez | Detroit Free Press
Free Press sports writer Carlos Monarrez answers three questions after the Detroit Lions‘ new coordinators met with the media on Wednesday:
What was your first impressions of the top four assistant coaches?
They were colorful and enthusiastic, following the example set by head coach Dan Campbell — minus any mentions of kneecap amputations. Three of the four — Anthony Lynn on offense, Aaron Glenn on defense and assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley — are former NFL players, along with Campbell. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp even jokingly mentioned, “I’m not an ex-player, by the way.” There’s a good side to the enthusiasm former players bring as coaches. They speak with a different kind of authority and they can connect with players a little better sometimes. But the concern I have about enthusiasm is what happens to it during prolonged struggles and losing? Especially when two of the coaches — Campbell and Glenn — face the most daunting tasks and they’re new in their roles on a full-time basis. The Lions will play nine games this year against playoff teams. I only see five or six wins for them — and maybe not many more in 2022. Can this enthusiasm endure? Can the coaches remain patient and effective teachers? Lions coaches sometimes underestimate how tough it is to work and thrive in Detroit. Lynn might be the key to this whole thing because he has the most experience. He’s also talked about embracing chaos in the past. Good, because it’s likely coming again.
What do you think about Lynn wanting to sit a rookie QB?
I loved his answer. Any team that has a viable veteran quarterback should give a rookie quarterback time to watch and learn, especially one who’s picked high and has a lot of expectations placed on him. Lynn was exactly right about the pressures social media bring and how they can sabotage any young player’s confidence. If the Lions draft a quarterback seventh overall, I hope Lynn has his way and sits him for at least part of the season. There’s no blueprint for developing a great quarterback, but the Patrick Mahomes model Lynn cited is appropriate. It also paid off with Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Maybe Justin Herbert was ready to start right away, but sitting for a year wouldn’t have hurt him, either. I get it. Players want to start today. Fans want to win yesterday. But the Lions are going through a rebuild that will be slow and difficult. Let’s all forget about winning this year and focus on the development of the coaches, players and the entire organization over the next few years.
Can Glenn help Jeff Okudah improve?
Yes. Glenn referenced Campbell’s recent comments about inheriting a defense that looked confused and “disheveled” last year before saying he wants the defense to play “fast” and “confident” by making it easy for players to understand their tasks. As for Okudah, Glenn wants last year’s No. 3 overall pick to forget about his draft spot. “Let your best be good enough for us. … Don’t try to live up to be the third pick in the draft,” Glenn said. “We don’t need you to do that. We just need you to be the best Okudah you can be and that’ll be good enough for us.” I hope Glenn honors his words and is willing to see Okudah struggle as he plays for his fourth different defensive coordinator in four years. The pressure of being such a high pick is real, but maybe Glenn’s words will carry more weight with Okudah since they’re coming for a guy who was the 12th overall pick in 1994 and had a great career despite not making his first Pro Bowl till his fourth season.
Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com and follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.