Head Coach - Lions announce Jeff Tedford as 2015 HC

[B.C.FAN]

If Tedford's health issues are as described (angioplasty followed by the insertion of several stents) he could be fit to return to fulltime work but I wold want to put him through a team physical first.

My bigger worry with Tedford is that if he is fit to resume fulltime work, what's to stop him from jumping ship when the first NCAA or NFL opportunity comes along and offers him 10 times the salary of a CFL head coach? Coaches can say anything about fulfilling their contracts. Vows of loyalty and commitment have never stopped anyone from leaving for a better-paying job.

[B.C.FAN]

Montreal has confirmed that QB coach Jeff Garcia won't be returning to the Als. Anthony Calvillo will join the Montreal staff as an assistant coach of some sort.

[Toppy Vann]

Just listening to the radio and 1040 suggested that the Oilers problems stem from not doing due diligence in the process. They hire exactly who they fall in love with and don't court anyone else. If we apply that with the Lions, it could be said that they are in a similar pattern right now.

Yes, this is what it looks like.

[WestCoastJoe]

Re the Oilers ...

If they interview 10 people, will they get the one who can turn all those high draft picks into a contending team?

Dunno what the problem is with that team.

A list of previous coaches.

Back to MacTavish (interim) ...

And it looks like they have found their guy already. Todd Nelson.

[TheLionKing]

IMO, if Tedford likes what he sees and hears, no need to go any further in the process. We will not see another candidate with his credentials, IMO. Sign him up. I know Toppy has recommended talkling to other candidates, get a read on how they see our team, et cetera. But I think this is an extraordinary circumstance. The man is downsizing.

"Dear, I would like to marry you, but first I have to just check out a few other candidates."

Gonna go through a dance with LaPolice? Or anybody else? Dunno about that ...

Just IMO ...
...........

Sorry I don't buy the argument that there is not another candidate with his Tedford's qualifications. There has been a lot of posts concerning the lack of due diligence by Buono prior to his hiring of Benevides. Seems to me that Buono is going to make the same mistake again. Nothing wrong with conducting an exhaustive search and interviewing other potential candidates. If Tedford is indeed the best candidate, then so be it.

[TheLionKing]

I know a highly qualified guy, who wished to downsize. Had a situation of interest. Talked to them. Said, I like the job. But if you want me for this job, you will have to close down the process at this time. No further candidates.

What if Tedford says that?

And Tedford might say, of course, talk to other people. I have some other offers to consider as well. NCAA. NFL.
..........

When I'm hiring I don't take too kindly to candidates telling me to close down the hiring process if you're interested in hiring me. General Managers don't take orders from the coach.

[Hambone]

Just listening to the radio and 1040 suggested that the Oilers problems stem from not doing due diligence in the process. They hire exactly who they fall in love with and don't court anyone else. If we apply that with the Lions, it could be said that they are in a similar pattern right now.

Their problem may be less about falling in love with their coaches and more about falling in love with their scouts. They've done OK when it comes to striding up to the podium to proudly announce they were taking consensus #1 or other early 1st round picks. Outside of any top 10 picks their draft record in the past decade makes abysmal look good. Of the 52 players they drafted outside of the top 10 from 2005 thru 2012 only Cogliano (25th & now with Anaheim), Petry (45th) and Eberle (22nd) have forged anything that would be considered an NHL career.

[WestCoastJoe]

IMO, if Tedford likes what he sees and hears, no need to go any further in the process. We will not see another candidate with his credentials, IMO. Sign him up. I know Toppy has recommended talkling to other candidates, get a read on how they see our team, et cetera. But I think this is an extraordinary circumstance. The man is downsizing.

"Dear, I would like to marry you, but first I have to just check out a few other candidates."

Gonna go through a dance with LaPolice? Or anybody else? Dunno about that ...

Just IMO ...
...........

Sorry I don't buy the argument that there is not another candidate with his Tedford's qualifications. There has been a lot of posts concerning the lack of due diligence by Buono prior to his hiring of Benevides. Seems to me that Buono is going to make the same mistake again. Nothing wrong with conducting an exhaustive search and interviewing other potential candidates. If Tedford is indeed the best candidate, then so be it.

I will stand by that comment, that we will not see another candidate, who can match the credentials of Jeff Tedford. Just IMO.

I know a highly qualified guy, who wished to downsize. Had a situation of interest. Talked to them. Said, I like the job. But if you want me for this job, you will have to close down the process at this time. No further candidates.

What if Tedford says that?

And Tedford might say, of course, talk to other people. I have some other offers to consider as well. NCAA. NFL.
..........

When I'm hiring I don't take too kindly to candidates telling me to close down the hiring process if you're interested in hiring me. General Managers don't take orders from the coach.

The guy I mentioned got the job.

[WestCoastJoe]

Just listening to the radio and 1040 suggested that the Oilers problems stem from not doing due diligence in the process. They hire exactly who they fall in love with and don't court anyone else. If we apply that with the Lions, it could be said that they are in a similar pattern right now.

Their problem may be less about falling in love with their coaches and more about falling in love with their scouts.

I see it that way too. Something about the mix of players, the maturity, the leadership, et cetera.

[The_Pauser]

I'm with Joe on this one. I don't think our situation is that similar to the Oilers. Edmontons problem stems from the top. Kevin Lowe has been terrible at his job, and has not brought in good people. He'll just look at this sequence of events: Fire MacTavish as coach, then re-hire him as GM (with no experience), then he fires the new coach and makes himself the interim coach. And that's ignoring all their scouting blunders, and personnel issues.

If Wally truly feels that Tedford is the best candidate then he should hire him. He certainly has all the credentials (better than anyone else who would be available).

[South Pender]

If Tedford's health issues are as described (angioplasty followed by the insertion of several stents) he could be fit to return to fulltime work but I wold want to put him through a team physical first.

My bigger worry with Tedford is that if he is fit to resume fulltime work, what's to stop him from jumping ship when the first NCAA or NFL opportunity comes along and offers him 10 times the salary of a CFL head coach? Coaches can say anything about fulfilling their contracts. Vows of loyalty and commitment have never stopped anyone from leaving for a better-paying job.

Good points. The very last thing the Lions need would be to have the HC have to take medical leave in the middle of the season, leaving us really adrift. And a quick departure for greener pastures after the 2015 season would put us into uncertain territory again and far too soon.

Sorry I don't buy the argument that there is not another candidate with his Tedford's qualifications. There has been a lot of posts concerning the lack of due diligence by Buono prior to his hiring of Benevides. Seems to me that Buono is going to make the same mistake again. Nothing wrong with conducting an exhaustive search and interviewing other potential candidates. If Tedford is indeed the best candidate, then so be it.

Exactly. Wally has taken a lot of (I think justified) criticism for not casting a wider net for HC the last time around. I'd like to see him correct that error this time and interview several potential candidates. My guess is that, if Tedford really wants the job, he'll wait for the selection process to play out. Hearing from other candidates might change Wally's initial perspective regarding Tedford's ideas and suggest a different direction going forward.

[WestCoastJoe]

I'm with Joe on this one. I don't think our situation is that similar to the Oilers. Edmontons problem stems from the top. Kevin Lowe has been terrible at his job, and has not brought in good people. He'll just look at this sequence of events: Fire MacTavish as coach, then re-hire him as GM (with no experience), then he fires the new coach and makes himself the interim coach. And that's ignoring all their scouting blunders, and personnel issues.

If Wally truly feels that Tedford is the best candidate then he should hire him. He certainly has all the credentials (better than anyone else who would be available).

Wally has taken calls, and made calls, to a wide extent this time around. Lots of interest shown. LaPolice and Garcia threw their hats in the ring. We hear in the media that Wally contacted Dave Dickenson. Made enquiries about Orlondo Steinauer.

Jeff Tedford becomes available. Great news. Comes in for an extensive interview.

If Wally hires him now, with all of Tedford's experience, I am satisfied as a fan. Extraordinary circumstance that he is available. They have shared a similar health issue.

If Wally goes on to interview a group of other candidates, fine.

[TheLionKing]

Just listening to the radio and 1040 suggested that the Oilers problems stem from not doing due diligence in the process. They hire exactly who they fall in love with and don't court anyone else. If we apply that with the Lions, it could be said that they are in a similar pattern right now.

Their problem may be less about falling in love with their coaches and more about falling in love with their scouts. They've done OK when it comes to striding up to the podium to proudly announce they were taking consensus #1 or other early 1st round picks. Outside of any top 10 picks their draft record in the past decade makes abysmal look good. Of the 52 players they drafted outside of the top 10 from 2005 thru 2012 only Cogliano (25th & now with Anaheim), Petry (45th) and Eberle (22nd) have forged anything that would be considered an NHL career.

That's quite a condemnation of the Oilers' scouting staff. McTavish promised "bold changes" when he was fired as GM. In the 20 months he's been on the job I don't recall any bold changes. He fired a coach with no previous NHL coaching experience and replaced him with another coach with no NHL experience.

[Rammer]

At minimum interviewing the 'other candidates' should give Wally some insight as to why his team was having difficulty moving the football and had terrible ST results. Interview costs next to nothing, fly the candidate in and pick his mind to your hearts content. Heck you may even find that the 'other candidate' is the proper fit for what ails the Lions. However, that being said, I doubt that Wally would give any potential candidate the full run of the on field decisions, let alone personel calls that seemingly is necessary.

[B.C.FAN]

I get the sense that Wally is being pressured from above to make a decision to appease season ticket holders who are balking at renewing, so in a sense it's fans who are pressuring the team to move quickly. I renewed my tickets today so I can wait but Tuesday's 5 p.m. renewal deadline looms over this whole process.