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http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/10/24/detroit-lions-jim-bob-cooter/92709216/
Lions notes: Offensive success traced directly to Jim Bob Cooter
Carlos Monarrez , Detroit Free Press12:25 a.m. EDT October 25, 2016
It has been replaced by nascent MVP chatter.
The success traces back directly to Cooter, who would almost certainly become a target for head coaching jobs after this season if Stafford and the offense maintain anything close to this clip.
“I think he’s definitely capable,” receiver Golden Taint said Monday of Cooter’s head-coaching prospects. “I hope he stays here. I don’t think you want to move too fast now. That’s moving at lightning speed to go from QB coach to the OC to head coach that quickly. But we just want to win games right now. We’re not worrying about all that.”
Yes, Cooter is young. He doesn’t turn 33 until July and he hasn’t even led an offense for 16 contiguous games. Only seven men have been NFL coaches in the modern era before they turned 33, with disasters like Lane Kiffin, Dave Shula and Raheem Morris recently being promoted. Then again, John Madden took over the Raiders when he was 32, and he’s in the Hall of Fame and on the cover of a video game.
The Lions (4-3) don’t want to get ahead of themselves while they’re riding a three-game winning streak as they head to Houston (4-2) on Sunday (1 p.m. Fox). And that means trying to quell any talk of anything regarding the postseason — or the potential of a Cooter video-game franchise.
“I’m not certain,” coach Jim Caldwell said of how much interest Cooter might get as a head-coaching prospect after this season. “I know he’s not focused in on that aspect of it, but there’s no question he’s doing a real nice job with the guys.”
Players also sing Cooter’s praises. With his top two running backs out, as well as his top pass-catching tight end, Cooter has made the offense work by hook or crook.
Besides Stafford, Cooter has seemed to squeeze the last ounce of utility out of every player. Taint has become a key weapon lately, helping manufacture a run game with shovel passes and sweeps.
With Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick down, the Lions still put up 94 rushing yards Sunday. That included Justin Forsett, just 13 days after he joined the team, gaining 33 yards on eight carries for a 4.13-yard average — his best on at least eight carries in more than a year.
“I’m not sure how much you guys know, but Jim Bob’s a very, very, very intelligent guy,” Taint said. “His play-calling has been phenomenal. ... Every single game we’ve been in it when it came down to it. He’s finding ways to put us in position to win. He understands what we all do well and he’s put us in positions to do that.”
Taint said Cooter’s intelligence manifests itself in the chess-like game he plays — and often wins — against opposing defensive coordinators. But Cooter also shows his smarts in meeting rooms, where he gets all his players to understand the plan.
“I just think he understands the game very well, and when he speaks about it and how he explains it I think … every guy can understand it,” Taint said. “We have a whole room full of guys, 20-something players on offense, and every guy understands exactly what he expects of us because he explains it so well.”
Lions notes: Offensive success traced directly to Jim Bob Cooter
Carlos Monarrez , Detroit Free Press12:25 a.m. EDT October 25, 2016
It has been replaced by nascent MVP chatter.
The success traces back directly to Cooter, who would almost certainly become a target for head coaching jobs after this season if Stafford and the offense maintain anything close to this clip.
“I think he’s definitely capable,” receiver Golden Taint said Monday of Cooter’s head-coaching prospects. “I hope he stays here. I don’t think you want to move too fast now. That’s moving at lightning speed to go from QB coach to the OC to head coach that quickly. But we just want to win games right now. We’re not worrying about all that.”
Yes, Cooter is young. He doesn’t turn 33 until July and he hasn’t even led an offense for 16 contiguous games. Only seven men have been NFL coaches in the modern era before they turned 33, with disasters like Lane Kiffin, Dave Shula and Raheem Morris recently being promoted. Then again, John Madden took over the Raiders when he was 32, and he’s in the Hall of Fame and on the cover of a video game.
The Lions (4-3) don’t want to get ahead of themselves while they’re riding a three-game winning streak as they head to Houston (4-2) on Sunday (1 p.m. Fox). And that means trying to quell any talk of anything regarding the postseason — or the potential of a Cooter video-game franchise.
“I’m not certain,” coach Jim Caldwell said of how much interest Cooter might get as a head-coaching prospect after this season. “I know he’s not focused in on that aspect of it, but there’s no question he’s doing a real nice job with the guys.”
Players also sing Cooter’s praises. With his top two running backs out, as well as his top pass-catching tight end, Cooter has made the offense work by hook or crook.
Besides Stafford, Cooter has seemed to squeeze the last ounce of utility out of every player. Taint has become a key weapon lately, helping manufacture a run game with shovel passes and sweeps.
With Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick down, the Lions still put up 94 rushing yards Sunday. That included Justin Forsett, just 13 days after he joined the team, gaining 33 yards on eight carries for a 4.13-yard average — his best on at least eight carries in more than a year.
“I’m not sure how much you guys know, but Jim Bob’s a very, very, very intelligent guy,” Taint said. “His play-calling has been phenomenal. ... Every single game we’ve been in it when it came down to it. He’s finding ways to put us in position to win. He understands what we all do well and he’s put us in positions to do that.”
Taint said Cooter’s intelligence manifests itself in the chess-like game he plays — and often wins — against opposing defensive coordinators. But Cooter also shows his smarts in meeting rooms, where he gets all his players to understand the plan.
“I just think he understands the game very well, and when he speaks about it and how he explains it I think … every guy can understand it,” Taint said. “We have a whole room full of guys, 20-something players on offense, and every guy understands exactly what he expects of us because he explains it so well.”
