Lions Finally Fire Mariucchi

[baggio248]

Took them long enough. I don't think its solely Mariucchi's fault, but he didn't help the cause. They need a QB, thats part of the solution. They have turned into the Bengals of the past few decades. They have some great players.


Sources have told FOXSports.com that after much speculation and deliberation, the Lions have fired head coach Steve Mariucci.
The same sources said they believe defensive coordinator Dick Jauron would be the team's interim head coach, but that has not yet been confirmed.

It was widely reported on Friday that Mariucci's days in Detroit were numbered, but he managed to last the weekend.

The last straw for Lions management apparently was Detroit's embarrassing 27-7 loss to Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day. Playing before a national television audience, the Falcons took a 27-0 lead into the fourth quarter and were able to sit starting quarterback Michael Vick.

This was supposed to be the season Mariucci got the Lions back on track. Quarterback Joey Harrington was entering his fourth season in the league and the team was loaded with talent at the skill positions.

But after sharing the NFC North lead at 3-3, the Lions have dropped four of their last five games to fall out of the postseason hunt for the sixth straight season.

In his two-plus years in Detroit, Mariucci had a 15-28 record — a far cry from the 60-43 mark he had during six seasons in San Francisco.

Mariucci has two more seasons left on a five-year, $25-million contract signed when he was hired in 2003.

[ialsohaveadream]

Yeah, I wouldn't blame it all on Mooch, but he definitely needed to go. I don't know that they should give up on Harrington yet, though. With a better line (and thus a better running game) and a new scheme, he could do well.

[MikeD]

Yeah, I wouldn't blame it all on Mooch, but he definitely needed to go. I don't know that they should give up on Harrington yet, though. With a better line (and thus a better running game) and a new scheme, he could do well.

Whoever runs their War Room, and those with drafting input, should be canned.

Harrington is a bust. Rogers is a bust. Williams, though only his first year, doesn't look the part (would be better off at TE).

They also gave free agent money to guys like Damien Woody and Az Hakim. :eek3:

This is a team that has spent 4 first round picks (all #11 or higher) on Harrington, M. Williams, R. Williams, and Rogers. All are busts or potentiallyl will be. That's what has crippled them and made them into a virtual laughingstock.

[ialsohaveadream]

This is a team that has spent 4 first round picks (all #11 or higher) on Harrington, M. Williams, R. Williams, and Rogers. All are busts or potentiallyl will be. That's what has crippled them and made them into a virtual laughingstock.
...don't forget Kevin Jones. ;)

[MikeD]

...don't forget Kevin Jones. ;)

Ahh, Kevin Jones. Well, late first round pick (somewhere in the 20's, I think) who looks like the second coming of Walter Payton. Easily a perennial Pro Bowler / 1,800 yards / 15 TD guy.

But hey, he came from Running Back U. Not like some other shabby ACC schools...

;)

[baggio248]

With a good line and QB, they can be very good. I wouldn't give up Harrington either, but get rid of Garcia. Not to totally diss the Lions O Line (I have a friend who is an O Lineman for the Lions, but is injured), but give Harrington time, and see what he can do with Jones, Williams x2 and Rogers (when he's done with the drugs).

[gear02]

Fire Dom Capers!

[bachviet]

I think the Lions should loose the rest of the season so they could go after Leinard (sp?).

[Jihforce]

i didn't like mooch, i think he deserved it. he didn't do much with the 9ers and certainly didn't do much for the lions, which proves he can't coach.

[baggio248]

I think the Lions should loose the rest of the season so they could go after Leinard (sp?).

It's possible if they keep sucking and get lucky. Leinart is projected top 3. Along with Vince Young and Reggie Bush. If you look at the worst teams
49ers, and Texas, neither need a new young QB. (The Texans are up for debate)

[VTGreg]

Whoever runs their War Room, and those with drafting input, should be canned.

Harrington is a bust. Rogers is a bust. Williams, though only his first year, doesn't look the part (would be better off at TE).

They also gave free agent money to guys like Damien Woody and Az Hakim. :eek3:

This is a team that has spent 4 first round picks (all #11 or higher) on Harrington, M. Williams, R. Williams, and Rogers. All are busts or potentiallyl will be. That's what has crippled them and made them into a virtual laughingstock.

I agree that Rogers is a bust and that M. Williams has the potential to be, but R. Williams has actually been a solid #2 WR and the verdict is still out on Harrington. Any QB will have a tough time when throwing from their back. I agree with the comment about firing whoever is in charge of the war room. This team has some serious needs on the O-Line.

KJ hasn't produced this year because he hasn't had many touches. Take Thursday's game for example. He really came on last year and lead all NFL rookies in rushing yards with over 1100 yards rushing. Unfortunately he has the same O-Line blocking for him that Harrington has.

[MikeD]

I just don't see it with Harrington. Yes, their protection and O-Line are issues, but he just doesn't look the part.

I've always thought a good comparison would be Carson Palmer. Palmer, when he first came into the league, didnt' have the greatest supporting cast but you could see the ability. That has been translated into wins as the team's talent level has been upgraded, unlike Harrington in a similar situation in Detroit.

[TofuNinja]

Poor Mooch. I would have rather kept Mooch in SF than have hired Erikson... Well Mooch will be back on the sidelines somewhere next year. That much is certain. I'd love for him to take a none head coach position, but I am sure some team will pay him the big bucks for a head coaching job.

[ialsohaveadream]

It's possible if they keep sucking and get lucky. Leinart is projected top 3. Along with Vince Young and Reggie Bush.
....what the hell draft board are you looking at? Who would put Vince Young among the top 3 picks? DeAngelo Williams will probably go top 3, so will Leinart. Some teams might shy away from Bush early, which will be a mistake.

[Sirrich3]

I heard about this at noon. Wonder if he'll go back to the College level...
Anyone heard different?

[VTGreg]

....what the hell draft board are you looking at? Who would put Vince Young among the top 3 picks? DeAngelo Williams will probably go top 3, so will Leinart. Some teams might shy away from Bush early, which will be a mistake.

I agree completely. Young probably won't come out this year and he definitely won't be a top 3 pick. The Lions would do well to take one of the highly touted offensive lineman in the draft. Ferguson will likely be the highest rated tackle, not sure about the highest rated guard.

I've heard that there are a bunch of teams very interested in Harrington if the Lions decide to cut him. Not sure if he is damaged goods after his experience in Detroit but someone will bring him in and let him compete for the starting position, if not give it to him outright. Comparing Harrington to Palmer is a bit unfair. Harrington has some weapons but nothing the caliber of Chad Johnson, who was becoming a superstar prior to Palmer becoming the QB. The Lions defense is also much worse than Cincinnati's defense and there is no comparison between the 2 team's offensive lines.

[baggio248]

"We're all at fault"...Yeah its easy to point fingers, and say its all of us, but its easier to point fingers. What about the Offensive coodinator, coach, GM, war room, etc... You can't blame Harrington for all of this. Like he's the first early draft pick to never produce. At least he still has a job, unlike his predessor Akili Smith.



When asked who's to blame for the firing of coach Steve Mariucci, veteran cornerback Dre Bly said to look no further than quarterback Joey Harrington, according to a report in The Detroit Free Press.

"If we'd had production on offense, in particular the quarterback position, Mooch wouldn't have been fired," Bly said. "If Jeff Garcia hadn't gotten hurt, we wouldn't be in this position today. Mooch wouldn't have gotten fired."
Harrington, the target of Bly's wrath, has struggled this season. The former Oregon star has compiled a 14-36 record as the starter at QB, and he has a 66.5 passer rating, 29th among qualifying quarterbacks.

"We're all at fault, but I just feel like Joey's been here four years, and being the No. 3 pick in the draft, he hasn't given us anything," Bly said. "He hasn't given us what the third pick in the draft should give us."

But according to the Free Press, Bly looked at the steady progression of the Giants' Eli Manning. Throw in the recent play of the Rams' Ryan Fitzpatrick, a seventh-round draft pick, and you can't help but wonder how much time Harrington has left to prove himself in the Motor City.

"At some point, you've got to start being the player, man," Bly said.

What's more, Bly sounded like he already misses Mariucci, who has a reputation for being a player's coach.

"Speaking for the veterans, it ain't going to get no better than Mooch," Bly told the Free Press. "He took care of us. He made sure we were fresh. He was positive all the time. The only thing I would criticize is that he didn't criticize the young players enough. He didn't hold them accountable. That just wasn't his style."

Of course, it didn't help that Garcia — whom Mariucci brought in to be Harrington's backup — suffered a broken fibula and sprained left ankle in the preseason finale.

Garcia has played in two games with a 1-1 record to show for it.

In an interview with WXVT-AM in Detroit, Garcia pointed the finger for Mariucci's firing at Lions management.

"You start to question whether the organization has the people in place who can go about making the proper selections," Garcia said.