The Schottey Six: Top NFL Offenses for 2009

Welcome to the Schottey Six.

Top 10s are yesterday’s news. The Schottey Six is the new and improved way of counting down the top everything in the NFL. This offseason we’re going to start by looking at the top offenses, defenses and special teams units next season.

Any ideas for future Schottey Sixes? Let me know!

Scott Linehan Looks to Bring Offensive Success to Detroit Lions

A common misconception among NFL fans is that there is a merit-based system for hiring and firing coaches. That just isn’t the case. The NFL is a system based on sheer nepotism. It’s an old boy’s club.

Another misconception is that the best offensive and defensive coordinators are destined to be great head coaches.

Scott Linehan comes to Detroit with a career coaching record of 11-25. Fired near the beginning of the 2008 season, he was hot commodity among NFL teams looking for a new offensive coordinator, and was hotly rumored to be pursuing the 49ers job.

Linehan was never cut out to be a head coach. As a coordinator, Linehan has always been a players’ coach. He is fiercely loyal to former players and assistants. As a head coach, he demanded that loyalty. When he didn’t get it from guys like Mark Bulger and Steven Jackson as a head coach, he bristled.

Moreover, something has to be said about different kinds of football genius. Mike Martz, Cam Cameron, Herm Edwards; all these men failed at head coaching even though they are stellar coaches.

Scott Linehan is a stellar coach. When he coached with the Minnesota Vikings, his teams never finished outside the top 10 offenses in the NFL. In Miami, he pieced together a 16th ranked offense with Gus Frerotte at the helm.

Linehan comes to Detroit with an amazing resume and a connection in the old boy’s club. His success in Miami was under head coach Nick Saban, a good friend of Lions’ coach, Jim Schwartz.

However, the reason Scott Linehan will either succeed or fail in Detroit is dependant not on the reason he was hired, but rather, the tools he is given.

In 2002, Linehan had use of Daunte Culpepper, Michael Bennett and Randy Moss.

In 2009, the offense will consist of Daunte Culpepper, Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson.

Linehan employs a vertical passing game—perfect for the strengths of the current Lions’ roster. Randy Moss was already a superstar, but he refined his game under Linehan while succeeding in the post-Cris Carter era.

New tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Will Heller will benefit from Linehan’s work as well. Linehan likes to employ two tight end sets—keeping the field compact, forcing defenses to single cover wideouts.

Kevin Smith should also look to improve. Michael Bennett and Steven Jackson had career years under Linehan.

The Linehan system is simple, perfect for grooming a rookie QB with a big arm. However, it also leaves little room for error. Linehan will look to bring Stafford along at a measured pace. When Stafford shows he can handle 100 percent of the offensive playbook without the rookie jitters, he will start.

So what can Lions’ fans expect? Realistically, expect a top-15 offense in 2009 with possibilities of top-10 in 2010.

The Lions have a lot of work to do, but fans should keep a close eye on offensive success. If Linehan fails, it could be a mark that business is usual in Allen Park—rewarding loyalty over merit. But don’t count him out yet.

Linehan has always been a success as an offensive coordinator. Fully expect him to add Detroit to his list of triumphs.

Rodrick Hood To Visit the Detroit Lions Monday

One of the few attractive free agents on the market is considering the Lions. Cornerback Roderick Hood, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, was cut in April shortly after the team had signed Bryant McFadden.

Hood had come under fire late last year with a poor game against Minnesota. Tarvaris Jackson threw four TD passes—easily his best game of the year—three of which were in the direction of Hood.

Undrafted out of Auburn, Hood signed with the Eagles and got a chance to compete after an injury to Lito Shepherd. Hood left the Eagles to sign with the Cardinals in 2007.

At 27, Roderick Hood is a fitting signing to compete for a nickle or dimeback role but has never shown starting caliber talent to go with his great athleticism. His best season was 2007 when he deflected twenty-one passes and intercepted five for nearly 200 yards and two defensive TDs.

In Detroit, Hood would be a candidate for the fourth CB spot and would immediately have the upper hand against Keith Smith because of his special teams coverage and punt returning ability. Hood could also play safety in an emergency situation.

Hood is also considering the Bengals and Browns.

Eric King Looks To Be Detroit Lions’ Nickelback

Through a week of OTAs, Keith Smith reports (via MLive) he’s only been used as a left side cornerback.

With Philip Buchanon already in that role, the situation seems to be Buchanon and Henry as starters, Keith Smith as the primary backup and Eric King as the nickleback.

King’s toughness and tackling ability should serve the Lions well on passing downs.

What Would You Ask Cory Schlesinger?

I don’t mean to speak ill of anyone but I think fake interviews are a little funny. As a guy who’s spent a decent amount of time in NFL locker rooms, it doesn’t go the way you think it will.

Anecdote: My first NFL locker room experience was a fourth preseason game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys. I beelined for Terrell Owens who, guess what, blew me off.

My close second choice was Tony Romo who was standing about two yards away in a towel. I politely asked him if  I could get an interview when he was dressed. He thanked me for waiting and obliged.

Well, since I had already “broken the ice” about five other meek reporters jumped at him and bombarded him with questions about Carrie Underwood.

When his pants got finally got buttoned, I stepped in with my colleague and got a great seven minute interview.

It wasn’t the way I thought the day was going to go. It certainly wasn’t the way the other more seasoned reporters thought it was going to go.

Here’s the rub. Sometime early next week I’ll be doing a real life interview with Cory Schlesinger on MLive.com. I’ve got some great questions but you’ll just have to wait and see.

However, the comment section is very, very, very much open for any suggestions you might have. I’ve opened this up to the forums I frequent as well. The best comments will be used in a real life interview and you (and the site) will be credited.

Which 10 NFL Rookies Will Have the Most Immediate Impact?

For many franchises and many fans, the NFL Draft is their Superbowl. The Draft has become a primetime event, garnering major media attention and supporting a multimillion dollar industry.

Its probably Mel Kiper’s fault. Blame ESPN. Blame the fantasy sports industry. Blame Canada! [South Park-reference for the culturally challenged]

As a “Draft Insider” for DraftTek.com, I’ve been closely following team needs and ranking prospects since last August. I was featured as part of a “Draft Experts” series on MLive.com. Its an inexact science but here is a best guest at which 10 rookies will have the most impact in the 2009 season.

*psst* There’s a couple of pairs in there so you get a bonus…you don’t tell, I don’t tell.

The 2009 NFC North Outlook

The last year the NFC North sent a team to win the Super Bowl (1997 Packers) it was still called the NFC Central. ‘

The last North team to go to the Super Bowl (2006 Bears) hasn’t been to the playoffs since and bet the farm this off-season on the success of new acquisition Jay Cutler.

Needless to say, the former Norris Division is more black and blue than it’s been making opponents. However, things are looking up. 2009 could be a big year with a retooled Lions squad, the Vikings looking to improve upon a playoff berth last year, the Packers switching to a 3-4 and adding two stellar defensive talents, and the Bears hope Cutler is the franchise QB they haven’t had since Sid Luckman.

Let’s take a walk around the division looking at what teams have done to improve, failed to do, and what their chances are next season.

 

Green Bay Packers

What they’ve done right: Aaron Rodgers had a great 2008 and has most of the fanbase behind him (especially after Favre’s latest stunt).

Adding BJ Raji and Clay Matthews in the draft was a coup, although in my estimation, the steal of the draft was TJ Lang in the third. He’s a big step in improving a offensive line that played poorly last year. 

What they haven’t done: Adding veteran defensive talent would have been preferable but Dom Capers’ read-and-react scheme shouldn’t be hard to learn for new personnel. Ryan Grant is an enigma and probably not the long-term solution at RB.

Outlook: The Packers and the Vikings will be in a dogfight to win the division. The Packers did more to improve this offseason and look like division champs right now. Rodgers is the key. If he can be better at the end of games, the Packers can get back to the playoffs.

 

Minnesota Vikings

What they’ve done right: Adding Sage Rosenfels will provide a caretaker-QB to complement Adrian Peterson who is the real story in the Twin Cities. I’ve met AP about a dozen times and he’s one of the most likable guys in the league.

No one is happier about a real QB competition than he is. Percy Harvin will add some spice to the meat-and-potatoes offense. Phil Loadholt can shore up the right side of that line.

What they haven’t done: The depth on the defensive line is dreadful and things could go wrong, quickly, if the Williams-Wall is suspended for multiple games. Loadholt was a great start, but the Vikings could still add one or two starting caliber linemen to give Peterson more lanes.

Outlook: A healthy season would probably equal a division crown, but suspensions and injury history are working against the purple people eaters. Adding Brett Favre could put them over the hump, but that seems unlikely at this point. I’m ranking them 1b and its close. A wild card would be possible but not likely.

 

Chicago Bears

What they’ve done right: Jay Cutler is the best QB in the division and can be a perennial Pro Bowler for the Bears.

The biggest move of the offseason might be adding Orlando Pace; he’s 33 and could have seven more years of protecting Cutler’s blind side (allowing the loser of the Chris Williams/Kevin Shaffer camp battle to play swing tackle).

Gilbert and DJ Moore were good draft picks but may be bigger names than talent at this point.

What they haven’t done: For a team with an aging defense, Cutler may have come at too high a price. Depth is needed at every position on the defense especially in the LB corps which couldn’t last a Urlacher or Briggs injury. There is still no true No. 1 WR and that could be the one thing standing between them and the playoffs.

Outlook: The Bears are making the right moves and are on the right side of the rebuilding phase. Rod Marinelli was a great D-line coach and may be the most underrated coaching addition in the league.

If the defense stays healthy and overachieves, this offense can win a lot of games. 7-8 wins is a modest estimate, but a lot of their games could be close. A playoff appearance wouldn’t surprise me, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

 

Detroit Lions

What they’ve done right: With a roster turnover at about 40 players and climbing, it would be impossible here to list all the things the Lions have done “right” because any change is an improvement from 0-16.

The biggest and best moves have been adding Peterson and Foote to a bad LB corps and drafting Pettigrew and Delmas, who should help right away.

Most underrated move? Adding Daniel Loper, who may be the LG the Lions have been searching for since the ’50s.

What they haven’t done: Stafford will contribute in 2010, but its too soon to ask for a lot from the first pick. The offense will have growing pains and could use at least one more lineman.

Backus and Raiola are playing for their jobs as the last real pillars of the Millen area. The special teams were dreadful last year and poor depth in the LB and defensive backfield corps portends similar coverage woes. (look for that to improve later in the offseason)

Outlook: The Lions have made a lot of right moves up to this point and Martin Mayhew has shown competence manning the helm.

The 2009 Lions are essentially a blank slate and won’t be judged on wins-losses by a majority of pundits.

The fan base would be happy with 5-6 wins and I think that is a reasonable assumption. 0-16 is a huge weight and a Falcons-like turn around is unlikely until 2010.

2009 Detroit Lions’ Positional Battles

“Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit, he took a midnight train going anywhere…Don’t Stop Believing”

Now, I don’t have any idea whether or not Steve Perry was a big Lions’ fan–probably not, being from San Francisco–but he did pen one of Detroit’s favorite sports anthems. This year? It couldn’t be more true about the lowly Lions who have undergone vast changes.

With so many new players, no one is guaranteed a starting position or even a roster spot. This isn’t a high rise being erected in one offseason. This is a foundation being laid for many years to come.

Regardless of how this offseason plays out, one of the most important topics going into camp is the many positional battles taking place. Does youth win out–setting up the team for years to come? Or do the aging veterans win multiple spots setting draft targets for 2010? Lets take a look…

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