Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions Head Coach Profile

Rod Marinelli's coaching career began in 1973 as an assistant high school coach in suburban Los Angeles from 1973 to 1975. He earned his first collegiate job in 1976, serving as an assistant at Utah State University until 1982. He then moved on to the University of California for nine seasons, serving as the offensive line coach and later the assistant head coach. Marinelli was then on staff with the Arizona State Sun Devils for three seasons. He again held a dual role as defensive line and assistant head coach, between 1992 and 1994. Marinelli spent his final year in college football in the Pac - 10, at University of Southern California in 1995.

Marinelli then went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996 and was the defensive line coach for six seasons. The past four seasons, he also had the title of assistant head coach. Marinelli is known for his strict disciplinary style and his commitment to practice and getting the fullest out of his players. As a result, Marinelli was able to develop Buccaneer lineman such as Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice into Pro Bowl players. During Marinelli's tenure in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers earned more sacks than any other franchise. This style is going to grow and prosper and Detroit as the Lions need defensive line help. On January 18, 2006, Marinelli was appointed the head coach of the Detroit Lions. This will be Marinelli's second full year piloting the Lions.

Detroit Lions Off-Season Moves

Detroit had a busy off-season. Their notable additions were receivers Marcus Robinson and Shaun MacDonald, running backs T.J. Duckett and Tatum Bell, offensive tackle George Foster and defensive end, Dewayene White. However, the Lions lost All-Pro, lockdown cornerback Dre Bly, safeties Terrance Holt and Jon McGraw as well as the always sound, blocking back Cory Schlesinger.

The loss of the Bly hurts the most, as the Lions really did not find a replacement that is any where close to Bly's abilities. Look for the Lions to suffer in the defensive secondary because of this. The loss of the always gritty and durable Schlesinger at fullback will be damaging blow to the already struggling run game as well.

The Lions did have a good draft, picking up all- World and soon to be All-Pro receiver Johnson and found a very suitable back up quarterback that will emerge into a starter in Drew Stanton. Stanton is a local product -- he played his college ball at Michigan State. Stanton however is done for the year after an injury to his knee. I do not see this as a negative though as the injury was minor-- Stanton will have more time to learn the Martz system and will be ready for 2008.

Detroit Lions 2007-08 Season Outlook

The Matt Millen era has been filled with losses and frustration. The Detroit Lions have been the worst team in NFC North the past five seasons losing 10 or more games in each of those campaigns. Sportsbook.com has given the Detroit Lions 100 to 1 odds to win Super Bowl XLII!

Despite the arrival of Rod Marinelli, it was the same old story in Detroit last year. What did you expect just one season removed from a five-win campaign? 3-13? Probably not but that is exactly what happened. Detroit began the 2006 campaign with five straight losses and finished 3-13 for its sixth consecutive season with double-digit losses. However, Marinelli won over management and much of the locker room with his no-nonsense, passionate approach, resembling that of Bill Parcells or Bill Cowher. Marinelli has been given total control by Millen to rebuild this team and coaching staff.

Mike Martz and Marinelli have revamped the offense, removing veteran players that did not fit while adding fresh talent. The problem however is the offensive line. Detroit may have one of the worst lines in the league and without a healthy Kevin Jones and out-right feature back, Martz will have issues opening up his passing game and his brilliant offensive schemes. The addition of Calvin Johnson and Shaun MacDonald will bolster the receiving core. Look for Johnson to be a tremendous talent right from the start. My Detroit insider has told me that Johnson and Jon Kitna have built a strong rapport this spring and summer -- look for those two to be on the same page all year, posting up nice numbers.

Defensively Detroit should be better than last year. Last year the Lions surrendered 24.9 points per game, ranking 20th in run defense and only grabbing 30 sacks as a team. This year's pass rush should be improved. The addition of defensive end Dewayne White will help Cory Redding and the rest of the Detroit interior defense this year. Linebacker Ernie Sims will have another standout year -- last year the rookie busted over 120 tackles. Boss Bailey should have a big year also if the athletic linebacker can stay healthy. Look for Bailey and Sims to gel this year with the help from the improved defensive line.

Originally started in 1929 as the Portsmouth Spartans, they joined the NFL in 1930 and in 1933 became the Detroit Lions. 

The book Paper Lion, later a movie, was written by Sports Journalist George Plimpton about his time in Lions training camp masquerading as a player.

The Detroit Lions hosted their first ever Thanksgiving Day game in 1934.

The Detroit Lions won the NFL Championship in 1935, 1952, 1953, and 1957.

All three of the Detroit Lions 1950s NFL Championship teams were quarterbacked by Bobby Layne.

At one time, soul singer Marvin Gaye tried out for the Detroit Lions but did not make the team. His friendship with Lions players Mel Farr and Lem Barney did lead to them singing backup on his hit 1971 song “What’s Going On?”

In 1974, after over 35 years, the Lions played their final game in Tiger Stadium.

The blue in the Lions team colors is officially known as Honolulu Blue.

In the playoffs following the 1991 season, the Lions got their first postseason victory since 1957 with a 38-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the Pontiac Silverdome.

The Lions were the first (and so far only) team to go three consecutive seasons without a victory on the road (2001, 2002, and 2003).

The team colors have been the same for the Lions since their inception, except for the 1948 season when they switched to maroon jerseys. A change made by the Head Coach at the time (Bo McMillin) who had coached at Indiana University.

The Detroit Lions have retired the number 20 jersey to honor former Running Back Barry Sanders. Number 20 was also worn by all-time great Lions Lem Barney (Hall-of-Fame) and Billy Sims.

Wide Receiver Chuck Hughes died of a heart attack during a game in 1971, his number 85 was subsequently retired.

The Lions have had three Head Coaches with the last name of Clark; George “Potsy” Clark (1931-1936, 1940), Earl “Dutch” Clark (1937-1938), and Monte Clark (1978-1984).

The great Running Back Barry Sanders played in only one winning playoff game for the Lions.

Former Lion standout Alex Karras was suspended from the league for ties to gambling and then later played a sitcom father on the TV show 'Webster.'

Former offensive lineman Mike Utley was paralyzed on the field in 1991, please take a moment and visit the Mike Utley Foundation official website.

The Detroit Lions mascot is a Lion named Roary.

The Detroit Lions fight song is titled “Gridiron Heroes."

Detroit Lions 2007-08  Roster

Detroit Lions 2007-08  Depth Chart

Detroit Lions – Ford Field

Construction Began: November 1999
Opened: September 22, 2002
Capacity: 65,000
Location: Detroit, MI
Surface: FieldTurf

One of the NFL's newest stadiums, Ford Field was the breath of fresh air that Detroit Lions fans needed after playing in and sharing the Pontiac Silverdome for over 20 years. Ford Field is a dome structure, protecting the players, fans and field from the harsh Michigan winters. The facility is unique in that the south end of the stadium is actually two combined and renovated and gutted J.L. Hudson's warehouses. The stadium includes 140 luxury suites, some home to restaurants, others retail shops perfect for the Lions fanatic. Much like the other stadiums built in the last decade, there's really not a bad seat of the 65,000 in house. To truly welcome the stadium to the league, the 2006 Super Bowl was offered to Detroit and their new Ford Field.