Sunday was an exclamation point for why it’s time for change. The Lions walloped the Jaguars 52-6, the most lopsided beating in franchise history.
Have you ever heard the phrase “if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all?” Fortunately, my mom never told me that as a kid so I have plenty to say and none of it is nice.
This looked like the SEC playing that cupcake team from the FCS. Like when Florida played McNeese State earlier this year … oh wait McNeese State actually scored a touchdown in their 49-7 loss. The Jaguars couldn’t even do that.
That looked like the Lions were playing the game on the rookie setting in “Madden.”
This looked like when the varsity team plays the junior varsity team
This looked like a team that has thrown in the towel.
This looked like Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke could have found their own flight back to Jacksonville because the thing left for them to do is clean out their lockers. Nothing has been officially done yet but it is only a matter of time. Baalke told us that himself back in 2022 when he said that would be the last time he would make the first overall pick.
So, there is the door. With Pederson and Baalke on the way out the door soon let’s get serious and talk about what is next.
One of the guys on a lot of Jaguars’ fans letters to Santa is Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Sunday showed exactly why. The bad news is that Johnson is going to have his pick of the NFL head coaching litter. He is the most popular kid in school and everyone wants to take him to the dance. The Jaguars are just hoping that Johnson sees something in them. Johnson turned down jobs offers with the Commanders and the Panthers already and he is from South Carolina. He is waiting for the right job, the right chance and the perfect situation.
Is that Jacksonville?
History says it isn’t. Tom Coughlin is the most successful coach in franchise history and the team fired him twice. History says Johnson should look somewhere else. But history says the Detroit offense isn’t supposed to look like it has the last few years. Maybe Johnson never liked history and believes history is in the making. My sales pitch for Johnson is just that.
Jacksonville is a blank slate, an empty canvas for him and the next general manager to build with and shape Jaguars history. Now, if Johnson does say no, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize. I have been a fan of Glenn since he played in the NFL.
There are a handful of coaches that should be on the list. We will get more in that once the search officially begins. But one name that should needs to be far, far away from the list is Bill Belichick. Say it with me, NO! It won’t work. He is doing a great job on TV and he should just stay there.
Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.