Nov 11, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan talks into his headset during the game with the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Vikings win 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

It is clear that something needs to change with the Detroit Lions for next year. That might come down to a change in players, coaches, attitude, philosophy or more likely, a combination of those things.

Word came out Saturday night that the contract extension Jim Schwartz signed last offseason runs through 2015. There is little reason to believe the Fords will fire Schwartz after this season but that doesn’t mean the coaching staff will return in 2013 as it stands in 2012.

NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora lists Scott Linehan in a list of coordinators ‘likely to get pink slips’ and says the following:

The yardage is still there for the Lions, but the touchdowns have dried up, Matt Stafford has taken steps backward and the running game remains an enigma. Much like with AP in Minnesota, even Calvin Johnson’s record yardage for the Lions is not expected to be enough to stave off this change. Stafford’s ability alone is enough to attract top candidates and when Browns head coach Pat Shurmur is let go by the Browns, league sources would not be surprised to see him get consideration in Detroit (Shurmur is a Detroit native and worked well with another former No. 1 draft pick, Sam Bradford, in St. Louis).

Disappointing seasons always bring about robust banter from fans about coaches that should be shown the door and it seems that no Lions coach has escaped that kind of scrutiny. But this is a lot more than chirping from a fan base. This is the first sign of smoke in the air that suggests there could be a fire.

Oct 16, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew (87) is congratulated by quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) after catching a pass for a touchdown in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber- US PRESSWIRE

If someone told me that Matthew Stafford would throw for 329 yards, complete 67% of his throws, throw 3 TDs and that Calvin Johnson would notch a career best, 12 catches for 207 yards and a TD on the road, my first reaction would be “Lions victory!”

Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, as the Minnesota Vikings finished off a sweep of the Lions last Sunday.  The Lions desperately need players not named Megatron to contribute more.  And quickly, because the big and bad Green Bay Packers come to town this week.

Since Wednesday is the day position coaches give out the weekly game plan, I decided to do some quality control work.  Something that has caught my attention while studying the Lions offense through the first nine games is the lack of production from the tight end position.

Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler have to be more involved in the game plan.  Particularly this week vs a Packers team who will be without 3 of their 4 original starting linebackers.  The Lions are 1-3 vs the Packers over the last 4 matchups.  The only win came when Drew Stanton was at the helm, in a week 14 matchup December 12, 2010.  I will leave that game out of this discussion due to the fact the Lions were 65% run to 35% pass that afternoon.  I did however look over my notes from the 3 remaining games and found that the tight ends were heavily involved in the game plan.

November 20, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Tony Scheffler (85) celebrates after a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field. Lions won 49-35. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-US PRESSWIRE

In a week 4 matchup on October 3, 2010, Scott Linehan called 34 plays out of a total of 77 plays in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs).  In that game, the tight ends had 14 catches for 154 yards on a total of 21 targets.  In a week 12 matchup November 24, 2011, Scott Linehan didn’t call the tight ends’ number as much.  The offensive coordinator called only 16 plays out of a total of 66 plays in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs).  In that game, the tight ends had 6 catches for 40 yards on a total of 10 targets.  In a week 17 matchup January 1, 2012, Linehan called on the tight ends once again.  Of the 78 total plays that afternoon, 36 came out of 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs).  The tight ends tallied 11 catches for 181 yards on 17 total targets.  Pettigrew and Scheffler are primed for a big day if their number is called.

After looking over the first nine games of the season, the tight end production has not been there.  Granted the insertion of rookie OT Riley Reiff into the lineup, as an extra tight end, has hindered the production, there is still no excuse.  Across the board, the production from the tight ends in wins and losses are just about the same with the exception of yards gained.  In the team’s four wins, the tight ends production stands at 53 targets, 30 catches, and 385 yards.  In the team’s five losses, the tight ends production stands at 50 targets, 29 catches, and 250 yards.

With all the attention that Calvin Johnson receives, the tight ends should see very favorable matchups down the seams and in the hash area.  They have to force defenses to account for them in the passing game.  And Linehan has to do a better job of getting them in position to do so.

“You put a real tough tight end with good hands in the hash area, and there won’t be anyone who can cover him.  Then you really control the passing game.” – Sid Gillman, father of the modern passing game.

Since then, the Lions have taken a few steps backwards, and it started in the offseason where six Lions found themselves arrested or suspended from the Lions’ facility due to tumultuous behavior. Although the secondary hasn’t improved much since last season, the front office has done a nice job of supplying the coaches with talent to succeed, regardless of the lack of funds the team had available to upgrade the secondary in free agency.

It would be easy to question the front office for not drafting a corner or safety in the first two rounds of the draft, and the overall lack of improvement in that area, as to why the Lions have struggled so far this season, but given the impact of first round pick Riley Reiff and second round pick Ryan Broyles, I’d say the front office’s philosophy of drafting the best player available is working. Let’s not forget that this front office took an 0-16 team and turned them into playoff contenders in just three years.

If the front office is doing their job then why has the team taken a step back?

For starters, the team suffered a rough patch on special teams that is inexcusable and no doubt played a significant role in the Lions’ losses against the Titans and Vikings, however I don’t think it was a schematics issue, but rather a personnel issue. The Lions have improved on special teams since giving up two touchdown returns in two games, but there is still much work to be done in the offseason in improving the talent level of the unit.

The next unit that needs to be examined is the defense. The Lions’ defense hasn’t started the same four players in the secondary all season due to injuries, yet the defense as a whole remains a top ten unit. In other words, defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham is doing a great job.

Oct 14, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) talks with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) along the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Lions defeated the Eagles 26-23 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

That leaves one direction to point fingers at, the offense. Is there a talent issue on offense?

Absolutely not, the Lions have one of the brightest young stars in Matthew Stafford at quarterback and the most dominant receiver in football, Calvin Johnson. Outside of those two dynamic talents, the Lions have wide receivers in Titus Young and Ryan Broyles, who could start on just about any team in the NFL. In addition, the Lions’ offensive lineman have done an adequate job blocking so far this season, and the tight end production is getting better each week.

Could Matthew Stafford have played better in the first four weeks of the season? Yes. Did the receivers drop very catchable balls this season that could have helped the offense when it became stagnant? Yes, but that’s not the reason this offense hasn’t been as successful as it should have been. The problem plaguing this offense is play calling.

The entire season the Lions has had a problem scoring in the red zone and in the first half. In fact, the Lions have only led at the end of the first half one time this season, and it was against the Jaquars who have only won one game this season. Another interesting statistic is the Lions lead the league in fourth quarter points. Also, Calvin Johnson has seen most of his receiving yards this season in the second half.

Why is there such a discrepancy between the Lions offense in the first half and in the second half? Answer: Scott Linehan.

All season long the Lions have been trying to incorporate the run game into their offense and it has been a complete disaster in most games. I’m all for adding the run game to the Lions’ offense, but I don’t feel as if it’s being done correctly. The Lions have tried to run the ball to open their pass game up, and they have tried pass the ball to open up their run game, yet the results are all the same- a very lackluster running game and an inconsistent passing attack.

This is a result of Linehan’s desire to throw short passes the entire first half, without taking shots down field with perhaps the strongest arm in football in Matthew Stafford, and then run the ball when the defense is expecting it.

In the second half when the Lions find themselves down, Linehan opens up the playbook and unleashes Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson to opposing secondarys, which has been very effective. It’s mind boggling as to why Linehan refuses to take shots at defenses early in the game, and as a result of his refusal, the offense has suffered and the team finds itself in a hole almost every game.

I like Linehan’s creativity on offense, but he hasn’t shown it enough and a potentially potent offense has looked very mediocre most of the season. It’s too late in the season to make a coaching change, and Linehan’s offense is very good when he’s calling plays aggressively.

If I’m Jim Schwartz I’m having a meeting with Linehan and asking him to take a few more shots down the field throughout the game. If things don’t turn around on offense this season, then the Lions should seriously consider replacing Linehan at the end of the season.