Martin Mayhew’s Five Best Decisions
By Jeff Risdon
Hiring Teryl Austin as Defensive Coordinator
After firing Jim Schwartz–a year too late–and most of his staff, Mayhew got to hire his second coaching staff following the 2013 season. While selecting Jim Caldwell as the Head Coach doesn’t move the needle to the positive side, Mayhew landed the right man to run the defense in Teryl Austin.
Despite having an enviable front four and some decent young talent, Detroit’s defense largely underachieved under Schwartz. Austin immediately adapted the scheme to better fit the talent at hand. His aggressive style and tactical variance elevated the Lions defense to the league’s pinnacle and spearheaded the playoff berth in 2014.
Austin’s impact showed across the board from 2013 to ’14:
- From 16th to 2nd in yards per game
- From 6th to 1st in rushing defense
- From 15th to 3rd in points per game
The defense regressed some in 2015, though injuries to DeAndre Levy and most of the defensive line certainly played a role. He might have gotten a little too cute for his own good early on, before turning things around in Detroit’s strong finish.
2016 is a big season for Austin to prove he’s got staying power as an outstanding coordinator. Even so, he proved a strong hire by Mayhew.
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