Detroit Lions: What to know about every head coach candidate interviewed

Dan Campbell

Position: New Orleans Saints Assistant Head Coach, Tight Ends Coach
Scheme: Variation between Erhardt’s Perkins and West Coast offense, Multiple Running Scheme

What to Like

If there is one offensive scheme that I’d wish the Lions would replicate, it’s the Saints. No, not the Saints back in 2014, when we poached quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi from their staff. I’m talking about the Saints offense we’ve seen in the past three years.

Swift and running back Kerryon Johnson could be used similarly to how the Saints use running backs Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray. A chance to grab one of the top wide receivers in this draft would help substantially as well.

Detroit’s offensive line is built with the same philosophy that New Orleans uses. Campbell’s track record with tight ends would give assurance that they would be involved. Detroit’s offense is already built to fit that scheme.

Before joining the Saints, Campbell was the Tight Ends coach for the Miami Dolphins. When head coach Joe Philbin was fired in 2015, he took over as interim head coach and went 5-7. He went on to fix many of the Dolphins team’s issues, improving them in multiple categories.

In his time there, he developed tight end Charles Clay into a highly productive starter and got Anthony Fasano a few solid seasons before making the transition to Clay. Tight end Jared Cook has had a career-high in touchdowns in New Orleans under Campbell.

Campbell is also a protege of both Bill Parcells and Sean Payton. He’s been studying and learning what it takes to be a successful coach under Payton.

What not to Like

This would be the riskiest hire the Lions could make. There is so much unknown to be comfortable with it. How much of the Saints’ success can be credited to Campbell? What are his philosophies and strategies? Coaching style?

Add that, along with the fact that Sean Payton’s coaching tree has been lackluster.