A few thoughts on the potential hiring and hiring process of Jeff Tedford as our future HC, if details can be worked out.Not sure that the GC was a real win, they played BC with Benevides in charge and should have lost IMO. Then Calgary without the middle of their DL, and that showed as the game went along. Finally, they played Hamilton, and Hamilton just wasn't in the same league as the West. The problem with Cortez's O IMO, is that it doesn't suggest to me that it is going to go out and win a game, just manage a game. That only works as long as your running game can help pull the O forward. Add to that the players not caring for Cortez and you have some difficulty selling that package to me.
Rammer
~a candidate with Tedford's background coaching qualifications and success is a rare thing and a unique opportunity. The hiring of a coach with Tedford's background would normally command a salary that is not within the reach of a CFL team and its also very rare that someone like Tedford would be interested.
`Tedford also has CFL playing exoerience and coaching experience as well as major US college experience as a OC as well as being the HC of a major college progeam that enjoyed years of success. He has also developed a high number of players who have gone on to significant NFL success.
~To add to the equation of hiring Tedford, his background is on the offensive side of the football, he has been an innovative coach and he has developed quarterbacks. With our problems on the offfensive side of the football last year, his offensive background is a real plus.
~ Tedfords previous experinces in coaching with Hufnagel and Buono in Calgary will give Buono some comfort that he didn't have at the start of this process and while its not a major consideration for me, there will at least be a certain comfort level between the two to begin next season and that is a positive. Buono is not the most confident guy in his hiring background.
~Before the knowledge that Tedford could be interested in our Lions HC position, Buono had talked to LaPolice, to Garcia, and was denied permission by Hamilton to talk to Orlando. It looked like we were going down the road of a hiring process but when someone like Tedford becomes available, its understandable to want to get that candidate locked up. Its not as if Tedford doesn't have other options at the U.S. college level and options that could pay him more.
~While some fans might have liked a young HC who had the potential to be innovative, the reality is, with our 'culture, chemistry, and player leadership' challenges, we really need an experienced HC at this juncture. The team also needs discipline and that is much more difficult to establish with an inexperienced coach.
~In tems of the potential hiring of George Cortez, it makes sense from the point of view that Cortez has worked for Buono and for Tedford. It doesn't excite me. Cortez has been a spread offence devotee from his days in Calgary, following Hufnagel and in Saskatchewan, as well as being a spread offence devotee under Tedford. Tedford moved away from the spread in California to move to a more pro offence, with a greater focus on the running attack, using multiple backs and tight ends. Cortez has had success running from the spread, when he has had a very good tailback and a very good offensive line. Tedford will need to guide Cortez towards not being such a spread devotee if Cortez is hired.
~For those who thought Chap could be distant and cold, they are going to learn quite quickly that Chap was warm and fuzzy compared to Cortez, who is like a prickly cactus with a temper. His interpersonal skills are not what one would call "highly developed'. But he knows his football and he would definitely be an upgrade at OC.
~There is no way that Mark Washington should have been present with Buono and Tedford, in terms of the hiring process so far...nor should Tedford have been meeing with Leo assistant coaches prior to his hiring. In fact, Tedford should be interviewing each one of them, should he even want to, after being hired. Of course this did not surprise me. I anticipated Buono trying to influence, in one way or the other, in terms of what assistants the new HC would have. Buono may have already spoken to Tedford about his ''fantastic' young defensive coordinator, his 'dedicated' offensive line coach, or his 'special' special teams coordinator. Buono stated that the new HC would be able to hire his own assistants and already the process is flawed with very bad optics.
~I strongly support and understand Lionbackers posts who state that they will not renew their season tickets until they find out who our assistant coaches are going to be. For example, we all know that a quarterback is only as good as his offensive line, a receiver is only as good as his offensive line, a tailback is only as good as his offensive line, and an OC is only as good as his offensive line, and finally having a good offensive line is not just a question of talent but also coaching. A new HC, without more changes to our coaching staff, is not going to be good enough, even with a coach with the pedigree of Tedford, should he be hired as our new HC.
