The Detroit Lions are set to interview Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell for their vacant head coaching position, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Neither the Lions nor the Ravens are in the playoffs, so there should be no issues with getting Caldwell in for the interview, and the Ravens cannot deny such a request since it would be a promotion for Caldwell.
Detroit fired head coach Jim Schwartz after the team missed the playoffs this season. Many believe Schwartz would have retained his job if the Lions had made it into the postseason, as it looked like they would for much of the season.
While the Lions have focused on the defense with their draft picks in recent years, it's no secret that the team has the makings of a high-flying offensive attack with quarterback Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, the best wide receiver in the NFL. Caldwell has extensive experience as an offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and receivers coach.
Caldwell has been a part of two Super Bowl teams in his career, and the Lions like what they've seen, it appears. Caldwell has struggled without a great quarterback, however; the Indianapolis Colts went 2-14 under him when Peyton Manning sustained a neck injury.
Also of note is that one of the rumored head coaching candidates for Detroit -- Seattle Seahawks assistant coach Tom Cable -- is not actually a candidate, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. La Canfora says that the Lions have not spoken to Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll about Cable and that he "was never a candidate there."
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