If these guys turned it around in Detroit, why can’t they do it elsewhere?
Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has been rumored to be candidate for college coaching jobs over the years – he was rumored to be a leading candidate for the Washington State head coaching job this season -- and his name could pop up again in the NFL coaching carousel as both a head coach or coordinator this offseason with the success he’s had guiding the Lions’ offense to one of the league’s best.
“With success does come stuff like that, and I think we have a very good coaching staff, but our focus is on the Green Bay Packers,” said Lions coach Jim Schwartz when asked about the possibility of other teams being interested in some of his coaches. “Anything that happens further on down the line is well below our radar right now.”
Linehan was previously the head coach for the Rams from 2006-08. His tenure with the Rams ended badly, though, when he was fired four games into the 2008 season after leading them to an 11-25 record over that span.
He became the Lions offensive coordinator before the 2009 season.
Linehan was asked Thursday if he’s more prepared now than he was back then for any future head coaching jobs that might come his way.
“I think everybody that is in this business (knows) that experience matters and counts,” he said. “I think I have gained from every experience that I have been personally involved in, but I don’t really think about next job.”
Linehan said he’s more concerned right now about getting the Lions offense ready to play Green Bay and for a playoff run.
“This job is the one that matters and what we are doing here and what we are trying to get done here,” he said. “Seeing the commitment level of the people in this organization and the players, this is really all that matters to me right now.”
More than any coach over the last three years, Linehan has been invaluable to the development of quarterback 
“We have a quarterback coach, but the offensive coordinator’s the main guy that talks to our quarterback and that’s, just my personal belief, that’s the way it has to be,” Schwartz said.
“Scott’s in there every single day with the quarterbacks and they know what he’s going to call. He does a good job of communicating that. When you have good communication there, you’re going to see guys develop.
“He’s done a good job, he’s done a good job throughout his career of working with quarterbacks. He played the position, (and) he’s done a good job. He’s not just a bystander when it comes to our quarterback development.”
Linehan played collegiately at Idaho and signed a rookie free agent contract with the Cowboys in 1987, but a shoulder injury ended his career.
Linehan said he learned a lot from his experience in St. Louis but thinks everything that went down at the end of his tenure happened for a reason.
“Number one thing is that if things had not happened the way they did there, I would never have been here and being here is where it is at for me,” he said.
