ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Every Saturday, we try to answer some reader questions in a Detroit Lions Mailbag. To ask a question for a future Mailbag, email me at michael.rothstein@espn.com or ask away on Twitter with the hashtag #LionsMailbag.
On to this week's questions.
Ooops. I forgot #LionsMailbag
— Boyd Williams (@PatchingBirder) December 1, 2017
Why the secrecy with Caldwell's contract terms and even the fact that there was an extension which was kept under wraps when it happened? Are there other NFL coaches whose length of contract is not known by their fans?
Boyd, this is a question I've had for a while now -- and one that was posed to team president Rod Wood and head coach Jim Caldwell after the extension was announced. The answer they gave, in paraphrase, is that this is the way they wanted to handle things. I never understood it. Still don't. As far as the terms, that's something the Lions have never really released. Even Caldwell's original contract, if I remember right, only had the amount of years and not the dollar figures. The secrecy over the extension, though, is one of the oddest things I can remember in my years of doing this, especially since we asked Caldwell about it over and over and over again.
--Do the Lions have to make the playoffs for Jim Caldwell's job to be safe? #LionsMailbag https://t.co/iuSurWyupV
— Ryan Guzman (@RyanGuzEPLV) November 30, 2017
Ryan,
That's a tough question, in part due to the extension question above. If Detroit finishes 10-6 and misses the playoffs, I'd have to think he's safe at this point -- especially if it comes down to a tiebreaker situation with Atlanta considering what happened in that game. If the Lions venture into 9-7 territory or worse, it might be a topic of conversation. As of Saturday, I think Jim Caldwell's job is safe. That doesn't mean I'll feel that way two or three weeks from now. It'll be something to monitor if the Lions start losing games.
--How much of a role has Teez Tabor had recently? Seen him on blitzes, but don't hear much else. #LionsMailbag
— Jeffrey Horst (@Horstjeffreya) December 1, 2017
Jeffrey,
Thanks for the question. It's been a role that's increased in small amounts over the past few weeks. Teez Tabor had the first tackle of his career last week. As of now, though, his role seems limited to third-down dime situations where the Lions use a defensive back as a second linebacker. He's played 13 snaps in each of the last two weeks, and that's an improvement as the year has gone on. He could be in for a role increase, too, with Tavon Wilson out for the year. That'll move Miles Killebrew into a starting safety role and it's possible Tabor could become a factor in nickel packages against bigger teams. The real key will be if the Lions fall completely out of the playoff race. Then you could see more work for Tabor to see what he has heading into 2018.
--#Lionsmailbag Do you see the Defensive Line as the biggest need and area Quinn regrets not upgrading?
— Jamie Johnson (@TripleOGJamie) December 1, 2017
He should, Jamie. That was, in my opinion, Bob Quinn's biggest failing this offseason. Of course, he was hampered by the season-ending injuries to Brandon Copeland and Kerry Hyder and then the suspensions to Armonty Bryant and Khyri Thornton (neither of whom are still with the Lions). That said, it was an obvious need after the 2016 season and the Lions addressed it in OK, but not great, ways. Akeem Spence has been a good player this year and Cornelius Washington has had spurts of effectiveness. But the Lions, especially with Ezekiel Ansah in a contract year and Hyder coming off an Achilles injury, have to focus there in the 2018 offseason -- both in the draft and free agency. The defensive line, linebacker, interior of the offensive line, running back and maybe tight end are the big areas of improvement I see at this point. And many of those areas are spots that have been problematic for a few years now.
