Amazing. He truly turned around our D for that one season... Now look at him... ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions fired defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson and offensive line coach Larry Beightol on Tuesday, two days after finishing a 3-13 season. The overwhelming favorite to replace Henderson is Tampa Bay linebackers coach Joe Barry, who is Marinelli's son-in-law and who is highly regarded around the league. Marinelli attempted to hire Barry last year but, because he was under contract, the Bucs denied the Lions permission to speak with him. Barry's contract in Tampa Bay will expire in a few weeks. Lions coach Rod Marinelli announced the decisions at his final weekly press conference of the season. "Donnie Henderson is very close to me, and it was a very difficult decision," Marinelli said. "It was more about systems than anything else. With Coach Beightol, I just felt like we needed to make a change at this time." The Lions' projected five starters on the offensive line never started a single game together this season. Beightol, 64, is a 22-year NFL veteran who has worked with eight different franchises. Marinelli also announced that longtime special teams coach Chuck Priefer had announced his retirement. Priefer will be replaced by his assistant, Stan Kwan, and will work with the organization in an undetermined role. The Lions allowed 398 points this season. Only the 49ers (412) and the Titans (400) surrendered more. Detroit finished fifth-worst in the NFL (345.6 yards per game). Henderson and Marinelli have a 30-year relationship that dates to Henderson's days as a defensive back at Utah State, where Marinelli was the defensive line coach. The two coached together at California (1990-91) and Arizona State (1992-94), but never in the NFL before Detroit. Henderson, a 10th-round pick by the Lions in 1980, coached defensive backs in Baltimore from 1999-2003 and was the Jets' defensive coordinator from 2004-05. Henderson had no experience in the "Tampa Two" system that former Bucs defensive line coach Marinelli brought with him last January from Tampa. Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com senior writer Len Pasquarelli was used in this report. Twenty-four hours after completing another forgettable season, the Detroit Lions will be making a coaching change on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson, after one season with the club, will not be retained, the Detroit Free Press reported in Tuesday's editions. Henderson and Lions coach Rod Marinelli agreed to a mutal parting, according to the newspaper, due to a difference in defensive philosophy. Neither was available for comment Monday, the Free Press said. Marinelli is scheduled to make an announcement Tuesday. The overwhelming favorite to replace Henderson is Tampa Bay linebackers coach Joe Barry, who is Marinelli's son-in-law and who is highly regarded around the league. Marinelli attempted to hire Barry last year but, because he was under contract, the Bucs denied the Lions permission to speak with him. Barry's contract in Tampa Bay will expire in a few weeks. Marinielli also dismissed offensive line coach Larry Beightol, whose unit suffered through a spate of injuries in 2006. The Lions' projected five starters on the line never started a single game together this season. Beightol, 64, is a 22-year NFL veteran who has worked with eight different franchises. Detroit finished 3-13 following Sunday's 39-31 victory over the playoff-bound Cowboys, but lost by winning; the Lions gave up the No. 1 overall pick by scoring their most points since the 2003 opener. The Lions allowed 398 points this season. Only the 49ers (412) and the Titans (400) surrendered more. Detroit finished fifth-worst in the NFL (345.6 yards per game). Henderson and Marinelli have a 30-year relationship that dates to Henderson's days as a defensive back at Utah State, where Marinelli was the defensive line coach. The two coached together at California (1990-91) and Arizona State (1992-94), but never in the NFL before Detroit. Henderson, a 10th-round pick by the Lions in 1980, coached defensive backs in Baltimore from 1999-2003 and was the Jets' defensive coordinator from 2004-05. Henderson had no experience in the "Tampa Two" system that former Bucs defensive line coach Marinelli brought with him last January from Tampa.
yeah i read that this morning... i was truly furious to see that mangini let him go after he proved himself worthy in the '04 season... anybody see him getting an assistant job to don sutton for next season?
I'm not sure he'd take it. The reason he was let go by the Jets was because of fears that he had too much credibility with the defensive players and would inadvertently undermine Mangini's credibility in the switch to the 3-4. He's a decent coach and I think he'll be a strong candidate for DC in Arizona and maybe Atlanta if they choose to let Ed Donatell go along with Mora.
Why does the writer state that Henderson had no experience with the Tampa Cover Two, didn't they know that's where Herm was from??? Anyway, Marinelli wanted his son-in-law last year but he was under contract. The defensive stats from this year and his son-in-laws expiring contract made this a no brainer....
Donnie H is the Man. He got shafted once by us and now Detroit. I agree, Bring him back in an assistant role but I'm sure he'll get a Job somewhere soon. If Pete Carroll goes to Arizona and Donnie Gets the DC Job there, I will be a Big Cardinals supporter!! :beer:
He's been gone for a season, and ended up getting fired. I think that would lose some credibility among the players, but the preceeding relationship he had with them could be to our advantage.
I liked Henderson, and I hate to see him get shafted. But that's not even what really irks me about this. What really gets under my skin is that the Detroit Lions fired TWO people this week, and neither one of their last names was Millen. Seriously? Is this a joke?
It is amazing that Millen is still there....but I still fail to see the genius in this henderson guy....so far hes had one good season and two horrible ones. I dont any part of him back here
first...great avatar!!! what detroit should do is get matt millen out of the organization. donnie had more to work with here than he was given in det. with better personnell his scheme works...we proved it.
Henderson had no experience in the "Tampa Two" system that former Bucs defensive line coach Marinelli brought with him last January from Tampa. didnt the jets play the tampa cover 2?
yeah, but everyone is here in the jets forum. its about our last DC. i got no problem with it being posted here.
Hard not too. Almost all the teams player the C2 from time to time and a few use it as their base still. That's the fun of a copycat league
Why would anyone ever consider bringing this guy back when it seems as if Sutton's 3-4 is finally taking shape?
Sorry... Didn't realize that... I just figured for some odd reason that some of us don't peruse all of the forums here and maybe the JET fans may have an interest.. My mistake..............................................NOT!
Well, wouldn't you think that an article about a former Jets coach playing for another NFL team might already be in the NFL forum? He's simply stating the obvious....
Sad to see him go. Someone will take him. He turned our D around at 2004. We know he can coach, hopefully he'll have success somewhere else.
Larry Beightol used to be one of our guys too, way back when. I think he might have been the OL coach under Bruce Coslet.
