Joe Lombardi, longtime New Orleans Saints assistant, fired by Detroit Lions

In Sunday’s loss to the Vikings, the Lions scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and led, 17-6, midway through the second quarter before allowing 22 straight points.

Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick (25) loses control of the…

ALLEN PARK Certainly the firing of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi along with offensive line coaches Jeremiah Washburn and Terry Heffernan is a wake-up call for the Lions especially those on the offensive line.

Tim Twentyman reports that Jim Bob Cooter will take over as offensive coordinator and current tight ends coach Ron Prince will take over as offensive line coach. Detroit lost 28-19 to Minnesota last weekend, and Stafford was knocked around by a pass rush the Lions couldn’t handle.

“We’re looking at this particular game and focusing in on this game”, Caldwell said Monday when asked about potential changes to his coaching staff. “And we evaluate everything all the time, which I told you the other night”. Yet Caldwell, whose top credentials were earned as Peyton Manning’s position coach and as offensive coordinator during Joe Flacco’s Super Bowl win with the Ravens, and Lombardi haven’t provided that bump. Stafford was sacked seven times in the loss.

Fixing the offense starts by getting more from the offensive line and it will be up to new voices to help get them there.

Jim Caldwell indicated that he was not prepared to make any coaching changes this week at his normal Monday press conference earlier today. “We usually only focus on one game, one game at a time”. The Lions go to London this week to play the Chiefs next Sunday.