Poor Schwartz( snicker...)
 

Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham uses straight talk, tough love
by Tom Kowalski
Thursday August 06, 2009, 9:28 PM

ALLEN PARK -- There are a lot of words that could be used to describe Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham. Tact is not one of them.

Cunningham, 63, has coached in the NFL for 28 years, and while he loves his players, it's tough love.


"He's going to challenge you,'' said Lions coach Jim Schwartz, who coached with Cunningham for several years with the Tennessee Titans. "If you're used to a coach that sort of turns the other way when you make a bad play and then high-fives you when you make a good play, that's not going to happen.

"If you're used to somebody who calls it the way they see it, who will be aggressive and not afraid to holler, then you're going to be comfortable with Gun."

Cunningham's bluntness sometimes can catch new players off guard, but Schwartz said it's not a long learning process.

"I think you adjust pretty quickly," Schwartz said. "It's like jumping in the pool. You're not easing into that one, you're not splashing a little water and putting a toe in. You're diving full in to Gunther and, like I said, you usually get used to it pretty quick."

After Thursday's training camp workout, Cunningham stepped to the podium to be interviewed, but not all the television cameramen were ready.

"C'mon, you TV guys, you're as slow as our blitzers," said Cunningham, enjoying the crack on two groups with one insult.

The Lions' defense didn't perform well during the blitz period at practice, and that was first on Cunningham's mind.

"I'm not used to guys coming slow," he said. "And when we send them, they're going to get there. We have to have a little attitude adjustment meeting after this practice, so they're going to hear it loud and clear."

Here are a few more examples of Cunningham's inability to beat around the bush.

On the difference of practicing with pads and without:

"When you put pads on, you find the real men. There are a lot of frauds around and, you know, the coaches are, too. They talk a good game, and you watch them coach and they don't do it. Players do that same thing. And sometimes, the guys that you don't expect to be real tough guys, they show up and you go, 'My God, was I wrong with this guy.' "

About Detroit's defensive line and their coach, Bob Karmelowicz:

"Well, they're all working really hard and they're showing a lot more toughness than I saw on tape (from last year). They've got the crotchiest old man coaching them. I think Bob Karmelowicz is probably the most miserable guy I've ever coached with, but he's probably the smartest and most consistent coach. http://www.detroitboard.com/public/s...fault/spew.gif

"(Assistant defensive line coach) Kris Kocurek is hardcore tough -- he was raised under Jim Washburn, the Titans coach who's flat nuts, but he's a good friend of mine."

On Lions general manager Martin Mayhew and the scouting of free agents:

"The thing I love about Martin Mayhew and Jim is that we have great communication going every day. Martin's trying to get me to look at players, and I'm trying to get the practice scripts done.

"Last night, he had me look at 75 plays of a (free agent) player and he asked me, 'How'd you like him?' and I said, 'Eh, I've seen a lot better and you just wasted a lot of my time.' But that's my job, you know. You've got to look, and you've got to keep looking."

Shut up, Melvin.

Bob Karmelowicz is still a coach? Detroit might not win a game this year.

Player was obviously no Kendrell Bell. ;)

Ghey.

OH THE IRONY!!! ROFL

Don't you have some candy dispensing from the back of your windowless van to do?:D

:D

Wha?

What wha?