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Report: Lions Hire Assistant Offensive Line Coach

By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby

According to Sports Illustrated's Thayer Evans, the Lions have made at least one hire to their offensive staff.

Arizona State senior offensive analyst Ryan Silverfield, according to Evans, is taking Terry Heffernan's place on the Lions' staff. Detroit fired two offensive line coaches – Heffernan and Jeremiah Washburn – along with offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi before the team flew to London in Week 8.

The Sun Devils are currently 57th in the FBS in rushing offense, with 178.20 yards/game on the ground. They're 32nd in the country in total offense, with 453.5 yards per game, and 52nd in scoring (31 points/game).

Last season, Silverfield was an offensive consultant with Toledo, and previously spent six years in the NFL with the Vikings. He spent three seasons as Minnesota's assistant offensive line coach.

According to Silverfield's ASU bio, he has helped coach the leading rusher both in college (Kevin Smith at Central Florida) and in the NFL (Adrian Peterson with the Vikings).

Interim Lions general manager Sheldon White said last week that he had made "subtle changes" to the staff, but would not clarify then what he meant. If Evans' report is accurate, the Lions are still a couple people short of having a full offensive staff. No full-time offensive line coach has technically been hired, although Ron Prince has been filling in during the interim. Former quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter also took over for Lombardi as offensive coordinator.

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