Report: Lions Block Bears From Interviewing Quarterbacks Coach Jim Bob Cooter
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - The Chicago Bears wanted to interview Detroit Lions quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter for their offensive coordinator opening, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, and the Lions denied the request.
The 2014 season was Cooter's first as quarterbacks coach, and under his tutelage Matthew Stafford increased his accuracy and reduced his turnovers. Between 2011 and 2013, Stafford's completion percentage dropped from 63.5 to 58.5, but this season Stafford moved in a positive direction, to 60.3. Stafford's interceptions had increased between 2011 and 2013, from 16 to 19, but he threw only 12 picks this season, a career low by a significant margin.
Before arriving in Detroit, Cooter spent the 2013 season as an offensive assistant for the Denver Broncos. Prior to his time in Denver, Cooter was an offensive assistant for three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell spoke glowingly of Cooter in December.
"He's hard on Matt, very demanding, doesn't let anything slide," Caldwell said. "I think that's the most important thing in a quarterback coach is not letting little details go, and he's been excellent at that.
"No quarterback is perfect and there are times where you're watching film and you go, 'Hey, he knows this, I don't have to point it out or belabor the point,'" Caldwell continued. "Jim Bob never lets any of those things go. He's always pointing out everything that he needs to do better."
Caldwell would not compare the instruction Stafford received under the previous coaching regime to the coaching he has gotten from Cooter, but he praised Cooter for the consistency in his work with Stafford.
"The consistency and the routine in what they do, the way that we install the offense, how detailed he is, how he holds him to the details and just keeps reviewing so that by game time it's all second nature," Caldwell said. "That position is about having a routine and a thoroughness to what you're doing and every week kind of doing it the same way at the same time, watch your cut-ups kind of in the same order, 'Here's what I do,' and you kind of have a checklist. So he's gotten him in a really good routine."