Marinelli's days may be numbered

DETROIT - Now that Matt Millen is gone, the last head coach he hired to lead the Detroit Lions could be the man sacked.

Coach Rod Marinelli sounded a familiar lament - his team's lack of execution - after Sunday's 34-7 loss to the Bears, but also was asked whether he expects to keep coaching.

A visibly beleaguered Marinelli simply said he'll try to fix a team that appears headed to a ninth straight season without a playoff berth.

"I don't look in the future," he said. "I'm going to get up tomorrow and go to work."

There will be plenty to work on.

Even after two weeks to prepare for their NFC North rivals, the Lions looked terrible. They were outgained 251-67 by intermission and lost quarterback Jon Kitna to back spasms before the second half began.

Detroit finished the game with a season-worst 185 net yards while giving up 425. Three of the Lions' four opponents this season have gained more than 400 yards against Marinelli's Tampa-2 defense.

His son-in-law, Joe Barry, is the defensive coordinator, but Marinelli refused to pass the blame.

"I have to look at myself," he said. "The defense is mine."

The Lions (0-4) are allowing 429 yards and more than 33 points per game and have just 4 sacks in four games. That hardly looks like a Tampa-2 team, which relies on constant pressure upfront to help create takeaway opportunities for the secondary.

"We're not executing," Marinelli said. "It's clear as a bell."

The loss was the worst to the Bears in Detroit since 1948, and the 82 points the Lions have allowed in their first two home games matches a dubious team record set by the 1958 club.

Things looked just as bad on the other side of the ball, where several brief Lions possessions gave the Bears a short field most of the day. Detroit's offense posted just 10 first downs and got its only touchdown after Devin Hester fumbled a kickoff deep in Lions territory.

"I believe the defense came out to play today," said receiver Roy Williams, who dropped 5 passes. "We didn't help them on the offensive side of the ball."

Marinelli said he didn't believe his players have quit, but at least one of them had doubts.

"When you lose by that many points, there's definitely some questions of effort," defensive tackle Shaun Cody said.