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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, January 12, 2009 AP Source: Lions interview Schwartz for a second time Associated Press DETROIT -- Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz traveled to Michigan for a second interview with the Lions, a person familiar with his plans told The Associated Press on Monday. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the talks are ongoing, said team owner William Clay Ford was expected to be present during the visit. Detroit interviewed Schwartz after the regular season and had to wait for Tennessee to be eliminated from the playoffs to speak to him again. The Titans lost to Baltimore on Saturday. The Lions, who fired Rod Marinelli after being the NFL's first 0-16 team, have interest in numerous candidates including Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Schwartz just finished his 10th season with the Titans, his eighth season as defensive coordinator. He was promoted from linebackers assistant coach to coordinator in January 2001. Before being hired in Tennessee, he spent three years on the Baltimore Ravens' staff. He also was a college and pro scout for the Cleveland Browns and that experience might be valuable in Detroit. The Lions have the No. 1 pick in April along with first- and third-round picks from the Dallas Cowboys and need to find players to spark a turnaround. If Detroit hires Schwartz, he would also be counted on to come up with ways to improve a defense that ranked last in the league and gave up 517 points -- threatening the NFL record for points allowed (533) in a season set by the 1981 Baltimore Colts. The 42-year-old Schwartz played linebacker at Georgetown, where he earned a degree in economics. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Maryland in 1989, later had the same position at Minnesota and went on to become a secondary coach for North Carolina Central and linebackers coach at Colgate. The Baltimore native became a candidate to be a head coach, though, because of what he's done in Tennessee. The Titans ranked in the top seven in yards allowed each of the past two seasons and finished second in points allowed per game at 14.6 in 2008. His 2003 defense ranked first in the NFL in rushing defense and led the league in third down defense at 27.7 -- the lowest since the 1998 Oakland Raiders. The avid chess player analyzes football-related statistics, looking for tendencies, then has the ability to relay what he has learned to players. "You've got to have the right kind of guys who know how to translate it off the computer to the field and play," Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse has said. "He pretty much has what it takes if you ask me."

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