Lions fire OC Joe Lombardi, promote Jim Bob Cooter

The Detroit Lions fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive line coaches Jeremiah Washburn and Terry Heffernan, the team announced Monday.

Quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter will take over as offensive coordinator and will call the plays.

The Lions are a disappointing 1-6. They rank dead last in rushing yards per game and have thrown an NFL-worst 10 interceptions.

"We don't have a lot of time," head coach Jim Caldwell said of the firing, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "We're running out of time."

Curiously, earlier in the day Caldwell told the media there would be no changes to his staff.

Lombardi joined the Lions last season after serving as quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton from 2009-13. Hopes were high that Lombardi could help elevate Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford into an elite player at his position, but the pair never seemed to be a great fit for each other.

Stafford said he deserves some of the blame for the Lions' offensive failures, adding the Lions must simply find a way to win.