If the Detroit Lions want to stay in-house for a new offensive coordinator when Ben Johnson inevitably gets a head coaching job next year, they won't lack for options.
They have one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL. He, their quarterbacks, receivers and tight end coaches all played in the league. Passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand is apprenticing under Johnson now. And running backs coach Scottie Montgomery has play-calling experience and is doubling as the team's assistant head coach.
By virtue of where I was standing when position drills began, I got an up-close look at Montgomery's coaching style on Day 2 of training camp Monday and Montgomery — who has well-known head coach aspirations — struck me as the type of detailed assistant who will get a chance to climb the NFL coaching ladder in the near future, if the Lions have the type of success they envision over the next few years.