Meet the Lions coaching candidate: Packers assistant Winston Moss

Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett breaks down the candidates who are expected to interview to be the next Detroit Lions head coach:

Winston Moss

Current job: Packers associate head coach/linebackers coach

Age: 52

College: Miami

Personal: Wife: Zoila; 5 children: Winston Jr., Robert, Marcus, Victoria, Isabella

Date interviewed: Expected Thursday, Jan. 4.

Pros: A former linebacker who has spent the last 30 years in the NFL as a player or coach, Moss was tasked with helping the Packers create more turnovers on defense, and their success in that department hasn’t gone unnoticed. Moss cuts an intimidating figure, but he has helped develop some of the Packers’ best pass rushers working with the likes of Nick Perry and Clay Matthews.

Cons: Remember how Jim Caldwell was kind of, sort of, maybe on the outs as Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator when the Lions hired him in 2014? According to BobMcGinnFootball.com, the Packers “are hoping” Moss finds other employment so they don't have to make further changes to their defensive staff. He’s never been a coordinator so his Xs and Os are a question, which means he’ll have to hire a strong staff.

Your guide to the search:

►Meet the coaching candidate: Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin

►Meet the coaching candidate: Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!