More from Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's press conference today. Schwartz was in town for his second interview with the Lions. He's been reported as the leading candidate to replace Rod Marinelli and is the first person to get a second interview. Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera is expected in town on Tuesday, according to an NFL.com report, and Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier also could get second interviews.

• On his defensive philosophy: “The best way I can describe our defensive philosophy is multi-dimensional, do what it takes to win that week. ... This came from (Patriots coach) Bill Belichick my first years in the NFL, he always talked about making an opponent play left-handed. If a racquetball player has a good forehand, well make him hit his backhand. Our philosophy is sort of the same way. If it's a good run team, force him to throw the ball to win. If it's a good pass team, force him to run the ball to win. In order to do that you have to have multidimensional players. We'll do what our players do the best.”

• Disputing the reputation that he doesn't like to blitz: “We blitzed quite a bit back in 2002-03. Our team was a little bit different. I think one of the most important things in coaching is putting your players in the right positions for a chance for them to be successful. Quite honestly, our front four could get pressure without blitzing (this year) which allowed us to do a lot more in the back end. If our front four wasn't as good, we would have probably blitzed more. I think the only person that wanted to see Albert Haynesworth dropping back on a zone dog or Kyle Vanden Bosch dropping back on a zone dog was the opposing quarterback. And we tried not to let that happen very often.”

• On whether he has a staff picked out if he gets the Lions job: “I haven't been presumptuous enough to have a pocket staff, so to speak. There's some people I highly respect in the NFL, some people that time would be of the essence, but I'd rather not get into any more of that.”

• On how much his background as a scout – he worked three years in the Browns' personnel department – has helped him as a coach: “Probably the most. I think any coach should probably start in scouting because a coach's focus is so short term. We're worried about winning the game on Sunday and experience in scouting, you learn the long-term picture, you learn how the team's built.”

• Describing his relationship with Patriots VP of player personnel Scott Pioli, who's a candidate to take over as GM in Kansas City and likely would have Schwartz on his short list of head-coaching candidates: “Scott and I cut our teeth together in Cleveland. At the time we didn't realize it, but that was an all-star cast, guys working 100 hours a week, living in crappy apartments, making no money. But that made us all who we are in the NFL and back in '93 or '94, and we all have Bill Belichick to thank for that.”

• More on the importance of having a good quarterback: “Quarterback is the trump card of all positions in the NFL. If you have a good quarterback you can cover up a lot of other areas on your team. If you don't have a great quarterback you have to be really good in a lot of other areas. If you ask anybody in the NFL, most important position, it's going to be quarterback.”

If the Lions are down to a final two of Jim Schwartz and Steve Spagnuolo, they haven't told their other coaching candidates as much. Of course, that doesn't mean they're not, either.

If the Rams hire Schwartz and the Jets hire Spagnuolo, the Lions wouldn't want their third choice – or fans, for that matter – knowing he's No. 3 on the list. Still, at some point you'd expect the franchise to pass on word to its candidates it's going in another direction. That way they can pursue/focus on other job opportunities.

As of now, a league source tells me that isn't the case.

The Lions coaching search should move into high gear now that every candidate they've interviewed is capable of being hired.

Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo became the latest available assistant when his team lost to the Eagles moments ago in the NFC playoffs. The Lions interviewed Spagnuolo in the New Jersey area last week, and he's eligible to visit Detroit now to check out the facilities and meet with team brass. In fact, Fox's Jay Glazer reported today that Spagnuolo and Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who lost Saturday, should both be expecting second interviews this week.

The Lions will have some competition if they want to hire Spagnuolo. He's also interviewed with the Jets and Broncos, and according to reports he'd prefer to stay out east. Regardless, there's no reason the Lions can't wrap their search up soon. They still might want to speak with Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, whose game is ongoing right now, but with a number of qualified names already in the hopper they'd be better off making a move soon.

Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray was the second person to interview for the vacant Lions head-coaching job, meeting with team brass a week ago, and he said Thursday he's been given no indication when the team will make its decision.

“They're going to interview the rest of the guys and to me that's only fair because you want to get it right,” Gray said. “The position they're in, they want to get it right. You take as long as you need. To me, you got to be thorough.”

Giants defensive coordinators Steve Spagnuolo got the first interview last Thursday, followed by Gray, Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and Dolphins assistant head coach Todd Bowles. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will be in town Friday.

Gray said his interview was his second to be a head coach in the NFL. Three years ago, when he was defensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills, he interviewed to replace Dom Capers with the Houston Texans.

He said last week's interview “was a lot better” simply because he's been through the process before, but declined to reveal much else about the process.

“I think they did a great job,” Gray said of the Lions. “That's pretty much all I can comment on. It was a great experience.”

Though some have suggested the Lions brought Gray in with more of an eye towards making him defensive coordinator – he worked under another reported candidate for two years in Buffalo, Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who he said he has a “good relationship with” – Gray said he interviewed only to be a head coach. He's also been mentioned as a candidate to be defensive coordinator in Houston.

“I think I have what it takes to be a head coach,” Gray said. “If you look at (my playing and coaching career) overall, I think I have a whole lot more successes than failures.”

The Lions are 10 days into their coaching search. Who's interviewed and who's on the list? Here's what I know, either from my own sources or various reports around the league:

Coach              Current Position        Interview
Steve Spagnuolo Giants DC                 Jan. 1
Jerry Gray          Redskins DBs            Jan. 2
Jim Schwartz      Titans DC                  Jan. 3
Jason Garrett      Cowboys OC              Jan. 5
Todd Bowles       Dolphins Ast HC/DBs  Today*
Leslie Frazier      Vikings DC                 Jan. 9*

Other reported candidates with unknown interview dates: Mike Mularkey, Falcons OC; Ron Rivera, Chargers DC; Rex Ryan, Ravens DC

* Interview is scheduled but not yet completed

More on this in tomorrow's paper, but I spoke with Miami Dolphins assistant head coach Todd Bowles earlier this afternoon and he said he's “very interested” in the Lions head coaching job. Bowles is expected to interview with the Lions this week, though a date and time have not yet been set.

“I got a message here that I got to get back to them,” Bowles said. “We're supposed to try to match up and see if we can make this work for them.”

Lest you think he's only a candidate because he played three seasons with new Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, Bowles is actually a very well-regarded assistant with a track record for helping turn around some of the NFL's most dismal teams. He was part of this year's resurrection in Miami, where the Dolphins went from 1-15 to 11 wins and the AFC East championship. Prior to a stint coaching defensive backs with Bill Parcells in Dallas, Bowles also was on Butch Davis' staff in Cleveland that reached the playoffs two years after taking over a 3-13 team.

“I've been part of that turnaround before and we've done these type of things,” Bowles said. “You've got to have the right people in place. It's important. It's not going to be just the head coach, it's going to be the GM, the vice president, everybody involved. It's going to be the strength coach. You got to have the right people to do the right things.”

Bowles, who's also reported to be a candidate in St. Louis, said he's not married to any one system and he's not interested in the Lions only because of Mayhew, who he said “will make a heck of a GM.”

“I think it's a great opportunity for him, I really do, and I wish him all the best,” Bowles said. “For me, if the opportunity comes I'll embrace it when it comes and I'll do the best I can to make Detroit a winner or anybody else.”

The Lions also are in the process of setting up an interview with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Already they've interviewed Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray. According to reports, Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is a candidate, too.

The single biggest nugget of Lions-related news/speculation in the new year so far came courtesy of Sports Illustrated's Peter King on the Dan Patrick Show yesterday.

King was asked about Bill Parcells' future in Miami and whether the Dolphins' current executive vice president will opt out of his contract in the coming month.

Said King, “I don't get a good feel on that. I think it's one of those where there's smoke there's fire. If he does go somewhere, I think it's more likely that he ends up in Detroit than anywhere else. I'm going to cop out on this one and I'll say I'll give you 50-percent chance Miami, 50-percent chance Detroit.”

This is four days after the Lions officially announced the promotions of Tom Lewand to team president and Martin Mayhew to general manager, mind you, and four days after most people closed the door on anyone, let alone Parcells, usurping power atop the front office.

There's no doubt in my mind that last week's well-timed revelation that Parcells had an opt-out in his contract was a smoke signal to the league in general and perhaps the Lions in particular. Parcells already has worked his magic in Miami, could walk away with a fat paycheck and step into the biggest rebuilding project the NFL has ever seen, one he's been said to have eyes for before.

The only question is whether Lions owner William Clay Ford recognized the signals coming from South Beach. Initially, that wouldn't appear to be the case. Mayhew and Lewand are out on the road interviewing now, they've already met with at least one candidate (Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and have another sit down scheduled for today (Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz).

Then again, Lewand said Tuesday he and Mayhew were officially promoted a week before the announcement was made, on the Monday after the New Orleans game. That was before Parcells' contract situation became public knowledge.

Look, I don't think Parcells will be Lion. Ford's not in the business of firing or reassigning anyone a month after he promotes them and he surely wouldn't want to swallow any contracts in this economy. But the Lions do have a front-office position open (Parcells surely will have control of everything at his next and future stops) and could hire a coach that impressed Parcells to no end during last year's interviews (Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier) or one on his current staff in Miami (assistant head coach Todd Bowles).

I'd be beyond surprised if anything happened, but King's 50-50 comment at least gave Lions fans something to munch on.

A handful of names the Lions intend to interview for their head coaching vacancy already have leaked out. Jerry Gray, Josh McDaniels, Jim Schwartz, Steve Spagnuolo, Jason Garrett, Leslie Frazier.

The Lions will do their diligence and interview a dozen or so candidates in the whittling-down process, but I wonder how many of those guys are really legitimate options to be the next head coach? Three? Five?

General manager Martin Mayhew spoke Tuesday of watching what he says with the media so as not to give opponents any sort of competitive edge.

“I read the clips for every NFL team 365 days a year,” he said. “I read what's going on, and I'm doing that looking for a competitive edge. And what I don't want to do is be the person who gives somebody else a competitive edge on us.”

Even in my role as a reporter I can admit that's good policy (though Mayhew should know I can be trusted with off-the-record information). It also got me thinking about this whole process.

The Lions might truly be interested in McDaniels, the Patriots offensive coordinator, or Garrett, OC in Dallas. Or Mayhew might be interviewing them because he can. They're bright assistants, yes, and likely will make fine head coaches one day. I just don't know how they mesh with Mayhew's philosophy on building a team.

Admittedly, Mayhew didn't go into great detail about that Tuesday, but the first thing he said on that topic was “we need to be … a physical football team.” He spoke of getting bigger defensively and adding “smart toughguys.” McDaniels and Garrett, of course, are two offensive coaches with reputations in the passing game.

Maybe they'll wow Mayhew with their interviews and maybe their bottom line is toughness, too. But it's also possible Mayhew, in his thirst for an edge, wants to compile a dossier on each coach that can help him on the field or in the draft or in free agency one day. Heck, McDaniels, an Ohio native, certainly could be the head coach in Cleveland next year, and guess who comes to Ford Field? Same with Schwartz, a prickly defensive coach who, from a distance, appears to fit Mayhew's philosophy. Or Frazier, who is an absolutely legitimate candidate but also NFC North rival Minnesota's defensive coordinator.

Admittedly, I'm reading into things here. But if the new general manager is that ferocious a competitor, he might as make the most of this opportunity.

Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand just got done meeting with the media for the first time in their new capacities as general manager and team president, and they gave us a lot to sift through. I'll have updates throughout the day, but here's my initial thoughts:

Mayhew is a smart man and may turn out to be a fine GM, and he's right that there's nothing he can do at this point to turn public sentiment in his favor. He was around for all eight seasons of the failed Matt Millen regime and is widely if unfairly viewed as extension of Millen.

I don't think he's a repackaged version of the ex-executive by any means – he's already proved to be a tireless worker and deft dealer – but that's not why I thought the organization should have cleaned house and conducted a thorough front-office search. Simply,  I think that's what was needed to restore credibility after this ugly, 31-97 slide.

Regardless, Mayhew has total control of football operations – “Martin's making the picks,” Lewand said. “Martin's role is talent evaluation,” – and he will be judged over time on that alone.

In terms of specifics, Mayhew offered precious few Tuesday as reporters grilled him and Lewand for more than 40 minutes. He said he believes in building through the draft, won't hand out $30-million checks on the first day of free agency and is the right man for the job in part because he's been around to see and learn from Millen's mistakes.

“Don't judge me by my friends,” he said.

Lions owner William Clay Ford informed both Mayhew and Lewand a week ago on the Monday after the New Orleans game that they would fill their current roles next year. The trio had been in contact regularly since Millen's firing, and a few weeks ago Mayhew said he submitted a detailed plan for how to rebuild the franchise a few weeks ago.

The highlight of that, and the biggest failing of this decade so far, is to implement a single-minded vision shared by him, his scouts, his next coach and on down. He said he wants physical football players and faster football players, borrowing an old Joe Gibbs line that he wants “smart toughguys.”

The first step in that is hiring the right football coach. Neither Mayhew nor Lewand offered much in the way of a timetable for that, but interviews are being set up right now and should begin this week. Among those who could get first crack at impressing Mayhew – and who would seem to fit what he wants – are  Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.