2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

passes out of punt formation in the game, one
of which went for 24 yards to FB Jed Collins for
a first down.
‣ ¾ After joining the Lions in Week 6, K Matt Prater
tied for seventh in the NFL in field goals made
with 21.
‣ ¾ Prater made two game-winning field goals in his
11 games with the Lions last season, including
a 33-yard field goal with 3:38 left to play vs.
Minnesota (12/14), but none more impactful than
his 48-yard field goal as time expired against
Atlanta in London (10/26). His 48-yarder against
the Falcons was his third-career game-winning
kick that occurred as time expired in regulation.
‣ ¾ By playing in Week 2 at Carolina (9/14), LS Don
Muhlbach, one of the Lions’ longest-tenured
veterans, played in his 150th career game with
Detroit. His current total sits at 164 games, and
he is now tied for 13th on the Lions’ all-time
career games played list.
Delaware thrived on special teams under
Fitzsimmons. As a unit, the Blue Hens ranked
second in the nation in net punting average (41.47)
and ninth in blocked kicks (six). Doubling as the
team’s tight ends coach, two players received
All-CAA honors under Fitzsimmons’ guidance in
PR/WR Rob Jones (First Team) and TE Nick Boyle
(Second Team). P Eric Enderson was also named
a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News
under Fitzsimmons.
Prior to his time at Delaware, Fitzsimmons was
an offensive assistant at Rutgers in 2012 and got
his first taste of the NFL as an offensive quality
control coach with the Indianapolis Colts in 2011.
His previous coaching stops include assistant
positions at Richmond (2010), Virginia (2009),
Kansas State (2007-08), Bucknell (2006) and Shaw
University (2005).
Fitzsimmons was born October 18, 1982. A
native of Folsom, La. he played quarterback and
wide receiver at Bucknell and earned a bachelor’s
degree in history from the school in 2005.
FITZSIMMONS’ COACHING BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions................................................. 2014-
Assistant Special Teams...........................................2014-
Delaware........................................................2013
Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends....................2013
Rutgers...........................................................2012
Offensive Assistant.......................................................2012
Indianapolis Colts............................................2011
Offensive Quality Control............................................2011
Richmond........................................................2010
Tight Ends.......................................................................2010
Virginia...........................................................2009
Graduate Assistant.......................................2009
Kansas State.............................................2007-08
Coordinator of Football Operations................2008
Graduate Assistant.......................................2007
Bucknell..........................................................2006
Assistant Wide Receivers..............................2006
Shaw University..............................................2005
Quarterbacks................................................2005
TERRY
HEFFERNAN
Assistant Offensive Line
Years with Lions: 3
Years in NFL: 3
Heffernan returns to his post as the Lions’
assistant offensive line coach, the same title
he held in his first season with Detroit in 2013,
after serving as offensive quality control coach in
2014. Prior to joining the Lions, Heffernan was the
offensive line coach at Wayne State University in
Detroit for six seasons (2007-12).
LIONS COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
Detroit’s offensive line continues to be one of the
top pass protecting lines in the NFL for an offense
that has passed more than any other team over the
past six seasons (3,862 pass attempts).
‣ ¾ Injuries along the offensive line in 2014 resulted
in seven different starting lineup combinations
over the course of the season, including the
team’s NFC Wild Card game at Dallas (1/4).
Heffernan’s development of rookies T Cornelius
Lucas and G Travis Swanson provided necessary
depth up front, allowing the Lions offense to rely
on different contributors throughout the season.
‣ ¾ Swanson, the team’s third-round (76 overall)
pick out of Arkansas in the 2014 NFL Draft,
started four of the 16 games he played in and
was named 2014 Rookie of the Year by the Detroit
Sports Broadcasters Association.
‣ ¾ The 2013 Lions offensive line featured three new
starters in LT Riley Reiff, RG Larry Warford and
RT LaAdrian Waddle, with veterans C Dominic
Raiola and LG Rob Sims anchoring the unit as
they finished second in the NFL in sacks allowed
(23).
‣ ¾ Detroit also finished second in sacks per pass
play (3.5-percent) and tied for first in percentage
of negative offensive plays (6.9-percent) in 2013.
‣ ¾ The offensive line allowed one or fewer sacks in
11 games during the 2013 season, and allowed
only two or fewer sacks in 14 games.
In 2012, Heffernan mentored All-GLIAC guard
Curtis Ferguson and five Academic All-GLIAC
selections. Ferguson was also voted as the team’s
2012 Offensive Most Valuable Player. His 2011
offensive line unit helped the Warriors average more
than 200 rushing yards per game, leading WSU to
a school record for overall wins (12), road wins (8)
and four consecutive road playoff games to reach
the national title contest.
The Warriors ranked in the Top-40 nationally
in four categories in 2011 – ninth in fewest sacks
allowed (0.94 per game), 23rd in scoring offense
(34.38 ppg), 26th in passing efficiency (144.02) and
33rd in rushing offense (200.56). In 2010, Senior LT
Joe Long was named the recipient for the Gene
Upshaw Award as the top lineman, both offensive
and defensive, in Division II under Heffernan’s
guidance.
Prior to his tenure at WSU, Heffernan spent
two seasons (2005-06) as a graduate assistant
offensive line coach at Michigan. During his time
in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines compiled an 18-7
DETROIT LIONS
EXECUTIVES AND COACHING