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Detroit Lions: What Matt Patricia has learned from Bill Belichick

By Steven Mullenax

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks with defensive coordinator Matt Patricia before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks with defensive coordinator Matt Patricia before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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After spending 14 years with the New England Patroits, the Detroit Lions are hoping Matt Patricia will apply the lessons he’s learned Bill Belichick as their new head coach.

When New England Patriots’ defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is named the Detroit Lions newest head coach, presumably some time next week following the Super Bowl, there will be a certain championship expectation on the broad shoulders of the 43-year old. After all, Patricia has been with the Patriots since 2004, learning under someone many consider to be the greatest coach of all-time in Bill Belichick.

Obviously, winning isn’t going to come overnight in Detroit. In fact, for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 1992, a postseason victory would be a nice start. Patricia will be joined in this monumental task by general manager Bob Quinn, both men sharing roots from New England.

But make no mistake. Winning is everything in the NFL. So it is in Detroit. And sometimes, winning isn’t even enough. Just ask Jim Caldwell.

But are we asking too much from Patricia? Are our expectations too high? I mean, this is someone who has never been a head coach on any level, much less in the NFL. And he’s spent his entire career with the Patroits. All this guy knows is winning. And maybe that’s the point.

The Lions could use a coach like Patricia. Someone who only knows how to dominate at this level. Someone who has been to the mountain top several times and knows the path to get there.

Just maybe, Patricia is the next Belichick. He can turn the Lions into champions the way his mentor did for New England. Patricia will certainly draw from his extended time spent beside the legendary coach to try and build a winner in the Motor City.

"” … Coach Belichick, he does so many great things, I don’t think you can really take them all,” Patricia told the Detroit Free Press. “But his preparation, his attention to detail, the way that he coaches the team, the way that he kind of every single day addresses the areas that we have to make sure that we handle in order to win. He does an unbelievable job of that.”"

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I’m not sure if this has set in yet for fans, but the Detroit Lions are about to land the best coaching prospect on the market. Someone whose been learning from a master for over a decade. In a few days, Matt Patricia will be taking his talents to Detroit. And fans should be ecstatic.

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