Detroit Lions: What can Matt Patricia do for Jarrad Davis?
By Robert Jones
Last year one NFL front office executive who interviewed Davis as part of the pre-draft process said that it was like talking to former Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker and future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. For those of you who have lived under a rock or were just born yesterday, that is mighty high praise.
Patricia will make it his personal mission to make sure that Davis is not only capable of doing his job, but also putting him in a position to be successful every step of the way.
We all remember the curious case of Kyle Van Noy who the Lions drafted out of BYU in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Van Noy was expected to become a play-maker for the Lions defense yet injuries and clueless play led to his exit from Detroit when he was traded to the New England Patriots.
What happened next was considered a miracle. Van Noy went from being lost to becoming the Patriots most integral player on defense this past year as he filled the big shoes of Dont’a Hightower after he went down to a season ending injury.
When Van Noy was asked about his complete turnaround he gave full credit to Patricia, basically saying that unlike the problems he had understanding how the Lions coaches communicated to him, Patricia made everything crystal clear and easy to understand.
Now Patricia will have the opportunity to do the same with a player who was productive last year. A player that many already felt has a big future in the NFL.
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The legacy that Matt Patricia left behind in New England is that of a man who could get the most out any player given to him. He is now embarking upon an opportunity to do the same in Detroit, but the dividends he might get back from the Lions talented young Jarrad Davis may even outshine his work with the Patriots.