Detroit Lions: Will Paul Pasqualoni be an upgrade?
Paul Pasqualoni is taking over the Detroit Lions defense, replacing Teryl Austin. Will he be an improvement? How will the team respond to his coaching?
There’s a scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope where the sage Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi finds himself aboard the Death Star. Before long, he encounters his (now evil) former apprentice, Darth Vader.
Before they clash their lightsabers in battle for the final time, Vader mentions something to his former mentor. He says that when they last saw each other he was the student, but now he considers himself the master.
On a completely more amicable (and way less evil) scale, the scene above is what I think of when I think of Detroit Lions head coach, Matt Patricia, and Paul Pasqualoni being reunited in Motor City.
At Syracuse, Pasqualoni gave Patricia his first opportunity to coach at an NCAA Division I level from 2001-2003. Now, the roles are reversed. Patricia hired Pasqualoni to be his defensive coordinator earlier this month. The former pupil has now seemingly surpassed his mentor.
The Star Wars comparison is an accurate one, especially if you think of the New England Patriots as the evil Empire. Head coach Bill Belichick can definitely be seen as an Emperor Palpatine-esque figure. I’m not even the first person to make the comparison between the two!
The questions remain though, will Pasqualoni be an improvement over Teryl Austin? How will the team respond to him? Has the professional game already passed by the nearly 70 year old coach?
Unfortunately, the answers to those questions will have to wait for another time. Despite that though, what Paul Pasqualoni brings to the Lions coaching staff is already very clear to me.
He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization from both the college and pro ranks. He has spent time as a defensive coordinator with two different NFL organizations (Miami and Dallas). And he also boasts a college career head coaching record of 151-94-1.
Pasqualoni has been a football coach for nearly his entire adult life, and perhaps the most important things that he will bring to Detroit don’t relate to his football knowledge.
Comfort and familiarity are his two biggest assets.
Patricia will need both of those as a new head coach. This is his first time venturing away from the comforts of New England and he’s already working from behind schedule.
Patricia kept Jim Bob Cooter on as offensive coordinator, and he likely knew he couldn’t afford to waste any time by having to get to know two new coordinators in one offseason.
His relationship with Bob Quinn was a huge factor in him coming to Detroit, and his relationship with his defensive coordinator will be just as big for his adjustment into leading his own organization.
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The beaten path for a first time head coach (especially a Belichick disciple) can be brutal. I am thankful that in this instance however, the pupil will be able to lean on his teacher for stability in year one.