SideLion Report
FanSided

Detroit Lions new and old learning a new language

By Steven Mullenax

ALLEN PARK, MI - FEBRUARY 07: Matt Patricia speaks at a press conference after being hired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ALLEN PARK, MI - FEBRUARY 07: Matt Patricia speaks at a press conference after being hired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

All of the new players joining the Detroit Lions, as well as some veterans, are having to learn a new language that is Matt Patricia’s playbook.

Whenever a franchise welcomes in a new head coach, they are also forcing many of their players to learn a whole new language. For the Detroit Lions this offseason, it means learning the language of Matt Patricia.

One of the biggest assets Patricia brings to the Motor City as the former New England Patroits defensive coordinator is his dynamic playbook. It has a language all it’s own and the Lions defenders are in the process of translating it in preparation for the upcoming season.

Patricia did opt to keep offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter on the staff, so the transition for most of the offense should be seamless. But surely Patricia, who started his career as an offensive assistant for the Patroits in 2004, has a new wrinkle or two he’d like to inject on that side of the ball.

Outside of those players who may have played for Patricia before, veteran, free agent and rookie alike are having to learn something new in Detroit this summer. And how quickly they can adjust to the new language will determine their success in 2018.

For a free agent signee like veteran tight end Luke Willson, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, it’s more about redefining words than learning an entirely new set of plays.

"” … I think if you talked to most NFL players who change teams, it’s not so much the actual plays that are different, it’s the language,” Willson told the Toronto Sun. “So you go five years where this word meant this. Now that exact same word has a totally different meaning. It really is like learning a whole new language.”"

If Willson can quickly learn the language in Detroit, the more experienced tight end has an opportunity to start over second-year youngster Michael Roberts. Both have stood out early during OTA’s and minicamp.

Offensively, the Detroit Lions figured to field an identical passing attack due to the presence of Cooter. On the ground, the investments made this offseason should improve what was the league’s worst running game in 2017.

Next: The Detroit Lions All-Time Defensive Team

Defensively, Matt Patricia will attempt to install a very complicated defense in a short amount of time. The Lions’ ability to effectively teach this new language and approach to their players will be key to their success this season.

Home/Lions News