Detroit Lions: Will Matt Patricia be the difference this team needs?
By Robert Jones
Everyone here in Detroit is well aware of Matt Patricia’s resume by now. He joined the New England Patriots in 2004 as an offensive assistant before working his way up the ladder prior to becoming their defensive coordinator in 2012 until the Lions hired him this past February.
Yes, he’s a literal rocket scientist. Something we never seem to get tired of referring to, but will only become relevant if Martha Firestone Ford decides to have him launch this team to the moon.
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He’s been lauded by former players in New England who give him credit for their personal success and was the unofficial right-hand man to Bill Belichick.
In other words, he contributed to an unusually successful NFL dynasty at a time when dynasties are very hard, if not virtually impossible, to create. All while under the supervision of one of the all-time greatest coaches, if not the greatest coach, in NFL history.
All of that looks good on a resume, however, the dynasty started before Patricia arrived and flourished with other coaches having filled out the role of defensive coordinator and even offensive coordinator before Josh McDaniels took over and then left to fail in Denver before returning.
What does all of that mean? Let’s make it simple, only three components have been in New England for the whole dynasty; owner Robert Craft, quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick.
So even though Matt Patricia was the hottest coaching candidate on the market this offseason, how much he contributed to the success of that dynasty can be completely debated.
Yet contribute he did.
Did he maximize what he was given to work with? Absolutely. Over the course of time, Patricia was in New England, the cupboard was being drained defensively. What was once a very talented defense has eroded to one that gets by on players fitting the scheme and playing smart.
The real question is; how that will translate into his first opportunity as a head coach anywhere?