The perfect Detroit Lions for Matt Patricia’s defense

What Matt Patricia intends to do this fall is change the very way this franchise has though and schemed for many decades.

The idea of having versatile players that can allow your defense to line up each week to play a different defense specially designed to face each new opponent is still a relatively original idea in the NFL.

The old school belief of playing a base defense that must adjust to each new offense seems like a dinosaur by comparison.

But whether it’s lining up in a 3-4 or 4-3 front or deploying additional players in the secondary with roles that are beyond what is traditionally expected of them, this strategy will give the Lions an opportunity to create match-up advantages in their favor.

The real question is; do they have the players to make the most of those advantages?

The Lions all-time Matt Patricia defense was a fun stroll down memory lane and a reminder of some of the great athletes that have worn the Honolulu Blue and Silver.

There are other players that could have made this team like Ezekiel Ansah, Larry Hand, Charlie Weaver, Stephen Boyd or Mark Carrier to name a few, but in the end I feel very comfortable with selections that made it.

So while the foundation is being laid for what we all hope will be future success, it was interesting to see that there was really no shortage of good players who fit what Patricia wants to do and build here.

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This dream team of Lions defenders playing in this defense would be a nightmare for any offense, past or present to go against. Who would you add to this defense?