Detroit Lions didn’t need a rebuild, but their getting one

This season was supposed to be the year the Detroit Lions got themselves over the playoff hump. Instead, they’ve taken a major step backwards.

When the Detroit Lions made the decision to move on from head coach Jim Caldwell, it was despite him leading the team to three winning seasons and two playoff berths in an impressive four-year run. But it was his lack of playoff success in Detroit that sent Caldwell packing.

General manager Bob Quinn inherited Caldwell when the former New England Patriots’ Director of pro scouting joined the Pride in 2016. And that odd couple finished the next two seasons together leading the Lions to back-to-back 9-7 records, earning a postseason bid in 2016.

But Quinn and the Lions made the bold move to fire Caldwell at the end of last season in an attempt to get Motown over the playoff hump. In his place the prize of the 2018 coaching carousal, Matt Patricia, was hired. The Patriots’ defensive coordinator since 2012, multiple Super Bowl winner and literal rocket scientist seemed like the perfect fit.

This mad genius of defense would become a head coach for the first time in Detroit in an attempt to take this team to the next level. This wasn’t a rebuild. This was adding a key piece to a possible championship puzzle.

Sure, the Lions needed to retool the defense. Patricia’s complicated defensive scheme which employs multiple formations and coverages would be a stiff learning curve for some. And getting more players with positional flex would be key to making it work. Still, in Detroit, Patricia would have more talent on the defensive side of the ball than he ever did in New England.

Pro Bowlers like defensive end Ziggy Ansah, cornerback Darius Slay and safety Glover Quinn combined with 2017 first round linebacker Jarrad Davis represented a strong foundation Patricia could build his new defense upon.

And rookies like first and second round selections in guard Frank Ragnow and running back Kerryon Johnson only made what was already a top-tier passing offense more balanced and dangerous.

This wasn’t supposed to be a rebuilding season in Detroit. This was supposed the year the Lions recorded their first playoff victory since 1992. Now it appears the Motor City will post their worst record since 2012 instead. And Patricia and company will get to work rebuilding this roster.

This is not the result the Detroit Lions expected or their fans deserve. Although there are reasons for hope in 2019, Detroit undoubtedly took a major step backwards this season under Matt Patricia. And that was not the plan.