Detroit Lions: What does the Darrell Bevell hiring mean?
By Robert Jones
Ultimately the idea that Darrell Bevell has come to Detroit to just run a bland, boring ground game for the Lions with the notion that Stafford is not needed or that anyone could quarterback this system is false.
Just shortly after the news broke and I was preparing to pen this article, a friend of mine called and said, ‘Can you believe the news? What was Matt Patrica thinking? Where’s the innovative offensive genius we were supposed to get?’
While I admit this wasn’t the hiring I wanted, it also wasn’t unexpected. Consider this; the final four teams that will compete this weekend for a trip to the Super Bowl all run the ball well. The Rams, Chiefs, and Saints are all known for their aerial fireworks (not that Tom Brady can’t sling around), but all three of them, along with the Patriots, can grind away a defense on the ground.
Here’s the bottom line; Matt Patricia believes in a balanced attack and Lions fans have been screaming for a ground game for several years. This should be a match made in heaven.
Yet if we go further, Patricia will only be successful if he runs this team his way. I don’t mean that like he has all the answers. But the point is he won’t succeed doing it someone else’s way. It has to be his way or the highway.
The very fact that this choice hasn’t been echoed as a great hire by the whole city of Detroit is a testament to the fact that Darrell Bevell is Patricia’s choice and who he feels comfortable with to run the offense just as he believes it should be run.
It should also be pointed out that much like how his defensive philosophy was molded in New England, it would be surprising that he doesn’t envision his offense being just like that of the Patriots, since a great majority of what we’ve discussed in this article about Bevell’s offense encompasses much of what New England does offensively.
Next. Lions draft picks - The good, the bad, and the ugly since 2010. dark
That doesn’t mean that Bevell is as innovative as Josh McDaniels, but it means he will craft an offense that will run the ball well and more importantly he will hopefully resurrect Matthew Stafford’s career.
No one can say for sure yet whether Darrell Bevell was the right hiring or not, but this much we can say; the fate of Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia are probably relying on it.