The Detroit Lions will be putting it on the line this offseason
By Robert Jones
The Detroit Lions have multiple needs this offseason, but as we get ready for free agency and the draft, the line of scrimmage is in the spotlight.
The Detroit Lions are one year into the regime of general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia and so far it has not gone the way fans envisioned it would.
Both Quinn and Patricia came to Detroit from the New England Patriots. Quinn was a bright young mind in the scouting department when the Lions hired him three years ago. Patricia was the man in charge of the Patriots stingy defenses that sometimes bent, but seldom broke.
Together they became the symbol of hope for long-suffering Lions fans. It was a combination that had known nothing but winning. Until they got to Detroit that is.
Yet it certainly seemed crazy enough to work. Now one year later both men are sitting on relatively hot seats.
They are expected to win. Starting now. Last year’s inaugural season together was a disappointing 6-10 failure. Especially coming off back-to-back 9-7 seasons.
Even more so in light of Bob Quinn’s announcement that 9-7 wasn’t good enough when he let former head coach Jim Caldwell go. So after setting the bar, then tumbling under it like a12 jointed limbo dancer last season, the fans are at the door expecting results.
They’ve also brought their torches and pitchforks in case.
Leading the charge is the fired up media that believe this regime is destined to fail like all their predecessors. It’s quickly becoming One Pride of anarchy.
The mandate from everyone, fans, media and ownership alike is the same; win now. No more waiting. Just get it right and start winning.
But despite the impatience and negativity on many fronts, this regime has set a course that has been the backbone of contenders for decades and given the right moves and just a little time, they may just pull off what we’ve all been impatiently waiting for; building a contender.