Detroit Lions: Bob Quinn, Matt Patricia do it their way
By Robert Jones
The Detroit Lions brass of Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia have proven that whether it works or not, they will run this franchise their way.
Another NFL draft has come and gone and once again the Detroit Lions‘ fan base has been left to debate whether their team got it right or wrong.
Leading up to the draft there had been so much talk in the media and even among the fans that there was no way the Lions would do the unthinkable and draft a tight end with their first pick again. Not after the great Eric Ebron debacle.
Yet general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia clearly were unconcerned about the public sentiment and sang their own version of Frank Sinatra’s old classic ‘My way’, by selecting Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson with the eighth overall selection.
Then, in case there was any uncertainty among the media and fans about what tune Quinn and Patricia were playing, they used their second-round pick on Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai.
There can be no mistaking that Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia will run this franchise their way. Whether we all agree or disagree with any of their moves, they have a game plan that they will not deviate from regardless of media or fan backlash.
Fans feared a repeat of the whole Eric Ebron fiasco, but Quinn took Hockenson. Fans looked for the biggest name on the board to be their pick in the second round and the Lions dropped Tavai on us, leaving everyone scratching their heads and scrambling to find out who he was.
The result has been mixed reviews among the media and fan base. The experts on ESPN or the NFL Network and have all agreed that the Lions are following a clear blueprint to follow in the footsteps of Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia’s former team the New England Patriots.
Yet everyone has pointed out that the success of the Patriots can’t be transplanted to Detroit or anywhere else without the master, Bill Belichick, orchestrating it. But is there a chance that ‘everyone’ is wrong?