Detroit Lions: Offseason moves will most likely decide this regime’s fate

No one’s packing their bags yet

There has been no official announcement as yet whether Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia will be retained for next season, but neither of them seems to be packing their bags either. So unless something changes over the course of these final three agonizing games, there seems to be a good chance that Quinn and Patricia will return next season.

Patricia has already told the press that we all need to be patient and believe in the ‘process’. He has admitted that there was more rebuilding here to be done than expected but has not made any big promises about next season or beyond.

I’m sure his weekly meetings with Martha Firestone Ford have been more specific. I also think he has pointed out how hard the team has played for him and that until last Sunday, they have led in every game this season.

How he has explained the poor performance by his defense is the big mystery. Entering the season we all expected big things from this unit, but they haven’t performed anywhere near that level.

Sure they have had injuries, but the issue seems to go much deeper than that. The defensive line has not been close to the factor they have to be in order for this scheme to work. The linebacker play has been spotty and the secondary has taken a step backward since the trade of safety Quandre Diggs, who happens to be playing extremely well in Seattle.

Matt Patricia said they would build this team from the ‘ball out’. That means improving the offensive line, which still needs help, but also on defense which starts with the defensive tackles and middle linebackers.

Defensive tackle, Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison, held out over the offseason for a new contract and was eventually rewarded with one just before the start of the season. Unfortunately his play this year hasn’t warranted that move.

Meanwhile, we continue to wait for the lights to go on for middle linebacker Jarrad Davis. No one can question his attitude or work ethic, but his results on the field continue to be inconsistent and this causes problems both against the run and in coverage which isn’t his strength to begin with.

What does all this mean? It means that Quinn and Patricia haven’t done a good job with their blueprint for success and if they are retained, then their offseason itinerary is already laid out for them.