Matt Patricia had a rough first year coaching the Detroit Lions. The former Patriots defensive coordinator took the plunge into the head coaching ranks, and things started off in disastrous fashion. In his very first game, the Lions were blown out by Sam Darnold and the Jets on Monday Night Football.
The Lions ended up going 6-10, and they were often a mess on both sides of the ball. Patricia is maintaining control of the defense, but he decided to overhaul his offense this offseason. He fired the offensive coordinator he inherited, Jim Bob Cooter, and replaced him with Darrell Bevell.
Speaking to the media recently, Matt Patricia indicated they're more or less starting from scratch on offense, per Chris Burke of The Athletic.
“I guess, for us right now, we’re just trying to get the best players we can in each position,” Patricia said last week when asked about the adjustment at tight end. “I would say on the offensive side of the ball, everything has kind of been starting new with the addition of (offensive coordinator) Darrell Bevell and a new system. At this point, it’s all kind of (starting) over from that aspect of it.”
It's not just the system that will be different. The Lions also had a lot of turnover in terms of personnel. The team shipped out receiver Golden Tate at the trade deadline last year. It made tight end a priority this offseason. The Lions drafted T.J. Hockenson eighth and also signed Jesse James in free agency.
If the Lions don't rebound next year, Matt Patricia could find himself on the hot seat. Bevell did some good work with Russell Wilson in Seattle, so hopefully he can get things turned around for Matthew Stafford and Company.
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