It is often said football is not rocket science.
But just in case, the Lions are leaving nothing to chance. They plan to hire a rocket scientist.
All signs continue to point to New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as the next coach in the Motor City, with ESPN reporting Sunday the two sides need only to agree to final contract details once the Patriots’ season ends.
Many suggest this will be a home run hire, and I suppose that could be true. If you’re supposed to hire the opposite of the guy you just fired — a fallacy, by the way — this would be Exhibit A. Jim Caldwell was offensive-minded and old school. Patricia — who studied aeronautical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — is a defensive-minded would-be hipster. You’ve seen him. Big, bushy beard. Pencil behind the ear. Backward cap. ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE DOING IT!
He can coach, too. Since Patricia became the Pats’ coordinator in 2012, the Evil Empire is 75-21 and second in the league in scoring defense in that span (19.2 points per game).
Add in the comfort factor between the 43-year-old Patricia and Lions general manager Bob Quinn — a former Patriots personnel man — and it all makes sense.
But should Lions fans really be excited about landing a Bill Belichick assistant?
This isn’t exactly the Bill Walsh coaching tree here. My impression is the imperious Belichick gives his assistants next to no autonomy, which means you never know who is truly ready to step into the big chair.
Look at the last five assistants who went from the Patriots straight to a top NFL or college job: Romeo Crennell, Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniels, Charlie Weis, and Bill O’Brien. O’Brien is by far the most successful of the bunch, but hardly a home run. After two mostly impressive years at Penn State, he is 31-33 in four seasons with the Houston Texans.
Maybe all it will take is a rocket scientist to change the trend. Or maybe the Lions are overthinking this.
Contact David Briggs at dbriggs@theblade.com, 419-724-6084, or on Twitter @DBriggsBlade.
First Published January 15, 2018, 2:00 p.m.
