Patricia brings roar to Lions
Detroit’s new head coach not afraid to vent his frustrations on gridiron
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Matt Patricia worked in relative obscurity in New England.
The burly man with a bushy beard, baseball cap on backward, with a pencil above his right ear was noticed only occasionally while co-ordinating the Patriots’ defence.
As a first-year NFL head coach with the Detroit Lions, his every move and word have been watched and listened to while reporters have had access to him and his team during mini-camp and off-season workouts. Patricia’s past has also been scrutinized.
What does Patricia know about the job now that he didn’t know a few months ago?
“Kind of everything,” Patricia said Monday. “Everything is new. Everything is different.”
A Detroit News report last month shed light on allegations against Patricia from 1996, when he and a friend were indicted 22 years ago by a Texas grand jury on one count each of aggravated sexual assault. The accuser did not testify and the case was dismissed.
Patricia has said he was falsely accused. The Lions have said a pre-employment background check did not reveal the incident, adding they are standing by Patricia. The NFL determined allegations against Patricia are not subject to its personal conduct policy.
While not referring specifically to the fallout from the allegations, Patricia acknowledged his job description includes more than Xs and Os on the football field.
“The requirements are different,” he said. “So, that’s kind of the biggest adjustment from that standpoint.”
The Lions are making adjustments, too, under Patricia after practicing and playing for Jim Caldwell the previous four seasons.
“He’s a guy that’s going to push you and try to get the best out of you every day,” cornerback Nevin Lawson said.
Patricia lashed out at his players last week, screaming for them to move faster from one drill to another with words not fit to print. Caldwell wasn’t heard yelling at players when the media was around and players didn’t hear him use profanity even privately.
“Coach Patricia is an intense guy,” tight end Michael Roberts said. “He’s a smart guy. Obviously, he knows what he is doing. Things were done differently last year. He comes in with his way of doing things. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. He says that a lot.”
Return specialist Jamal Agnew was one of the many players who mentioned “high expectations” when asked about Patricia. And Agnew doesn’t have a problem trying to live up to lofty goals with the Lions under their hard-driving coach.
“He’s won,” Agnew said. “He’s played winning football.”
The 43-year-old Patricia helped New England win three Super Bowls over 14 years, working as its defensive co-ordinator the last six seasons. He was hired by Lions general manager Bob Quinn, who had his eye on Patricia as a candidate after working together for a dozen years with the Patriots.
Lions linebacker Jonathan Freeny, one of a handful of former Patriots playing on Detroit’s roster, said Patricia looks and sounds like the same coach he was in New England.
“He brings the same enthusiasm — same intensity — to the game every day,” Freeny said.