New head coach Patricia brings roar back to Lions
Detroit’s new field boss is not afraid to vent his frustrations on the 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 offseason 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 preemployment 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.
The Lions are making adjustments under Patricia.
“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, even if team policy allowed it. Jim 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.”
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.