Riggo's Rag
FanSided

NFL Coach Power Rankings: Where Jay Gruden fits in among the 32 coaches

By Jacob Camenker

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/ Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/ Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 33
Next
ALLEN PARK, MI – FEBRUARY 07: Matt Patricia speaks at a press conference after being hired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ALLEN PARK, MI – FEBRUARY 07: Matt Patricia speaks at a press conference after being hired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

player. 50. . Head Coach. Detroit Lions. Matt Patricia. 22

Matt Patricia is one of the new head coaches that I have the most faith in. He has a really solid defensive mind, and he comes with a boatload of experience working under Bill Belichick.

Patricia had been the defensive coordinator of the Patriots from 2011 through the 2018 postseason, and he really did a great job. He helped to master the bend but don’t break technique of the Patriots, and the team had a top 10 scoring defense every year that Patricia was the coordinator. That type of remarkable consistency is what landed him a job with the Lions.

It is worth noting that while Patricia’s defenses were good at holding teams to few points, they were erratic in terms of their ability to stop opposing teams from moving the ball. In his six years as the team’s defensive coordinator, the Patriots thrice finished in the top 13 in yards allowed and thrice finished 25th or lower. However, the scoring defense is obviously more important, but this is just something to watch in case the Lions don’t adapt to the system as well as the Patriots players did.

Speaking of the Patriots players, it is impressive what Patricia was able to do when considering the personnel he was given. Because of the Patriot Way, Belichick jettisoned a couple of talented defenders before and during the 2016 season. They were Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins. These were the two most dynamic players on the defense, and Jones was an elite edge rusher during his time in New England. Still, Patricia made do with what he had.

In 2016, Patricia fielded the Patriots’ top stop unit, ranking eighth in yards allowed and No. 1 in scoring defense. He did this despite those losses and having to deal with a banged up Dont’a Hightower towards the end of the season. So needless to say, Patricia has the ability to help coach up defensive personnel and he can get defenses to exceed expectations.

With the Lions, Patricia should be a good fit. General Manager Bob Quinn worked with Patricia in New England, and the Lions have a strong enough roster to compete in the NFC. Patricia figures to be a good head coach, and there’s a good chance he could climb in these rankings once the season starts. For now, he’s just an unproven, potential-packed candidate.

Home/Commanders News