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2018 NFL Head Coach Hire Grades: Who Did/Didn’t Do Well?

By Erik Lambert

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden speaks during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden speaks during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 13: Defensive Coodinator Matt Patricia of the New England Patriots reacts in the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 13: Defensive Coodinator Matt Patricia of the New England Patriots reacts in the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Detroit Lions:  Matt Patricia

There was always a plan with this move. What about the Detroit Lions has made them a success to this point? That of course is quarterback Matthew Stafford. Together with offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter they’ve consistently put up yards and points for the past three seasons. Detroit has finished with back-to-back 9-7 seasons and scored 410 points. That’s the second-most in the Stafford era. It feels like the one thing holding this team back from a deep playoff run is the defense.

Hence the interest in Matt Patricia. Of course there’s the Patriots connection between him and Lions GM Bob Quinn. That certainly smooths out the process. At the same time Patricia is overwhelmingly qualified for the job they need done. He has consistently been the best defensive coordinator in football for the past five years and has the rings to prove it. His units have never finished worse than 10th in points allowed. He’s intelligent, detailed and a motivator. Unfortunately he’s done all his damage under Belichick. So there is an unknown to this move.

Grade:  A

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