Patriots: Matt Patricia returning proves the system revolves around Bill Belichick
By Jerry Trotta
Matt Patricia returning to the Patriots is actually a great look for Bill Belichick.
New England Patriots fans were hit with some fairly unsurprising news on Friday when it was reported that former assistant Matt Patricia will return to the coaching staff in 2021.
This reunion was written in the stars pretty much the second that the Detroit Lions decided to fire him in the middle of the season amid their 3-4 start. It remains to be seen what role Patricia will assume, but you have to think it’ll be something similar to what he held during his previous stint from 2004 to 2017.
Despite notching an upset victory over the Patriots in his first season, it became evident pretty early during his tenure that he was never going to pan out as a head coach. In fact, Patricia’s canning added yet another failure to Bill Belichick’s hit-or-miss coaching tree, and the former DC returning to where it all started proves that the system revolves around the 68-year-old legend.
The #Patriots are bringing back Matt Patricia, per @globejimmcbride. He will assist the team’s coaching staff in a variety of roles. But the former #Lions HC is back with Bill Belichick.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 22, 2021
That’s simply the only conclusion to draw from Patricia’s return. Just this past season, we saw the likes of Dan Quinn and Bill O’Brien, both of whom used Belichick’s system to jumpstart their head coaching careers, get fired by their respective organizations.
In Patricia’s case, he, convinced that he had mastered the system, decided to branch out from his mentor and implement said philosophy in Detroit. To say that he failed with flying colors would be an understatement as the Lions finished 13-29-1 (.314 win percentage) over his two-plus seasons.
Perhaps more damning on his resume is the fact that Detroit’s defense never improved under his tutelage. After a promising debut campaign in 2018, the group ranked 31st in the league in total yards allowed per game (400.4) in 2019 and dead-last in both yards (419.8) and points allowed per game (32.4) this past season.
New: Matt Patricia is coming back to New England and will assist the Patriots coaching staff in a variety of roles, a league source confirmed. In addition, Evan Rothstein, who worked in a several roles with the Lions, also will join New England's staff. https://t.co/dUpYe8C1tl
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) January 22, 2021
Left with no alternative options after zero teams with coaching vacancies requested to interview him, Patricia predictably returned to the Patriots. And you know what? We don’t blame him. After all, they offer him a clear-cut recipe for success — taking a distant backseat on the coaching front while letting Belichick call the shots and pull the strings on defense.
