Detroit Lions mentor Matt Patricia speaks to the media at the NFL mix on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Indianapolis.
Dave Birkett, Detroit Cost-free Push
Cost-free Push sports activities writer Carlos Monarrez responses a few thoughts just after Detroit Lions typical supervisor Bob Quinn and head mentor Matt Patricia spoke to reporters on Wednesday at the NFL mix in Indianapolis.
Did Bob Quinn just say he was open up to drafting Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray?
Yes! Effectively, sort of. Quinn reaffirmed the assertion he designed two months back to year-ticket holders about drafting any placement at any time, together with a quarterback with the eighth in general decide on in the NFL draft. Of class, this could also indicate he’s open up to drafting Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins. But it’s substantial Quinn said this at the mix, where the most popular topic is Murray’s sizing and measurables. Regardless of whether you chalk it up to gamesmanship or Quinn testing the waters of general public view on drafting Murray, it’s a fascinating assertion that comes significantly less than two months just after he said the Lions can win a Super Bowl with Matthew Stafford. For the report, I’ve advocated the Lions draft Murray and also sign free-agent functioning again Le’Veon Bell. Indulge me for a moment and visualize a Lions offense with Murray beneath heart and Bell in the backfield. Naaah! Who would watch that?
Extra: Central Michigan star could get Lions’ awareness at mix
Quinn said he’s not “against” drafting a limited end with the No. 8 decide on. Are we searching at a different Eric Ebron circumstance?
Make sure you, for the love of all that is holy, do not draft a limited end. Each school limited end who can catch is invariably mentioned as the upcoming Rob Gronkowski. But even Gronk was not taken until finally the 2nd spherical. That’s since limited end is an very demanding placement that’s normally slow to acquire. Gronk was not good until finally Year 2. Jimmy Graham and Travis Kelce ended up taken in the 3rd spherical and weren’t good right absent. Tony Gonzalez was the 13th in general decide on and he didn’t catch additional than two landing passes until finally his 3rd calendar year. With Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew’s struggles even now refreshing in fans’ minds, I can’t visualize the stress and unfair expectations someone like Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson would experience in Detroit. It’s the only placement Quinn must rule out from drafting in the first spherical.
What do you make of Patricia stating he “didn’t genuinely know” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell until finally he invested a few times with him all through the using the services of procedure?
I’m apprehensive about it. Coaching is additional about managing relationships than it is drawing up X’s and O’s. That’s why it’s rare in the NFL’s tiny-club culture for head coaches to hire major assistants with whom they have no previous romantic relationship. If this ended up a different mentor, like Jim Caldwell, it may possibly not subject. But Patricia does not have a track record for being a nurturing, heat-and-fuzzy person. He’s an acquired style who just concluded a rocky first calendar year. Bevell is likely to have his fingers whole applying his program, discovering to do the job for Patricia, and receiving the most out of Matthew Stafford, who has turned into the equivalent of NFL coaching hemlock. Patricia did say “everything clicked” when he satisfied Bevell, so at least there’s an preliminary spark of chemistry. Let’s just hope it does not blow up at the first sign of difficulty.
[ Why Lions’ new offensive coordinator is built to win: ‘Frickin’ Darrell Bevell’ ]
Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com or observe him on Twitter @cmonarrez.
