The New England Patriot’s offensive and defensive coordinators could end up anywhere next season.
With the coaching roulette well underway with the end of the 2017 NFL regular season, the time has come to sit down and speculate where Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels could end up next season. We will go with the top two prospects for each coach, for the available head coach positions.
Josh McDaniels:
Detroit Lions
The Lions are an obvious choice for McDaniels. With quarterback Matthew Stafford and the available cap space next season this is a premier destination for the Patriots Offensive coordinator.
In Detroit, McDaniels would have the opportunity to build around with a team who ranked 13 in total offense during the regular season. The one main concern for the offensive minded coach would be to establish a better run game either by picking up a big free agent or bringing missing pieces for the offensive line.
Chicago Bears
Influencing an offensive with a second-year quarterback could go one of two ways. Either it’s a big success or the biggest flop of your coaching career. The opportunity is there for McDaniels with quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
Being in the top 10 in total defense, the Bears have the best shot at landing McDaniels because the biggest need for improvement is on the offensive side of the ball. With a solid run game with running backs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen, the need to develop an offensive line and build around Trubisky will be the biggest focal point for the incoming head coach.
Matt Patricia:
Oakland Raiders
Although rumors swirling around about Jon Gruden returning to the Silver and Black, there is still a chance that the deal falls through. This could lead to a potential move for Patricia. Offensively the Raiders look set for a good for the upcoming season but, the defense still needs a lot of help.
Defensive end Khalil Mack is still their biggest defensive threat. With his 10.5 total sacks this season, Mack is one of the elite defensive players that a coach could build around. With the help of Patricia, the Raiders could get the defensive pieces they need in place in time to start the next regular season.
Detroit Lions
I know it seems strange to have both coaches for the same position but, here is why Patricia would make sense as a head coach for the Lions. Ranked 27 in the league in defense, the front seven of the Lions needs some serious help. How do you attract big free agent signings? Bring one of the league’s best defensive minds as your head coach.
Patricia could attract big-name stars like defensive tackle Dontari Poe and others while, at the same time, letting go inconsistent players like defensive end Ziggy Ansah. Once the front seven is solidified, then the defensive scheming can begin.
Patricia, under the guidance of head coach Bill Belichick, has the ability to put players in positions where they will excel. Not expecting them to do more than they can and adjusting from situation to situation could just be what could help make the Lion’s defense become one of the best in the league.
With the interviews well underway, we won’t know anything until the Patriots’ season is over. With all that being said, both could end up staying right where they are. This happens every year. All teams want to interview the two best coordinators in the league, but at the end of the day, Patricia and McDaniels look best in Patriots colors.
