Matt Patricia might be back next season, but changes are almost assuredly coming to his coaching staff.
"Significant changes," according to the Free Press.
Per multiple reports, it is the expectation of Lions ownership that Patricia will shuffle up his assistants in 2020, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
This shouldn't come as a surprise. Detroit's defense has been one of the worst in the league this season, costing the team dearly along the way. With even a league-average defense, the Lions could have been in the thick of the division race at the halfway point.
Instead, they were 3-4-1 and all but finished.
Things haven't gotten any better since.
The most obvious name on the chopping block is defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. An ally of Patricia from their days together at Syracuse, he was brought on board to help implement Patricia's scheme. That scheme has failed.
Fair or not, it's almost certain Pasqualoni will be let go at the end of the season. And it's likely his replacement will bring his own ideas to the table, rather than simply echoing those of Patricia.
Elsewhere on the defensive staff, it's possible that defensive line coach Bo Davis, linebackers coach Al Golden and defensive backs coach Brian Stewart could be dismissed as well. None of those position groups, especially the defensive line, played up to expectations this season.
Most of the coaches on the other side of the ball figure to be safe. Matthew Stafford and the Lions took a big step forward under first-year offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. While the running game remains a struggle, the passing attack has been one of the best in the NFL.
