Matt Patricia makes sense for Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals will now look to find Bruce Arians’ successor. They need not look any further than New England Patriots defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia
If there were any fruit you’d like to pick from inside the NFL’s garden, it most certainly would be one from a Bill Belichick coaching tree.
Since 2000, Belichick has composed, perhaps, one of the greatest stretches of success as a head coach in NFL history. During his 18-year tenure with the Patriots, he’s won 214 regular season games (.743), 15 division titles, 25 playoff wins and 5 Super Bowls titles.
He’s also had quite the NFL coaching tree spout during that time, as well. Belichick, over the years, has groomed the likes of Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Bill O’brien, Nick Saban and Jim Schwartz.
His latest protege, and current defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia, is an up-and-coming star amongst NFL assistants.
The 43-year-old has never played a down in the NFL, but was an offensive lineman in college. He played for the Engineers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. In other words, he’s a rocket scientist coaching football.
Patricia started with Belichick in 2004 as an offensive assistant, moving in the ranks ever since. Promoted, in 2005, to assistant offensive line coach; then in 2006, to the defensive side of the ball, coaching linebackers until the end of the 2010 season.
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In 2011, he bacame the safeties coach. Impressed with his progression, Billichick then made him defensive coordinator in 2012, and has been there ever since, making quite the name for himself.
In 6 years as the DC, Patricia has had a top-10 defense in scoring every year, including first overall in 2016.
With Arians now gone, the Cardinals will have some huge shoes to fill. Matt Patricia will fill those quite nicely.
Team President Michael Bidwill has stated that they will do their “due diligence in finding the best head coach to lead this team” moving forward.
A DC who has served as Bill Billichick’s right-hand man, and has won 3 Super Bowl rings in the process, will alleviate any concerns Cardinal fans have about the future of this football club.
Hire Matt Patricia — just make sure there’s enough pencil sharpeners for the rocket scientist and his No. 2 pencil.