With coaching vacancies the Detroit Lions have work to do

Embed from Getty Images Tuesday the Detroit Lions gave six assistant coach’s pink slips. Yesterday, two Lions coach’s announced they were leaving coaching. Also yesterday the Detroit coaching staff was confirmed to be coaching the Senior Bowl. The Lions have three weeks to fill eight coaching positions in order to be able to coach the Bowl game.

The Detroit Lions will have a new defensive coordinator in 2020. Paul Pasqualoni, who  oversaw the Detroit Lions defense the past two seasons and the second worst defense this season, announced Thursday that he’s stepping away from football because the Lions said he wants “to be closer to his family.”

In more of a surprise, offensive line coach Jeff Davidson also is taking what the team described as an “indefinite leave” of absence from coaching. Davidson worked wonders for the Lions offensive line.

The Senior Bowl is widely viewed as the most prestigious college all-star game. Last year’s event showcased 40 players who were taken on the first two days of the NFL draft, including 10 first round picks and 93 drafted players overall. This year’s game is Jan. 25 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia, now has a lot of work in just three weeks. Patricia needs to find a: Special teams coordinator, linebackers coach, assistant strength and performance coach, Football performance coordinator,  Defensive backs coach, tight ends coach as well as a defensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

In my opinion, Patricia will move quickly. Really he has no other choice. It is possible he has already in mind the coach’s he would like. Coaching in the Senior Bowl is considered a serious advantage because it gives teams an opportunity to actually work with prospects and put them through drills, rather than just seeing them rip a 40 yard dash at the NFL combine or a pro day. Usually the two worst teams in the league that didn’t make a coaching change land the gig.  Detroit picks at No. 3 in the first round of the draft.

Both Patricia and Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn are excited about the opportunity to head to Alabama. Its is a golden chance to see talent up close. But before then there is work to do. Lions fans can expect to hear about new coach’s in the next two weeks.