Detroit Lions: 5 Replacements for Matt Patricia as head coach
By Tayyib Abu
Detroit Lions head coach candidate No. 1: Robert Saleh, 49ers DC
Robert Saleh is undoubtedly the favorite for the Detroit Lions head coach job. The current 49ers defensive coordinator is building an impressive resume in the Bay Area. His defense was dominant as it powered San Francisco to the Super Bowl a year ago.
Saleh brings a ferocious attitude to the sidelines and he is a leader of men. The defense plays with that same ferocity and aggression. This year, that unit has been decimated by injuries, yet it is still a top-15 unit. That says that Saleh can build gameplans around the personnel he has. He is not reliant on one key player.
That skill will be vital in Detroit. The Lions have no game-changing defensive players but the scheme Matt Patricia employed did not work either. Saleh has clearly shown he can do more with less. Saleh has been in the NFL for a long time as he was part of the Seattle staff that won a championship. He is exactly what the Lions need: a tough, passionate, smart coach who can lead a group of grown men.
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The other bonus of Saleh is that he was born and raised in Dearborn, MI. He was a Lions fan as a child and went to Michigan. Lions fans want someone who connects with them, who brings the same passion to the job as they do to supporting the team. Saleh ticks that box. The defensive coordinator could be the perfect man for the job.