(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
With new head coach Sean Payton in place, the Denver Broncos are looking to fill out his staff, and they have turned their attention to the defensive coordinator spot.
Matt Patricia, the New England Patriots’ former defensive coordinator, has reportedly emerged as a candidate.
While some fans may be okay with him filling that role for Denver, Warren Sharp pointed out that his last several teams have done poorly on the defensive side of the football.
last 6 years for Matt Patricia:
#28 offense in 2022 (NE)
<advisory role in 2021 (NE)>
#32 defense in 2020 (DET)
#29 defense in 2019 (DET)
#23 defense in 2018 (DET)
#27 defense in 2017 (NE)
not one thing “intriguing” about this candidate https://t.co/sGuZ5xlBNs
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 23, 2023
Patricia started his NFL coaching career back in 2004 when he was hired to be Bill Belichick’s offensive assistant.
Prior to that, he had served on the coaching staff of three different college teams, including Syracuse University.
After spending one year as an offensive assistant in New England, Patricia was an offensive line assistant, linebackers coach, and safeties coach for Tom Brady and company.
In 2012, after the team lost a second Super Bowl to Eli Manning and the New York Giants, he was promoted to defensive coordinator, a role he held until the 2017 campaign.
Although the Patriots were a poor defensive team in Patricia’s last year as their defensive coordinator, they did finish ninth and eighth in total yards allowed in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
It should be pointed out that in 2017, star linebacker Dont’a Hightower played just five games.
The Broncos’ defense was surprisingly solid in 2022, ranking seventh in total yards allowed, but it could improve, as it gave up a whopping 51 points to a hobbling Los Angeles Rams team on Christmas Day.
If quarterback Russell Wilson has permanently declined, it will be up to Denver’s defense to get it to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
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