5 head coaching candidates for the Detroit Lions this offseason

Matt Patrica wasn’t the answer for the Detroit Lions. Whoever is next will need to fix the franchise fast.

Jim Caldwell was fired after three winning seasons with the Detroit Lions. The reasoning? He didn’t win enough. Four years and two trips to the postseason wasn’t the plan for the Ford Family.

They wanted a winner and Matt Patricia had all the qualities to bring the Patriot way to the Motor City.

Three years later, the team is completely starting fresh once more.

Detroit fired Patricia after he posted a career record of 13-29-1. A Thanksgiving showdown against the the lowly Texans was the breaking point, meaning the whole front office would be getting an upgrade. And with the NFC North soon to be wide open, the next head coach will need to have that “it factor” mentality to be successful.

So, who is best suited for the job?

Five coaches the Lions should consider hiring this offseason

Matt Eberflus

Defensive Coordnator Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts have cooled down during the past month of play. The once-feared defense has allowed the Texans and Steelers to nearly complete three different comebacks and handed them three losses.

Since Matt Eberflus took over as Indy DC in 2018, run defense has been among the NFL’s best. But Titans/Henry factor undeniable.

Flus’ run D in 37 games vs. NFL: 93.8 yds/gm, 3.8/att.
5 games vs. Henry/Titans: 123.9/game, 4.8/att.
Only 1 back has hit 100: Henry. Twice.

— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) November 27, 2020

However, let’s look at the team head on. More than anything, defensive play is why the Colts’ third season under Frank Reich will be viewed as a success for the future. It also will have Matt Eberflus starting to trend in the right direction for a head coaching position.

Since taking over, Indianapolis’ defense has been a blessing in disguise, overshadowing average quarterback play in 2019. With the addition of DeForest Buckner, the run defense ranks inside the top two on yards per play. They also are top five in takeaways (24) and look vastly improved in the secondary.

Eberflus has been around the league for years and has left every defense in good hands prior to his departure. The Colts are likely to finish top 10 in every defensive category this season despite and a lackluster ending. For that alone, Eberflus will at least be a name to watch for over the next two hiring cycles.

This article was originally published by Fansided.com. Read the original article here.