Author: Paula Pasche

ALLEN PARK — All eyes have been on the defense through the offseason, including on Monday, the last day of Detroit Lions’ organized team activities open to the media.

Certainly the offense will undergo some changes (especially in the run game), but it’s the defense that requires the massive overhaul. It’s exactly why a defensive-minded head coach like Matt Patricia was hired.

So far?

Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson (in photo) expects the defense to improve over last year when it was ranked 27th overall, giving up 355.8 yards per game.

“Because I feel like we’re willing to learn, everyday we ask questions, we come in with the mindset to get better, the mindset to finding a way understand the defense more,’’ Lawson said on Monday. “I know it’s something new for u,s but the only way we’re going to get it is by repetition, doing it over and over.’’

Linebacker Jonathan Freeny, who was signed as a free agent, played for Patricia in 2015, 2016 and part of 2017 in New England where Patricia was the defensive coordinator.

“He’s the same guy, brings the same enthusiasm, same intensity to the game.  Every day he’s just trying to get better,’’ Freeny said.

Patricia has gotten to know the players and seems satisfied (so far) with their grasp of his defense. (Note the word, phenomenal.)

“Our guys have come in every single day and really tried to learn and study. This is a great group. These guys care about football, they love the game, they work at it. They really try to do everything we’re asking them to do at a high level. Absolutely, from that standpoint these guys have been phenomenal,’’ Patricia said on Monday. “We have high standards. We’re going to live to those. We’re going to expect them. …’’

After this week’s OTAs, the Lions will have several weeks off before reporting back to training camp around July 26.

When the pads go on in training camp, it will be easier to judge where the defense stands.

ALLEN PARK — With the coaching change bringing Matt Patricia in as head coach for the Detroit Lions, changes were inevitable. That was the whole point.

Recently it’s been reported that the New England Patriots, where Patricia spent the last 14 seasons, don’t have fun at practice. “I think for us we’re just trying to go out there and get better. I think that’s the main focus for us. We’re trying to improve. We’re trying to learn. We’re trying to do a better job than we did the day before and that’s really the main focus for us,’’ Patricia said.

After three days of mandatory minicamp, here are a few observations on Patricia

1. Wasn’t a surprise when Patricia was asked about rookie fullback Nick Bawden going down at practice on Wednesday. He won’t talk injuries. His reply when asked about Bawden on Thursday morning: “At football practice we’re trying to make sure everyone is put in the best position possible. I don’t have any comment or discussion about anything in that situation. Just unfortunately he couldn’t finish practice. In general, for me, for everybody here injuries will be something that we definitely don’t talk about outside of our own little world. …” He went on and on. It’s his way of saying, “Check the report.” This has been modus operandi for Lions coaches going back to at least Jim Schwartz. Although Schwartz was a little more forthcoming with injury info than Caldwell. Expect Patricia to be more evasive. Just an educated guess – it’s the Patriot way. Patricia, like Schwartz, is in his first stint as an NFL head coach.

2. Which player will start where? First, it’s too early to know in many cases. Second, Patricia will not reveal. Many fans were frustrated that they couldn’t get more information out of Caldwell. Guess what? Patricia could be more tight-lipped. He has changed since his introductory press conference.

3. Patricia is all about football. It’s early and it’s key that he gets his points across to the 90 players on the roster. Getting to know players off the field? Not on his current agenda, but that could happen with training camp. In his first year, Jim Caldwell took all the different position groups out to dinner — let them pick the restaurants. Not uncommon for coaches to try to bond with players and we’ll might see that down the road.

4. Minicamp drills are shorter than previously. Players move around the three fields more often. Patricia’s goal is to keep them working and squeeze every minute out of his available time with them. He’s mentioned several times that he is constrained in time (by the NFL collective bargaining agreement). “I would say that’s probably the biggest frustration from that standpoint,’’ Patricia said.

5. Patricia has a booming voice and not afraid to express frustration on the field to his players. Let’s just say he uses colorful language to make a point. It’s a significant difference over the past four years. Good? Bad? Too early to tell.

ALLEN PARK — Matt Cassel is getting to know his new Detroit Lions teammates and coaches. It’s been intensified this week through the first two days of mandatory minicamp.

The 36-year-old quarterback, who was signed as a free agent, knows one key person in the organization.

Cassel spent his first five seasons (2005-2009) with the New England Patriots where he got to know Lions head coach Matt Patricia.

“We had a great relationship, he actually ran the scout team when I first got there, we had a lot of time together, we had a lot of fun,,’’ Cassel said on Wednesday. “It’s been a great relationship and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.’’

Five more things to know about Cassel and the Lions:

1. Patricia remembers him well from their Patriots days. “Matt Cassel, obviously someone that I have a lot of history with, extremely professional guy. Guy’s been in a couple different systems now, very smart. A guy, if I remember this correctly, was actually a captain in college even though the positions and quarterbacks that he had to play behind, so I think that tells you a little what his personality is,’’ Patricia said on Wednesday. “The way, what a teammate he is. His approach, his study, and the respect that he gets from not only the players but the coaches too. So, he’s been great.

2. Last season the Lions only kept two quarterbacks — Matthew Stafford and Jake Rudock — on the 56-man roster. Patricia would not say if carrying three quarterbacks is an option this year. It’s too early to know.  Cassel and Rudock will likely battle in training camp for the No. 2 spot.

3. Cassel and Stafford are working on developing a good working relationship. “I think it’s going well, you probably have to ask him he might have a different opinion. We spend a lot of time together, he’s been great, he’s been tremendous, he’s a guy who wants to help out in any manner he can,’’ Cassel said. “That’s really helpful for for a guy coming into a system that I’ve never been a part of before with a lot of elaborate stuff going on.’’

4. Cassel is entering his 14th NFL season which is pretty good for a seventh-round pick. “I feel like you can never become complacent. I’ve always taken that mentality where I was drafted late and had to grind for everything I’ve had,’’ Cassel said. “That’s stuck with me throughout my career and the hard work and determination that continue to push through. At times it’s been tough.’’

5. Patricia still remembers Cassel as a rookie. “You know what? I think the thing about Matt (Cassel) as a young player that people underestimated, and we did defensively definitely, is he’s very athletic. You know, he was much faster than what you thought at the time as a young guy,’’ Patricia said. “Extremely strong arm, you know like everything’s like a fastball. It’s coming out like a baseball pitch, but was very smart, very energetic, great personality. Just a guy that can walk in a room and make everyone smile, go at ease. Great teammate from that standpoint. And as a young guy, he was great at the time for the situation we had back in New England. But really the biggest thing that stands out is his athleticism and his speed. You know, it was pretty impressive back then.”