Allen Park — Matt Patricia came in last year stomping and stonewalling, the new guy with the proven plan, no need to yield. He came in Thursday as the Lions opened training camp, gliding with his left leg on a scooter, recovering from minor surgery.
We can take this imagery as far as we wish, as far as Patricia is willing to go. Some of the differences are symbolic. Some are real, as the Lions’ head coach enters his second season with an altered perspective, and hopefully, a finer-tuned plan. If he’s as smart as advertised, he’ll adjust after his humbling 6-10 debut, and so must his players.