–The Lions fired special-teams coordinator Joe Marciano on Monday, a move Patricia called “the best thing for the team right now” without explaining why.
The Lions, after having one of the best special-teams units in the NFL last season, have one of the worst through eight games this year. They’ve been flagged for 15 special-teams penalties on the season and allow a league-worst 20.6 yards per punt return.
“I can’t say it’s one specific play or one specific situation (that led to the firing),” Patricia said. “It just needed to be changed and hopefully improve it overall.”
Assistant special teams coach Devin Fitzsimmons will take over the bulk of the special-teams coordinating duties, though Patricia said several assistant coaches will help with the planning.
“Especially in the college ranks, special teams are usually divided by a couple different position coaches,” Patricia said. “Each coach usually has a section of the special teams that they’re in charge of and we have quite a few coaches that have done all of that before. Like I said, it’ll be a collective group effort for all of us to help.”
–Defensive end Ziggy Ansah played 12 snaps in his return from a shoulder injury last week against the Vikings and had his second sack of the season.
Ansah had not played since Week 1, and the Lions used him exclusively in a pass-rushing role as they eased him back into the lineup. Ansah said his shoulder felt “amazing” coming out of the game, and his snap count going forward will depend on his shoulder responds weekly.
“I thought it was a good first game back for Ziggy and he played hard,” defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni said. “Obviously, he had a very nice play on that sack. It was a very explosive play. Good to see him feeling better and playing hard, so we’ll go day by day with it and try to keep building him as we work through the week and see how he goes this week.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 503 – Kerryon Johnson has 503 yards rushing through eight games and is on pace to be the Lions’ first 1,000-yard running back since Reggie Bush in 2013. Just three Lions rookies have accounted for more rushing yards through their first eight games, Billy Sims (859), Barry Sanders (688) and Mel Farr (609).
