Thursday open thread: Should the Lions coaches be more composed or animated?

On Wednesday, we noted that Matt Patricia was tearing into the team a little bit during Day 2 of Detroit Lions minicamp. Several reporters noted that Patricia was using some colorful language that the Lions’ previous head coach, Jim Caldwell, would have never used.

The demeanor of a team’s head coach could have a serious impact on the team. As the leader and figurehead of the franchise, the head coach leads by example. So if Patricia is fiery and energetic, that could potentially rub off on the players in a positive way.

However, there’s value in calm and composure, too. Players may learn to avoid conflict in frustrating situations and remain level-headed when adversity hits.

So today’s Question of the Day is:

Would you rather the Lions head coach be more animated or more composed?

My answer: This is going to seem like a lame cop-out, but I really don’t have a preference. I want whatever works.

There is not one right way to manage a team, and we’ve seen several successful examples from both ends of the temperament spectrum.

I think we tend to always feel like the grass is greener on the other side. When Jim Schwartz was coach, the Lions were too rabid and undisciplined. They needed an experienced coach that could maintain his (and the team’s) composure. When Jim Caldwell came in and eventually provided exactly that, suddenly he wasn’t animated enough. Instead, he spread his milquetoast, uninspiring demeanor across the team, and they never had the fire necessary to compete with the best of the best.

I think those takes on both coaches were a bit exaggerated, but in a way, Matt Patricia represents an average of the two. While he is certainly a lot more animated and vibrant than Caldwell, he is also described by many of his former players as one of the most respectable coaches around. Take former Patriots linebacker Niko Koutouvides:

“He’s demanding, but he understands players. He sees them as real people. He treats you with respect,” Koutouvides told the Detroit Free Press.

So while Patricia may represent some sort of middle ground, let us know which end of the temperament spectrum you prefer.