For a twenty fourth straight New Year’s Eve, Bill Belichick reigned because the Patriots’ head coach and normal supervisor.
But for the primary time in Robert Kraft’s possession, a tenure that spans three a long time, the Patriots entered the vacation having clinched back-to-back shedding seasons.
So what’s going to New Year’s Eve appear like subsequent season in Foxboro?
If Kraft components with Belichick, dominos will fall all through the group, toppling key members of the entrance workplace and training workers. Players proceed to organize and play laborious for Belichick, as evidenced by their efficiency in Sunday’s 27-21 loss at Buffalo after gifting 4 turnovers within the first half. Nonetheless, his destiny feels unsure, one thing Belichick himself has expressed to these near him in latest weeks, in response to a workforce supply.
If Belichick stays, it’s doubtless Kraft will power some concessions, as he did final 12 months pushing for Bill O’Brien’s hiring after the offense collapsed beneath Belichick’s watch with Matt Patricia in 2022. Would Belichick give up his management over the roster to stay as head coach?
In any situation, change ought to sweep by means of the roster like by no means earlier than. Start with the offense.
In a manufacturing assembly earlier than Sunday’s sport, Belichick reportedly pointed to quarterback play when requested in regards to the workforce’s mini turnaround (going 2-1 of their final three video games). To that time, Zappe had protected the ball, Belichick informed CBS analyst Trent Green, and gotten the ball out shortly. He’d additionally hit most open receivers.
Basically, he’s checked each fundamental field of replacement-level quarterback play. But neither Zappe nor Mac Jones is able to serving because the face of the franchise. The Patriots will want a brand new quarterback subsequent 12 months.
The identical holds true for his or her receivers. The Pats discipline the league’s worst crew of wideouts, a unit additional weakened by JuJu Smith-Schuster’s placement on injured reserve Saturday and DeVante Parker’s new ribs harm Sunday. Former second-round choose Tyquan Thornton caught a number of passes for the eighth time in 22 profession sport appearances, a quantity nearly as dangerous as his wholesome scratch in Miami two months in the past.
The Pats’ offensive line has remained a weak point for 2 straight seasons and churned by means of 5 lead coaches in as a few years, information which can be inseparably intertwined. Sunday was a brand new low, nevertheless, for left sort out Trent Brown, who received benched after being faraway from the workforce’s harm report. After holding up the Pats’ offensive line for the primary half of the season, throughout which period the workforce added incentives to his contract, Brown has confirmed more and more unreliable.
Without Brown, the offense labored behind rookie guards Sidy Sow and Atonio Mafi, heart David Andrews, proper sort out Mike Onwenu and backup sort out Vederian Lowe. All 5 fought laborious, paving the best way for a late fourth-quarter landing for Ezekiel Elliott. But contemplating Onwenu is about to hit free company, solely Andrews needs to be thought of a lock to return in 2024.
Healthy-scratch Trent Brown has brought about Patriots points for weeks
Speaking of free company, the Patriots are projected to carry the third-most cap house within the NFL this spring at greater than $70 million. They ought to discover fast fixes for his or her receiving corps and offensive line there, however long-term options lie with the draft. Who will make these picks?
Director of participant personnel Matt Groh may see a brand new function or depart with Belichick if Belichick is compelled to discover a residence. Internal candidates to take over the entrance workplace embrace director of scouting Eliot Wolf and Steve Cargile, head of the professional personnel division. Ex-Patriots executives Dave Ziegler and Jon Robinson are additionally floating on the market with GM expertise.
Whoever’s in cost is unlikely to open the 2024 draft by choosing three straight defenders or a number of specialists, because the Patriots did final 12 months. Most key defensive starters are beneath contract by means of 2024, save for security Kyle Dugger. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who regarded like a budding star earlier than his season-ending shoulder harm, and defensive sort out Christian Barmore are bricks upon which the Pats can construct one other elite protection.
Barmore can also be eligible for a contract extension this offseason, as is working again Rhamondre Stevenson. Other contracts to keep watch over: assistant coaches.
Regardless of whether or not Belichick stays, Jerod Mayo succeeds him or an out of doors candidate arrives, a number of assistants are in contract years, per sources. It’s attainable the Patriots will clear home on particular groups whatever the contact statuses of assistant head coach Joe Judge, particular groups coordinator Cam Achord and particular groups assistant Joe Houston. That part has failed them, too, together with one other missed discipline purpose at Buffalo.
At the top of one other unprecedented shedding season, the franchise’s future stays as unsure as ever.
But odds are, by this time subsequent season, the Patriots shall be celebrating the New Year with a model new workforce.
Source: www.bostonherald.com