FOXBORO — Bill O’Brien’s mission would possibly show to be inconceivable.
But he’s sensible sufficient to know that Step 1 of recovering from final season’s debacle, and getting Mac Jones and the offense again to some degree of competency is to erase final season from their reminiscence banks.
Just purge it out of their system.
O’Brien, talking with the media Tuesday for the primary time since coming aboard because the workforce’s offensive coordinator, stated his theme for the gamers on offense was merely this: “to move forward.”
O’Brien should have uttered the phrases “fresh start” and “clean slate” a dozen occasions whereas answering questions throughout his session with the media.
He will get it.
He is aware of he has to cleanse Jones and the remainder from the offensive purgatory they endured final season, with two inexperienced coaches on the helm.
He is aware of he has to get Matt Patricia and Joe Judge out of their system, to present himself the most effective probability of succeeding, and transferring ahead along with his new plan and a system he believes will profit everybody.
O’Brien hit on that straight away with the primary query he was requested about Jones, and the way good he believes the Patriots quarterback could be.
“The big thing for us right now is everybody start with a clean slate,” he stated, utterly pushing apart the query, to not point out use of Mac’s title. “Every year is different … so what you did in the past, whether it’s a player or a coach or anybody in the organization, really has no bearing on what happens moving forward.”
The gamers will let you know the coaches impart that message and knowledge yearly, whether or not it’s good or unhealthy, however that motto is much more significant this yr with the offense.
It’s no secret. Bringing in O’Brien stands because the Patriots largest, and most impactful offseason transfer.
Everyone from Robert Kraft, to former gamers Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, have chimed in and endorsed “Billy O” and what he’s going to convey to the desk, and in the end imply for Jones and the offense going ahead.
He’s the appointed savior. So it’s as much as him to ship.
And sure, O’Brien is superb at what he does, and runs rings round Patricia and Judge in terms of offensive acumen.
That stated, there’s nonetheless quite a lot of strain on him to show issues round and be a miracle employee of types with the group he inherits.
After all, can Jones actually be fastened after he regressed underneath Patricia final season? Or is he actually not that good?
And can O’Brien propel an offense that doesn’t compete talent-wise with anybody within the division, a lot much less the AFC.
Does he have a large receiver combo like Miami’s Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle? How about Cincinnati’s JaMarr Chase & Tee Higgins? Las Vegas’ Davonte Adams & Hunter Renfrow? Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs & Gabe Davis?
O’Brien will most actually make the Patriots higher. But will it’s adequate for them to compete week to week with the monster schedule and offenses they must sustain with in 2023?
Will the Patriots be capable of outscore the potent offenses led by Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa, and Aaron Rodgers, assuming he lands with the Jets?
All of that continues to be to be seen.
O’Brien, nevertheless, isn’t going to blink or concede something. He stated he was wanting ahead to the problem.
“This is something I’m really excited about, working with this staff, working with these players,” he stated. “Every year is new … that’s the way the NFL is set up.”
As it stands, head coach Bill Belichick is noncommittal about his beginning quarterback. He refuses to make Jones the lead horse, as an alternative saying “everyone will get a chance.”
Conceivably, Bailey Zappe might be on the helm.
Ultimately, it’ll be as much as O’Brien to type all of that out, and go together with one or the opposite.
Asked his ideas about Jones and the emotion he confirmed final season, O’Brien, who tends to put on his feelings on his sleeves himself, wasn’t protecting a scorecard final season.
“It really is a clean slate. However you played, or however you coached, or whatever you did in the past, in the end it’s all about what are you going to do starting (now)?,” he stated. “Football is a game of emotion at times, but at the end of the day, this is a new year, a new start and we’re excited about it.”
O’Brien admitted that the teaching employees had already watched loads of tape from final season, in addition to seasons previous, and “gleaned a lot.”
All of which falls underneath the heading of issues to keep away from in terms of operating an offense.
As for what he has in thoughts by way of the playbook, and the way he plans to implement what he’s realized alongside his journey from New England, to Houston, to Alabama, O’Brien appeared like a real Patriot.
Cracked O’Brien: “I think it would be crazy for me to stand up here and tell you what we’re doing offensively.”
Guess that’s Step 2. Keeping the precise plan for transferring ahead underneath wraps.
Source: www.bostonherald.com