Would you imagine the Patriots’ offseason is just simply starting?
Somehow, after hiring a brand new head coach and three new coordinators in lower than a month, the busy-bee Pats nonetheless have equally necessary jobs to fill and inquiries to reply.
Who will play quarterback? How will they fill out the remainder of their teaching employees? How will the offense take form below new coordinator Alex Van Pelt?
Who will lead the entrance workplace? Will the Patriots spend in free company? Do they plan on prioritizing quarterback, receiver and the offensive line after Jerod Mayo publicly pinpointed these positions as wants final month?
All in due time. In the meantime, listed below are 4 ideas on the state of the Mayo Patriots:
1. Van Pelt looks like a secure rent
A league supply who lately labored with Van Pelt informed me the 53-year-old is a popular and well-respected coach and culture-builder. From a look at Van Pelt’s resume, you’ll assume he’s spent as a lot time round quarterbacks as his household. Twenty-eight years within the league, together with 19 as an assistant, with prior stints as a coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Those are all positives, all main bins checked for the Patriots, and all traits Mayo ought to have coveted throughout his search, as he works to restore the staff’s tradition.
Here are my considerations: other than a couple of seasons in Green Bay, when he labored below Mike McCarthy as Aaron Rodgers’ place coach within the mid-2010s, none of Van Pelt’s offenses have jumped off the tape. Since 2009, his solely play-calling expertise consists of two video games through the COVID-affected 2020 season. The Patriots bashed the Browns in each of their conferences with Van Pelt’s offense during the last 4 years, video games they gained in 2022 and 2021.
Furthermore, Van Pelt was the twelfth candidate out of 12 reportedly interviewed, which makes it onerous to imagine he was the Patriots’ first selection. According to sources, the Patriots acquired nearer to hiring Rams tight ends coach Nick Caley, an ex-Patriots assistant, than some other candidate earlier than Van Pelt. If Van Pelt had been employed below Caley as his cross recreation coordinator and quarterbacks coach, that will have felt like a home-run rent; particularly given what’s been reported right here and different locations about different coaches’ impression of the Pats’ offensive coordinator job (they didn’t like it).
Van Pelt was not thought-about a prime candidate this cycle. Prior to his 4 years in Cleveland, the place Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski known as the performs and set the sport plans, Van Pelt’s solely different season as a coordinator got here in 2009 with the Bills. That Buffalo offense completed bottom-5 in scoring, albeit with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trent Edwards and Brian Brohm at quarterback.
Van Pelt’s hiring in New England got here collectively in roughly 24 hours and utterly out of left subject. That doesn’t imply he can’t succeed. It doesn’t imply he gained’t succeed.
7 issues to find out about new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt
All proof paints Van Pelt, 53, as a constructive power and powerful match for the 2024 Patriots; a staff working below a first-year, defensive head coach that sorely wants somebody to unify its offensive teaching employees and roster. And, most definitely, develop a brand new quarterback.
But can Van Pelt take this offense to the subsequent stage in 2025 and past? He will assist the Patriots get alongside, however can he get the perfect out of them? Should he be anticipated to offer a constant edge schematically, given his teaching historical past? The final top-10 scoring offense Van Pelt coached was the 2016 Packers.
Final grade for the rent: C-plus.
2. Prepare for a non-quarterback at No. 3
According to The Athletic, if Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf will get promoted to guide the entrance workplace, the Patriots are anticipated to “give a long, hard look at drafting a left tackle with the No. 3 pick.”
To reiterate, that report begins with Wolf leapfrogging present personnel head Matt Groh — which hasn’t occurred — and the staff contemplating a deal with, not essentially deciding on one. It doesn’t say the Patriots will cross on a quarterback — possible North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels — however followers ought to nonetheless brace themselves for the chance.
For starters, there have been rumblings for weeks that Wolf will ultimately take over in New England. The 41-year-old got here to the Patriots in 2021, following two seasons because the Browns’ assistant GM and 14 climbing the ladder in Green Bay. He arrived as an outsider, not like the remainder of the entrance workplace which largely consists of scouts who discovered at Bill Belichick’s knee.
That entrance workplace is now charged with pivoting and rebuilding from the Belichick period, one thing Wolf is arguably finest suited to do. Wolf, who discovered the scouting enterprise below his father, ex-Packers basic supervisor and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ron Wolf, is well-regarded in league circles. He has a bigger community than Groh, who got here up via the Patriots’ school scouting division.
To be clear, till a brand new front-office chief is recognized, that is largely Groh’s present. And even when he stays in energy, he, too, might cross on a quarterback at third general.
Drafting a quarterback with a top-10 decide is about rather more than expertise, want and scheme match. The second that quarterback is drafted, he immediately shoulders the entire group’s hopes and desires. He is the general public face of the franchise, a frontrunner within the locker room and a culture-driver. He should be somebody worthy of dealing with that accountability and incomes his teammates and coaches’ belief, whereas performing below the best pressures on the highest stage regardless of lesser circumstances.
Sometimes, that stress is an excessive amount of. (See Jones, Mac.)
If the Patriots do not imagine Maye or Daniels is succesful, they’d be proper to go for a veteran bridge quarterback in free company, a mid-round developmental prospect or each. Because lacking on a quarterback with a top-3 decide typically units a company again three to 4 years; the inescapable danger that accompanies such a decide, which provides groups the perfect probability wherever to discover a franchise quarterback who can lead them out of the wilderness.
What comes subsequent for brand new Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt?
3. Don’t underestimate the potential lack of Steve Belichick
Patriots defensive play-caller/linebackers coach Steve Belichick and operating backs coach Vinnie Sunseri are interviewing for jobs on the University of Washington’s defensive employees, based on ESPN.
Steve Belichick’s potential departure is sensible, contemplating DeMarcus Covington’s latest promotion to defensive coordinator. Mayo and Belichick successfully served as co-defensive coordinators, with Mayo operating most conferences through the week and Belichick calling performs on recreation days.
Together, they oversaw the NFL’s top-ranked protection over the previous 5 years by Expected Points Added (EPA) per play. The Patriots utterly overhauled their defensive roster throughout that point, however maintained an unmatched stage of play. Part of their success is owed to Belichick growing into a superb play-caller.
His highlights embrace holding a top-8 scoring offense to 13 factors throughout a Wild Card playoff loss to Tennessee in January 2020, the reigning Super Bowl champion Buccaneers to 19 factors throughout Tom Brady’s return in 2021 and 7 opponents to 10 factors or fewer over the previous two seasons. Last 12 months, Belichick acquired forward of some opponents by sending surprising blitz stress on early drives, then bailing out of blitz seems to be within the second and third quarters, rendering countering display screen performs and max-protect passes ineffective.
Steve Belichick does have the choice to return to New England, possible in an assistant head coach or advisor capability, per ESPN. Safeties coach Brian Belichick is one other candidate to remain in New England. Like his older brother, Brian can be an asset on Mayo’s new defensive employees, after overseeing breakout seasons from Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger in consecutive years.
Family issues are additionally prone to consider for the 32-year-old, who’s spent most of his life in New England. Late within the season, Brian Belichick shared that he and his spouse, Callie, have been anticipating.
Oh, and in case you’re questioning concerning the connection to Washington, new Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch was the Patriots’ quarterbacks coach in 2020.
4. Senior Bowl standouts
Surveying this 12 months’s stories from Mobile, Ala., the place GMs and media draft consultants alike descended to look at three days of follow and a Saturday exhibition that includes prime school prospects, listed below are a couple of gamers who may slot in New England.
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
Penix’s arm energy, accuracy and passing contact all shone via in follow. He reportedly out-performed Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, a fellow late-first spherical/Day 2 prospect. According to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, an ex-Ravens and Eagles scout, Penix “did everything he needed to do this week.”
Michigan WR Roman Wilson
Wilson’s explosiveness stood out over a stellar follow on Tuesday, a efficiency he adopted with a one-handed catch on Wednesday. Considering their latest historical past of drafting Michigan gamers, and wish for explosive wideouts, it is truthful to anticipate Wilson will probably be someplace on the Patriots’ board come April.
Florida WR Ricky Pearsall
A projected mid-round decide, Pearsall impressed evaluators along with his route-running and suddenness off the road. The 6-foot-1 wideout caught 98 passes for 1,626 yards and 9 touchdowns over the previous two seasons.
Penn State TE Theo Johnson
At 6-foot-6 and 257 kilos, Johnson provides the whole package deal at tight finish. Jeremiah known as him “the best player at the position,” in Mobile. Johnson is projected to turn out to be a second- or third-round decide after being named All-Big Ten honorable point out final 12 months.
Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
The 332-pound mauler reportedly lived as much as his projection as a future first-round decide. Fuaga might be a goal for the Patriots, ought to they commerce again from No. 3 general or commerce again into the primary spherical to nab an offensive deal with.
Quote of the Week
“Great dude. Culture changer. Good coach.” — league supply on new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt
Source: www.bostonherald.com