Whether Bill Belichick leaves after this season or someday within the years to come back, linebackers coach Jerod Mayo is extensively considered as the favourite to succeed him because the Patriots’ head coach.
Mayo has already interviewed for 3 head-coaching jobs within the final three years and turned down an interview final offseason with Carolina. In January, proprietor Robert Kraft launched an unprecedented assertion asserting the Patriots had engaged in contract negotiations to retain him. Mayo later reached phrases on a brand new deal that opened new doorways for him contained in the constructing, together with an inside take a look at Belichick’s seek for a brand new offensive coordinator.
The 37-year-old has lengthy been heralded as a pure chief and gamers coach. It shouldn’t be sure Mayo will likely be named the Patriots’ subsequent head coach, although he’s decided to turn out to be a headman someplace sometime. Players and colleagues see Mayo as a powerful head-coaching candidate — and he’s not the one one on workers.
Two members of the Patriots’ teaching workers had been just lately named to the NFL Network’s annual checklist of rising assistants who mission as future head coaches or coordinators: line of defense coach DeMarcus Covington and vast receivers coach Ross Douglas. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is one other candidate to guide a group once more, having efficiently served as a head coach on the NFL and school degree.
After conducting a number of interviews with their gamers and colleagues, right here’s why Covington, Douglas and O’Brien are believed to be head-coaching materials.
DL coach DeMarcus Covington
Last winter, the Senior Bowl underwent a training makeover.
After importing full teaching staffs to guide two groups of school prospects each season for greater than 70 years, the Senior Bowl started assembling an all-star solid of coaches. At the tip of the NFL common season, non-playoff groups nominated assistants from their staffs to function a head coach, offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator on the Senior Bowl. Once the league workplace collected all of the nominations, a Senior Bowl committee, led by govt director Jim Nagy, started whittling the lists right down to the highest candidates.
Bill Belichick nominated Covington, so Nagy, an ex-Patriots scout, positioned some calls to his previous headquarters to be taught extra.
“He came really highly recommended,” Nagy mentioned. “I talked to guys in New England, talked to guys in the front office, and he had a really good reputation.”
Covington was awarded one defensive coordinator place, and its accompanying to-do checklist: collect a workers of assistants, assemble a playbook and streamline all of the language concerned with these performs, their related drills and methods so the coaches might talk with one another and the prospects. Once the Senior Bowl opened in early February, dozens of basic managers and coaches watched Covington work throughout three practices and the exhibition. Suddenly, this all-star showcase for prospects grew to become as a lot of a take a look at take a look at for its coaches as its gamers.
Covington aced his take a look at.
“He did a great job from a command and authoritative standpoint, and having juice and everything you would look for in a leadership role. He had that stuff,” Nagy mentioned. “And I thought he did a really good job. There was no there was no hiccups during the week. .. And watching him out at practice, he did a great job. And that’s not easy.”
Patriots defensive deal with Davon Godchaux is near ending his third season with Covington. Godchaux mentioned it took little time to appreciate he was taking part in for among the finest coaches he’s ever had.
“He’s a leader, a natural born leader. I can definitely see him being a (defensive coordinator) or a head coach one day,” Godchaux mentioned. “He’s smart and tough. You’ve got to be able to tell some guys no when they want them to tell you yes. And he does that.”
Covington separated himself foremost, Godchaux defined, by means of his educating. He’s a grasp within the classroom and on the sphere, a ability set rarer than most followers may assume.
“Most coaches in the league, they expect you to know (techniques) coming out of college. But if somebody doesn’t know it, you have to teach them. And he’s able to teach everything,” Godchaux mentioned. “Most (coaches) can discuss it, however they’ll’t do it. And my first 12 months right here, he was doing that. That amazed me and simply tells you the way good he’s.
“A great teacher, in my opinion, makes a coach. And that’s him.”
Pats exterior linebacker Jahlani Tavai agreed, noting Covington’s professionalism whereas including he’s picked up just a few methods from the 34-year-old.
“He knows how to adapt to certain players,” Tavai mentioned. “He knows that we’re professionals, and grown men, so he’ll treat us like men. And when the decision comes, he’ll make the right one about who should be out there on the field.”
What about Covington turning into a head coach someday?
“That would be awesome for him,” Tavai mentioned.
Defensive lineman and captain Deatrich Wise agreed.
“Definitely,” Wise mentioned. “He has a great understanding of the entire defense and scheme. He can coach defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs. He sees the big picture, he’s a good players coach and can control the room.”
WR coach Ross Douglas
Last 12 months, Belichick made small waves throughout the league when he anointed Douglas the NFL’s youngest place coach at age 27.
The season earlier than, Douglas confirmed gamers why he would ultimately be deserving of such a promotion.
After becoming a member of the Patriots’ workers through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program in June 2021, Douglas earned veterans’ respect by pouring himself into all features of his job as a defensive high quality management coach, together with movie breakdowns, scouting reviews and coordinating the scout group. Douglas additionally started assembly gamers individually for exercises as early as 5:30 a.m.
“I loved working with Ross,” mentioned Pats defensive again Myles Bryant “He was all the time desperate to get higher and that form of trickled right down to the gamers out right here. Guys like J.C. (Jackson), (Jalen) Mills, myself, all the time discovering methods to get with him and get some work and whether or not it’s earlier than observe after observe.
“I think it speaks a lot to his character, what he’s all about,” Bryant added. “I loved my opportunity working with Ross.”
In the 2022 offseason, Belichick flipped Douglas from protection to offense. Douglas spent most of that spring scouting vast receiver prospects and even ran drills at school Pro Days attended by roughly 30 NFL groups. Last season, Douglas teamed with fellow receivers coach Troy Brown to assist Jakobi Meyers put up profession numbers and DeVante Parker turn out to be one of many NFL’s higher big-play threats with a 17.4 yards-per-catch common, third-highest within the league.
Meet Ross Douglas, the brand new Patriots offensive coach nobody is speaking about
Even because the Patriots’ receivers slog by means of an injury-riddled 2-8 season, they are saying Douglas has been a useful resource; somebody they’ll join with and be taught from regularly.
“Overall, he understands both sides of the ball and has a lot of good relationships,” Pats receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster mentioned. “I definitely see a future for him.”
“He knows offense and defense and brings a great love of the game,” added Patriots rookie receiver Demario Douglas. “Coach (Belichick) does a great job of making sure his coaches know both sides. He builds ’em to be a head coach.”
Demario Douglas was one of many prospects to play underneath his younger place coach on the East-West Shrine Bowl, an all-star showcase in Las Vegas the Patriots labored final January. Ross Douglas served because the offensive coordinator for the West Team, whereas Brown carried out as the top coach. Shrine Bowl director Eric Galko mentioned prospects described Douglas as energetic, collaborative and demanding, however truthful.
“When the Patriots took the opportunity to coach at the Shrine Bowl, I first heard from (director of player personnel) Matt Groh, and my next text or call was from Ross,” Galko remembered. “He was ready to jump in right away, and I think he did a great job understanding the logistics that were not a part of his job. His attitude and hunger extended far past the plays, playbooks and players and into how to be a leader of coaches.”
Douglas’ final two bosses on the school degree equally glowed about him.
“The thing that impressed me was him always thirsting to learn how to do this or do that. He asked a lot of questions,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano mentioned final 12 months. “You could see he was trying to formulate his own style, and I think he picked up some really good things.”
Richmond head coach Russ Huesman, who misplaced Douglas to the Patriots in 2021, later referred to as him “an up-and-coming star;” one thing Douglas has confirmed briefly order amid a pair tough seasons in New England.
“One day, he will be an NFL offensive coordinator. I have no doubt,” Galko mentioned. “And I think it’s just a matter of when that time comes because he has all the traits and skill sets to be a really successful offensive coordinator in the NFL.”
OC Bill O’Brien
After Mayo, there isn’t a extra apparent head-coaching candidate on workers than O’Brien. The 54-year-old reportedly needs to guide his personal group once more, after serving as the top coach of the Texans from 2014-20 and earlier than that at Penn State for 2 seasons. Although, O’Brien declined to deal with his future this week on a convention name with reporters.
“I have to do a much better job in the job that I have right now,” O’Brien mentioned. “You know, I’ve been doing this for 31 years. I’ve served (in) every single role on a coaching staff, in an organization that you can pretty much serve. And so I think right now for me, I’ve got to do a better job of what’s going on here right now, to try to have a more productive offense. So, that’s what it is. It’s not a cliche, that’s the truth.”
O’Brien, based on a supply, is underneath contract previous the 2024 season. It’s unclear what O’Brien’s future would appear like if Belichick and the group half methods, although Belichick just lately endorsed his work amid a tough season.
“Bill works hard. He puts in a lot of time, very detailed. He studies what we do, studies what our opponents do, puts together a good plan, outlines it, goes over it in detail with the players,” Belichick mentioned Friday. “So, yeah, he’s had a lot of experience, so that’s good.”
In the summer season, offensive gamers universally raved about O’Brien’s impression and management abilities.
“I really like his perspective,” mentioned Patriots left deal with Trent Brown who was having fun with a profession 12 months earlier than accidents hit. “I think he speaks a language that will get everybody fired up and excited to play ball. … He just brings excitement and energy to the whole building, honestly. I love him.”
Quote of the Week
“Hope so. I mean, that’s the plan.” — Patriots quarterback Mac Jones on whether or not he’ll begin Sunday in opposition to the Giants.
Source: www.bostonherald.com