Matt Groh did his finest to maintain to the script throughout his Saturday availability with the media out in Las Vegas, and maintain his solutions centered on the Shrine Bowl given the Patriots employees is teaching the West workforce.
The Patriots director of participant personnel, nevertheless, did reply one query about Bill O’Brien and his relationship with the workforce’s newly appointed offensive coordinator.
“My first year coming in, I was able to spend some time with Billy O, so we go back a little ways,” mentioned Groh, who joined the workforce in 2011, which was O’Brien’s final season throughout his first go-round. “With him being in college (as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator) and me visiting Alabama, we kind of rekindled a little bit of that. But it’s great to have him on board.”
Groh was requested a follow-up on O’Brien, however mentioned the main focus was on beating the East workforce, and get the gamers ready to succeed.
Bill Belichick, Troy Brown, who’s serving as the pinnacle coach of the West squad, and O’Brien all took half in Saturday’s observe.
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was requested what his on-field interactions have been like with Belichick and O’Brien.
“They’re super intense, but they’re super helpful,” Thompson-Robinson mentioned following observe. “They’re just trying to get us the information we need on each play.”
Prospect traits
Groh was additionally requested what the Patriots have been hoping to get out of collaborating within the Shrine Bowl.
He mentioned that whereas the workforce comes yearly to scout the sport, this allowed the Patriots to spend extra time with the gamers in assembly rooms and off the sector, and get to know them higher as folks.
Asked what particular traits he seemed for out of the prospects, he zeroed in on discovering team-first people.
“These games are tough. All of these guys are used to being starters. You gotta have a little bit of unselfishness,” mentioned Groh. “A whole lot of these guys are four-year starters … they’ve began each recreation of their faculty profession. So how do they modify to being (second or third string)? Can they nonetheless go about issues the precise approach?
“Everything’s not going to be perfect when they get to the NFL. They’re going to have to go through that adjustment as well,” he went on. “Most of these guys aren’t going to be thrust into the starting lineup. So, just really, doing what’s best for the team. Being mature, being dependable, being on time, being where they’re supposed to be. There’s a lot going on here in Las Vegas.”
Wendell an OL candidate
Add Ryan Wendell to the listing of potential replacements for Matt Patricia by way of working the offensive line, and including to a employees that now has O’Brien as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
According to SI’s Albert Breer, the Patriots have been anticipated to fly the previous Patriot lineman and present Buffalo Bills assistant to Las Vegas, the place the employees is busy teaching the west workforce within the Shrine Bowl.
Wendell, who performed with the Patriots from 2008-15, has been in teaching for 4 years now, all with the Bills because the assistant offensive line coach.
He had been signed as a UDFA out of Fresno State, and served because the Patriots beginning middle in 2012 and 2013. He additionally performed guard.
Adrian Klemm, one other former Patriot lineman, can also be being thought-about for the offensive line job.
Source: www.bostonherald.com