Patriots Coordinator Bill O'Brien Looking For Head Coaching Role
by Richard Hill on Jan 5, 2012 1:00 PM EST
in Opinion/Analysis
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PrintIt seems as if Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien is one of the key candidates to take one of the head coaching roles in the NFL, as well as a prestigious head coaching job in the college ranks. O'Brien is currently interviewing for the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coaching position where the team is under new ownership. He's also the leading candidate for the Penn State head coaching job, which was recently vacated by college legend Joe Paterno.
O'Brien's coaching has been a roller coaster experience for fans. It seems as if we were all complaining about his coaching ability just a few seasons ago; now, he's one of the top prospects in the league. Should Bill O'Brien receive a new coaching role (he states that he would prefer an NFL job instead of a college position), the Patriots would be in need of another new coordinator.
The Patriots have experienced some of the most positive coaching turnover (ie: promotions, instead of firings) over the past decade. The team has no official defensive coordinator, although Matt Patricia has been making the calls, and there appears no immediate replacement for O'Brien on the offensive side. Here's a quick list of the Patriots coordinators over the past few seasons:
Defensive Coordinator: Romeo Crennel - Eric Mangini - Dean Pees - Matt Patricia/Pepper Johnson
Offensive Coordinator: Charlie Weis - Josh McDaniels - Bill O'Brien - ??
Should O'Brien depart, here's a list of potential in-house replacements:
Brian Ferentz - Appears to be the media's leading candidate for long term replacement; Started as a scouting assistant in 2008; Offensive coaching assistant in 2009 and 2010; Promoted to tight ends coach in 2011. Ferentz is son of Belichick's friend and colleague (and current Iowa coach) Kirk Ferentz.
Ivan Fears - One of the longest tenured coaches on staff; Started as wide receivers coach with the Patriots for 1991-92, before taking a job with the Bears; Returned to the Patriots in 1999 to take the wide receivers position until 2001; Moved to running back coach from 2002-present. Seems well entrenched in his position, might not be a firm coordinator candidate.
Chad O'Shea - Joined the Patriots in 2009 as the wide receivers coach; Has spent the majority of his career as a wide receivers/tight end coach, while appearing as an offensive assistant as well; Seems to be limited in his experience and might need more experience in the Belichick circle before receiving a promotion.
George Godsey - Patriots offensive assistant for 2011; former quarterback who played under Bill O'Brien while at Georgia Tech; Spent seven seasons as the quarterback and the running back coach at Central Floria; Could possibly be O'Brien's replacement as quarterbacks coach, but not immediate replacement as coordinator.
Dante Scarneccia - My dark horse candidate as a short term replacement coordinator while Ferentz or Godsey grow into their roles; Joined the Patriots in 1982 as the special teams and tight end coach before leaving in 1989; Returned in 1991 to his old position; Defensive assistant in 1995-96; Special teams coach in 1997-98; Offensive line coach in 1999 before adding the title of "Assistant Head Coach" in 2000; Clearly the most experience coach; Could assume role of coordinator for a season or two.
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I believe that Godsey and Ferentz are the two leading candidates to be the Patriots offensive coordinators in the future. Ferentz has the approval of Belichick, while Godsey was hand selected with a likely recommendation from Bill O'Brien. However, both have limited experience in the Patriots system, which leads me to believe that neither will take on the coordinator role in the next couple of seasons. While they learn the Patriots system, I wouldn't be surprised to see Scarneccia take on a larger role on the offense until either of Godsey or Ferentz is able to step up and be an assistant coordinator.
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I hate the turnover at the coordinator position.
One little question, though. BoB wasn’t listed as coordinator until this year, even though he filled the job.
Did Belichick name him as a way to get rid of him?
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 5, 2012 1:23 PM EST reply actions
Which OC instituted the 'impossible to learn offense'?
Did BoB come up with it or did he inherit it? Can’t argue with the points per game, but bringing in new and even veteran WR’s is near impossible.
The ‘impossible to learn offense’ is actually only 3 simple steps. I’m not sure why Ocho can’t deal.
1. Ready Brady’s mind
2.
3. Profit
haha, nice.
South Park’s finest contribution to comedy.
True wealth is a shelf full of unread books.
by Hometown Gyro on Jan 5, 2012 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
He more or less inherited it.
It’s been the same offense more or less for years (Branch left and picked it up easily on his return), but it has more or less emphasis based upon personnel:
Small shifty receivers, horizontal short yardage passing game, with outlet screens.
Tall, HOF receiver, lots of bombs, with the Golden Retriever as the outlet guy.
Robo-Gronk and Herndo the Great, multiple TE sets with Welker drawing attention anywhere he’s placed.
The run game is featured more or less as the need arises and it is successful. Early on with Brady, there was more need for a run game. Now it can benefit us, but it isn’t crucial to offensive success.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 5, 2012 4:17 PM EST up reply actions
I'd like McDaniels back tbh.
but I’d say we need a defensive coordinator more then anything.
Oh my god a floor zombie! Oh wait, thats you
- Toby Turner
by New Century Silver on Jan 5, 2012 1:26 PM EST reply actions
His head might be deflated enough to fit back in the building.
I’m not sure if he’d know what to do with a Tight-End, though. (Insert joke here).
He didn’t seem to fancy them when he was here.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 5, 2012 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think you'd have to worry about it
GRONK would just spike him into Rhode Island if he thought he was being neglected. Then again, GRONK never seems to get upset about anything, so who knows what would happen.
Fenway: "An alternate and better universe, disguised as a ballpark." --Thomas Boswell
He was upset that Mr Kraft didn't approve of his friend, Bibi.
True wealth is a shelf full of unread books.
by Hometown Gyro on Jan 5, 2012 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
Thats the idea
I think the TEs have matured to the point where they don’t need help. They and Brady trust each other, and have a one and a half years of plays to work with. Our WRs, on the other hand, are getting old and seeing less usage. If we consider the TEs a completed project and revamping the WRs as the next goal, I’d say McD would be an excellent choice for that.
Oh my god a floor zombie! Oh wait, thats you
- Toby Turner
by New Century Silver on Jan 5, 2012 6:15 PM EST up reply actions
You and me both
In his defense, we didn’t quite have the personnel at TE back then as we do now. Ben “Stone Hands” Watson wasn’t quite a Gronkowski or a Hernandez.
Can I Scream?
Watson almost doubled his yardage per game
since joining Cleveland. Still no Gronk or Herndo and he did seem horrible on the Pats.
Not horrible, just unreliable.
He was one of those guys who would make a spectacular catch for you one time, then drop a key third-down pass that hit him in the hands the next time. Brady couldn’t trust him, but he was always a solid talent.
True wealth is a shelf full of unread books.
by Hometown Gyro on Jan 5, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
Pretty much.
My take is that he heard footsteps across the middle.
He’d make a fantastic over the shoulder athletic grab, but then drop one up the gut because he was afraid of getting hit.
It was sad when little Welker would make grab after grab across the middle, but Watson was afraid of contact. Kind of anti-Tight Endish.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 5, 2012 4:21 PM EST up reply actions
gronk shrugs those people aside
hernandez is used like a WR so he’s good for that and so can gronk
New England Patriots: 11-3 against the Dolphins, Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Jets (x2), Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, Redskins, and Broncos.
My recollection on Watson
Was that he could only catch certain types of passes….and that just wasn’t the type of routes the offense generally needed him to run.
Well
Who else are you supposed to throw to on the Browns offense? Joshua Cribbs?
Somebody’s got to catch the rock. I was never impressed with Watson. I was a gigantic Ben Coates fan back in the day, and haven’t seen what he did at the TE position even slightly rivaled until now.
Can I Scream?
If the Hall of Fame
Acknowledged non-head coaches, Scarneccia would be in on the first ballot. Best O-Line coach of all time, IMO. Would love to see him get a shot at OC.
I am so glad you didn't list Mike Martz.
IF you’ve seen how destroyed Cutler was in Chicago with all of the seven step drops, you know what I’m talking about.
Pedey: Dear Playstation, So MLB the Show '09 says I can't hit the high and inside, huh? That's ridiculous, ask Ramon.
Ramon: Yeah, he can hit it. In fact, if I were to die today and went to some weird...(grabs script) some weird limbo afterlife, where I can gaze at one thing for eternity. Dustin's swing, or my daggers? (DAUGHTERS!) daughter's first steps, I would choose that swing.
Lazer Show: I can hit that pitch!
by BrokenbatGrandSlam on Jan 5, 2012 2:00 PM EST reply actions
Heard they were going to fix that, though.
Thirteen step drops. It’ll revolutionize the league.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 5, 2012 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
It's time to promote Matt Patricia
To defensive coordinator. The man’s been the main guy calling defensive plays and Belichick’s right hand man for defense for years now. Switched to safeties coach this year in the midst of our safeties’ struggles. He does it all. It’s time he gets the recognition he very much deserves (and whatever higher pay the title commands).
Cyril P
liryc715@yahoo.com
I'd rather they paid him without the title.
That way we might get to keep him for a couple more years. Seriously, does any coaching staff get sniped the way the Patriots’ does? It’s very annoying.
True wealth is a shelf full of unread books.
by Hometown Gyro on Jan 5, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
Who's going to want to hired
the 31st Ranked Defense Coordinator? Maybe if we become good all of sudden on D for a few years, but by that time we would have already won a couple rings :)
Rex Ryan: "There’s no way that we’re looking to replace Mark Sanchez"
Patriots Nation: "Thank God"
Giants Fans: "FOUR MORE YEARS!! FOUR MORE YEARS!!"
That's BB's plan all along!
Don’t name a DC, and make the defense look horrendous, so we get to keep our defacto DC another year.
Meanwhile Tommy is the only OC we need (just look at the hurry up), so that guy, as Gruden would call O’Brien, is expendable.
I think you’ve cracked it!
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 5, 2012 6:52 PM EST up reply actions
Really, it doesn’t matter to me. I spent most of the post-McDaniels era complaining about BOB’s playcalling, and he still forgets about running the ball and setting up the playaction at times. Heck, I complained about the same things during the McDaniels era, the pass happiness and lack of short-intermediate stuff and screens. Weis was clearly the best offensive mind of the three, but his shortcomings and criticism received at ND (some say he never taught the receivers how to run routes, what’s amazing and funny) tell a lot about this. I hope Bill doesn’t promote Scar, he’s too valuable, and the only guy I can see the team skipping a beat without. Just put some dummy inside the office with the OC sign on the door (that’s what BOB has always been in my book) and let him get hired as HC by some team who gets amazed by the Pats’ offensive numbers. This is clearly Bill’s and Brady’s show, the track record of people who leave tells the whole story…
by dave52 on Jan 5, 2012 2:29 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I don’t know. I can’t imagine being a coordinator and calling plays is easy. I would have to imagine that the reason Weis was so much better than the other two had as much to do with having years of experience more than anything. It doesn’t surprise me at all that it has taken each of those guys a year or two to develop a play calling rhythm.
Other than one ill-timed end-around or reverse every game...
…Charlie Weis was my favorite coordinator ever. Seriously, who calls a double reverse on third-and-one? Charlie does. Still, I miss the guy. The unpredictability of the play-calling and the creative plays (“Oh, those tricky Patriots!”) have never been the same.
True wealth is a shelf full of unread books.
by Hometown Gyro on Jan 5, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions
In BoB's defense
I’ve noticed a significant increase in creative playcalling as of late. This could just be a result of offensive execution, though. We haven’t really seen plays like the 53-yard BJGE catch or Hernandez running the ball out of the back field all year. I’ve been impressed.
Can I Scream?
Scar doesn't want to be promoted...
…so he can be the OC (already the assistant HC) for a season or two. I feel like OC is below AHC anyways.
unless that person has both roles
New England Patriots: 11-3 against the Dolphins, Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Jets (x2), Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, Redskins, and Broncos.
O’Brien’s loss won’t sadden me that much, his playing calling is really questionable sometimes, 2nd and 12 on our own 40? Let’s run that sucker right up the middle for no gain or conversely, give up running altogether and just pass 50 straight times.
Still, the amount of coordinator turn over we have is upsetting. Why can’t we keep these guys for more than 2 or 3 years? WTF? Assistant coaches used to learn their craft a bit longer in the past it seems like. These days they put together 2 ok seasons coaching an offense or defense and some team thinks they are Jesus returned and hires them instantly.
We win
and we’re considered the top program in the NFL…one of the negatives of that is that you get alot of coordinator turnover.
OC's (usually) shouldn't be head coaches
Norv Turner, Mike Martz, Jeff McD. Actually Martz shouldn’t be coaching period.
Preparing an offense for a game isn’t as difficult as preparing a defense or a whole team for that matter. Usually you can let your offense dictate what they want to do and make adjustments based on the game flow. Defensively you have to prepare for anything and everything a team can throw at you. And the guys have to know every situation before the game even begins or you are toast.
It only seems to work out for a few guys that transition.
I also think
That OCs get too much blame for when an offense isn’t working. At the end of the day, its on the QB to read the defense and audible out of the original playcall if the matchup isn’t favorable. It’s also on the O to execute properly. I agree that sometimes you have to scratch your head at the playcalling, but the onus for a failed offense needs to be distributed evenly.
1,096,743,852,423,4210,000
If you don’t know what that number represents, it’s the number of times SBN has counted “Fire Schotty!” posts on GGN.
Can I Scream?
Then why you need an OC?
Me: Words can fool men but Nature doesn't give a damn!
David Brooks: The premise of the current financial regulatory reform is that the establishment missed the last bubble and, therefore, more power should be vested in the establishment to foresee and prevent the next one.
To make my Q more succint,
the way you described it, we can grab any one knowing something about a playbook, throwing out there for the offense to execute, then it’s the end of day it’s all about the offense can’t execute. if that’s the case, I’m in much cheaper because those OCs make a bundle ways more than I do.
Me: Words can fool men but Nature doesn't give a damn!
David Brooks: The premise of the current financial regulatory reform is that the establishment missed the last bubble and, therefore, more power should be vested in the establishment to foresee and prevent the next one.
Not at all
You need to have an OC who can understand the pulse of the offense as well as react to what kind of defense his team is up against, a QB who is able to audible out of bad matchups and adjust what the offense is doing on the fly, and a group of personnel that can execute effectively. Most of the time, you need all three for an offense to work well. And when it doesn’t, all three should share the blame (as well as take the credit when it does work).
This is where you & I are different.
To me, the coach is the most important aspect of a team (offense and/or defense) because a great coach is the one who can put their players in a position to execute & success, even with an average talent. I forgot who said this but the phrase is every one playing in the NFL has enough talent to compete. Some player are way better in talent and some are less but the bulk is average within the NFL confine.
So the burden is always on the coach to recognize the team’s talent and its limitation, to call proper plays, to adjusts to his personnel grouping, to teach his players sufficient proper techniques & concepts w/o overloading information into their brains so on & so forth. Doing just that part correctly, an average offense can propel to be a contender, let’s alone having a great offense to play with. Its no wonder McDaniel and many like him failed miserably when they don’t have TB or PM under.
So yes, a majority of many coaches deserved to have their head rolled figuratively, along with their GMs because they failed to recognize a square peck can’t force into a round hole, or to recognize who got a round peck to fit their round holes plan (no pun intended,). Hence the puzzle of human talent recognition and the overpaid of mediocre (and sometime lucky) CEOs, coaches, GMs etc.
Me: Words can fool men but Nature doesn't give a damn!
David Brooks: The premise of the current financial regulatory reform is that the establishment missed the last bubble and, therefore, more power should be vested in the establishment to foresee and prevent the next one.
From what I've heard, Scar isn't interested in changing roles.
He’s been with the Patriots forever and a day, and he consistently declines interviews for HC positions with other teams. He may become more involved in play calling during any period of transition, but I doubt he’d get or even want the title.
Yeah.
I feel like he’d take the role to help out the team, not to move up the chain of command (he’s already #2).
I kind of want someone who has already tried and failed at being HC
That way they can maybe stick around for the rest of Brady’s career. McDaniels could fit the bill, though I’m sure he’ll try to be a HC again at some point. It’s almost a shame that Romeo Crennel might have won his way into the KC job, otherwise he could come back too.
It’s hard to find someone who’s happy with “just” being something other than a head coach, so I’m glad to hear that Scar doesn’t really want to change roles.
by Aluminum Penguin on Jan 5, 2012 4:38 PM EST reply actions
I literally stopped hating O'Brien this season.
I have more down memories with him than up memories. I also think that he will flop badly.
Scarnecchia isn't an OC candidate, end of story.
He’s been in his role for 30 years, is the #2 in command, and doesn’t have play calling experience. I don’t understand why, at this stage in his career, he would even consider accepting the role. It’s not as if it would exactly be a promotion.
Scarnecchia is to the Patriots offensive line what Dick LeBeau is to the Steelers defense, I just couldn’t even imagine him changing roles.
Mike Reiss seemed to be keen to the idea of Josh McDaniels coming back to the Patriots as OC, thinking that it was a real possibility. The idea of grooming a successor to BB was also discussed, although I think that if Belichick is going to groom one, it is likely to be Patricia.
I don't see why he wouldn't.
It wouldn’t be taking a role to have a lateral movement. It’d be taking a role to help out the team while some younger coaches gain experience until they’re ready to take the spot and Scar can go back to focusing full time on the O Line. He wouldn’t become the OC forever- just for a transition.
by Richard Hill on Jan 5, 2012 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
He's been with the team 30 years and has never had play calling duties
I just don’t see why he would start now
by Greg Knopping on Jan 6, 2012 9:17 AM EST up reply actions
Mike Reiss seems to think that McD is a top candidate.
As long as Brady is happy with the pick (assuming there will be one) I’m happy.
On a side note, if BoB beats out Schotty for a HC job, how funny would it be if the Jets were forced to keep Schotty as they claimed they would? Schotty isn’t the only problem with the offense (Sanchez? Pfffft!) but his play calling can be odd at times, to say the least. Ahhh, schadenfreude!
BOB Has accepted
"Thirty-seven points on the best defense in the league, suck my d–k" - Bill Belichick
The Ryan Brothers: Two brother's who never played a down as an NFL player, Yet feel the need to trash talk like they are in the Hall Of Fame
Agreed. He’s got at worst a 10% chance of a Superbowl right now
by quadruple option on Jan 5, 2012 10:29 PM EST up reply actions
To be the Penn State head coach, your playbook needs to include 32 Shower Room Coverup Z-Split X-Curl
by quadruple option on Jan 5, 2012 10:28 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
lol
"Thirty-seven points on the best defense in the league, suck my d–k" - Bill Belichick
The Ryan Brothers: Two brother's who never played a down as an NFL player, Yet feel the need to trash talk like they are in the Hall Of Fame
by BostonBeasts on Jan 5, 2012 10:31 PM EST up reply actions
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