Hidden Benefits of Getting McDaniels

Josh McDaniels brings alot to this team. As an offensive coordinator alone, he was able to take our 14-2 or 13-3 teams to the next level, getting maximum production out of Moss, Brady, Gaffney, and the others. They were a group which was, considering how Moss had played in Oakland, nowhere near as dangerous as Gronk, Hernando etc. Most were above-average at best, but in 2007, they all became superstars - even Welker, an udrafted, recently traded player who had done nothing in Miami. McDaniels and Belichick turned a group of castaways into the best offense in history, all with just one season for players to adapt and get on the same page.

This time around, instead of starting with cast-aways, hes starting with two of the best and youngest TEs in the league. Welker and Brady have only improved, as has the run-game. Virtually the entire offense, down to its chemistry and experience together, is better then it was in 2007. We're one good WR away from being the best team in the league.

And thats focusing only on his abilities as a coordinator. Speaking of WRs, Brandon Lloyd is likely to try to follow McDaniels as he did when McDaniels left Denver. Though he is no Randy Moss, Lloyd is coming off a Pro-Bowl year and would add to our offense that key 5th threat as well as a non-smurf option at WR. If that doesn't work out theres also OchoCinco, who would no-doubt benefit under McDaniels, likely seeing more playing time - and, at this point, that seems to be all thats holding him back. If all goes perfect, as it very well could with Brady, McDaniels,and Belichick, we could end up with 6 above-average pass-catchers IN ADDITION TO guys like Woodhead, Edelman, etc.

But beyond all that there is one other bonus that I have yet to see anyone mention: McDaniels' ability as a QB coach and trainer. Thanks to McDaniels, Cassel, despite being drafted in the 7th round, would end up being a starter on two different teams. 11-5 is a remarkable record for a team without its HOF QB - just ask the Colts. Considering Brady has probably no more then 5 years left in his career, it is key that we start thinking about Mallet/Hoyer and who will end up taking over the starting job once Tom Terrific retires. In many ways, this leaves us in a similar situation as with the offense in general - last time, McD had to work with overall worse (7th round) talent. Now, with 3rd round Mallet, (who really could have gone higher if it weren't for character concerns) the skys the limit.

We'll have to wait and see how it plays out: McD certainly didn't work for Denver as planned. Still, from the way it looks now, Bill Belichick and the Patriots upper management have just killed three birds with one stone.