Brian Daboll established himself as one of the best play-callers in the NFL before the Giants hired him as their head coach. But he says he was never comfortable in the role.
Chalk that up as another sign of how hard it will be for the Patriots to replace Josh McDaniels.
In a press briefing Tuesday at the NFL Combine, Daboll pushed back when reporters asked him when he felt at ease as the Bills’ offensive play caller. “You're never comfortable. I have too much respect for the game,” he said, via Mike Giardi.
Daboll added teams are always looking for advantages, which are difficult to find in the NFL.
Daboll’s words are telling, considering his successful tenure as the Bills’ offensive coordinator. Josh Allen flourished under his tutelage, and Buffalo led the AFC in points scored last season.
But calling plays against opposing defenses is the ultimate coaching chess match in a league that’s full of them. McDaniels handled the job in New England for the last 11 seasons, and now, the role will got a complete novice — unless Bill Belichick calls plays while simultaneously coaching the rest of the team.
That seems far-fetched, especially considering Belichick’s involvement with the defensive side of the ball.
The play-calling issue is the primary reason why Matt Patrica’s and Joe Judge’s reported moves to offense are so concerning. Yes, they can probably handle positional coaching, despite their lack of experience. But as Daboll explained, calling plays is a different beast.
There’s a reason why successful organizations have defined offensive systems. They want as much continuity as possible, even if coaches move on. Look no further than the Bills, who named quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey their new OC.
Bills GM Brandon Beane said the move was made to ensure consistency for Allen. Mac Jones will receive none of that in his second season, with a play-caller who’s nearly as unfamiliar with the process as him.
That’s a lot of added responsibility to put on the shoulders of a 23-year-old kid.