Through two spring practices, one of the notable impressions about the Patriots' offensive sessions is that offensive assistants Matt Patricia and Joe Judge seemed to be angling for run-game and pass-game coordinator duties under Bill Belichick, who has looked like the de facto offensive coordinator so far in Foxborough.
The Athletic's Jeff Howe reported Monday that while nothing has been decided yet, Patricia, who has served primarily as an offensive line coach in spring practice, might be separating himself from the play-calling candidate field early on.
"As Belichick and his staff ironed out their practice plans each day, the coaches predetermined who would lead each period, according to sources. It had been speculated — with Patricia taking charge of the run-based periods and Judge in control of the pass-based periods — there might be a run-game coordinator and pass-game coordinator this season. However, that hasn’t been the case so far, according to a source.
"Belichick has not yet decided who will call the plays during the season, but it’s trending in Patricia’s direction, according to a source. Patricia and Judge are each preparing for the possibility of calling plays, but Patricia’s workload this spring has suggested he’s the early favorite to handle that responsibility."
This wouldn't be the first time an insider has reported Patricia might have the inside track on the Patriots' play-calling gig. ESPN's Mike Reiss noted he heard a similar response from a source with knowledge of the situation: "I’m told don’t be surprised if it’s Matt Patricia.”
One noteworthy piece of this equation: Patricia does have a good deal of experience calling plays on the defensive side of the ball. While that doesn't mean he'll be a good offensive play-caller, it does perhaps make it him less likely than Judge to be in over his head after the scripted plays run out and adjustments have to be made in-game.
Still, that's not necessarily a ringing endorsement of Patricia. It certainly seems as if Belichick's guidance will be needed no matter who ends up calling offensive plays this season, and the growing pains might also put more burden on Mac Jones to take ownership of the offense in his second year.
As Howe noted, however, the Patriots have apparently not definitively given anyone play-calling duties as yet, and it's worth re-iterating that Judge, who works most closely with Jones and the quarterbacks, has maybe the best idea of what Jones will want to run this season.
But this latest report could foreshadow an arrangement not unlike what the Patriots have on defense, where one prominent assistant (Jerod Mayo) has a heavy role in the game-planning while another (Steve Belichick) calls plays. As if things weren't already strange enough with Belichick and the Patriots.