The biggest takeaway from Troy Brown’s training camp session with reporters Wednesday was just how jacked he is. I mean, he looks like he’s ready to convert 3rd-and-4 right now.
But once you get passed Brown’s biceps — an admittedly difficult task — he relayed one anecdote that shows the importance of player-on-player mentorship. When asked about the reasons for Jakobi Meyers’ success in the slot last season, Brown had a simple answer: “He sat back and watched Julian (Edelman) for two, three years.”
You mean Mick Lombardi didn’t teach him how to shake cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage?
Several ex-Patriots players from their dynasty years are NFL coaches, yet few of them are on Bill Belichick’s staff. Jerod Mayo is entering his third season coaching linebackers and Brown is back to coaching receivers and kick returners. Former offensive lineman Billy Yates, who played four seasons in New England, is also on the sidelines.
But they’re the exceptions, and not the rule. For a team that’s rightfully fixated on its winning tradition, the dearth of former players on staff is baffling. I’m sure Mike Lombardi’s boy has a lot to offer young wideouts.
But don’t you think Wes Welker, who’s an assistant for the 49ers, has more?
Mayo is the standout player-turned-coach, and he appears to be quickly moving up the ranks. He became the Patriots’ defensive player caller during his first year on the job, and the Eagles interviewed him for their head coaching position this offseason. On Wednesday, Mayo said he has aspirations to be a head coach.
But somehow, he’s not the Patriots’ official defensive coordinator. The position has been vacant since Matt Patricia left in 2018. (Now Patricia is back as an omnipresent assistant to Belichick. He’s been called the “New Ernie Adams.”)
Mayo appears to share some responsibilities with Steve Belichick, who also coaches linebackers, and yes, is one of Bill Belichick’s sons. His other boy, Brian, is the safeties coach.
Last season, Belichick revealed Steve Belichick calls at least some of the defensive plays. “Steve made a couple of good calls that put us in the right defense against a couple of those, so that was good too,” he said following a brutal loss to Arizona.
It may seem tedious to fret about job titles, until you realize they impact pay and status. For Mayo, leaving to become an official defensive coordinator would be a job promotion at this point, even though he may be performing a similar role right now.
The Patriots are in the midst of an organizational overhaul. The number of active players who were part of those Super Bowl teams decreases each season, as evidenced by Patrick Chung’s visit to practice Thursday.
With that in mind, it sure would be nice to have more of them on staff. Larry Izzo, for example, is entering his 10th season as a special teams coordinator.
But he’s in Seattle, where has no history.
Ex-defensive end Andre Carter, who made a Pro Bowl with the Patriots in 2013, is coaching linemen at LSU. For the last two seasons, he was on the Jets’ staff.
Perhaps most inexcusably, Mike Vrabel didn't spend a day on the Patriots' staff before becoming head coach of the Titans.
Maybe former Patriots aren’t interested in working under Belichick. Patriots assistants live notoriously grueling existences, complete with marathon film sessions and lousy pay. A court filing revealed the Patriots pay some assistant coaches just $15,000 annually.
Good luck getting many ex-players to work for that kind of money.
But if that’s the case, Belichick shouldn’t be praised for his austerity. It may be costing him talent, and just as importantly, coaches who personify what it means to be a Patriot.
Here’s hoping Brown’s role grows as much as his biceps.