The Patriots still haven’t hired an offensive coordinator to replace Josh McDaniels. The prolonged vacancy on their staff means Bill Belichick may call plays himself.
There’s an “open belief” around the NFL that Belichick could take over play-calling duties next season, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano. “The intrigue deepens on the New England Patriots’ approach to offense without a true play-caller,” they write. “There’s sort of an open belief leaguewide that coach Bill Belichick could call the plays or, at the very least, have more involvement in the offense. He’s involved in everything, to be sure, but he could really dig in here.”
It isn’t unprecedented for Belichick to enter a season without an official offensive coordinator. He didn’t fill the position in his first three years as Cleveland’s head coach and the Patriots lacked a coordinator in 2009, though then-quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien was widely considered the de facto OC.
The Patriots reportedly haven’t connected with O’Brien about rejoining the staff, despite his familiarity with Belichick and success elsewhere. New England hired Joe Judge as an offensive assistant earlier this offseason. Judge, who served as the Patriots’ special teams and receivers coach, went 10-23 in two seasons with the Giants.
SI’s Albert Breer reports Judge is expected to work with quarterbacks. Matt Patricia, whom Belichick rehired last year, is also expected to help on the offensive side of the ball. He last coached offense in 2005, when he was the Patriots’ assistant offensive line coach.
Overall, the Patriots have four offensive coaches to replace. McDaniels took receivers coach Mick Lombardi, quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree and offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo with him to Las Vegas.
Last week, NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry reported NFL personnel are "flabbergasted" by the Patriots' staff.
