Most times, the obvious answer is the right answer. Sometimes it’s also the only answer.
That’s exactly how it feels with the Patriots’ vacant offensive coordinator position in the wake of Josh McDaniels moving on to become the head coach of the Raiders.
In a world where it’s almost impossible to get everyone to agree on absolutely anything, it’s almost universally accepted that the best option for Bill Belichick to turn to these days in order to fill the massive void on his coaching staff is Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. Thankfully, according NFL Network, there is “mutual” interest between O’Brien and the Patriots.
O’Brien, after all, is a Massachusetts native and Brown University graduate who worked under Belichick in New England from 2007-2001, the final three years of his tenure calling the plays for an elite Tom Brady-led attack. Obviously he has a strong foundation in the Patriots offensive system that’s been in place in Foxborough since it was devised by Belichick and Charlie Weis in the early 2000s.
But familiarity with Gillette Stadium and the New England scheme isn’t the only part of O’Brien’s resume that’s intriguing. After leaving the Patriots he found success as a head coach at both Penn State – taking over the program in the midst of the Jerry Sandusky scandal – and then proved himself NFL-worthy in Houston by leading the Texans to AFC South titles in four of his six full seasons on the job. He found ways to win with the likes of Brian Hoyer and Brock Osweiler. (We’ll forget the debacle that led to his Houston demise when he took over as the team’s GM!)
Oh, and did we mention that O’Brien most recently helped Alabama get to the national championship game while guiding Bryce Young to becoming the first Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback in Tide history? O’Brien actually arrived in Tuscaloosa last offseason and in the early stages of his acclimation into the Alabama offense was tutored by none other than current Patriots QB Mac Jones.
So, O’Brien knows the Patriots offense well. He knows the Alabama offense - the one that Jones comfortably executed to 4,500 yards and 45 touchdowns on the way to a national title – well.
O’Brien could hit the ground running back in New England, honing Jones’ knowledge of an attack that he already led to the playoffs in a Pro Bowl rookie season while potentially melding some of that Alabama attack into the mix with maybe increased use of RPOs or more emphasis on play-action passing.
Regardless of the possible evolution of the scheme, O’Brien is indeed the right and really only answer for the Patriots open offensive coordinator job. His resume, his comfort, his fit are beyond compare. It’s really not even up for debate.
But it’s not just that O’Brien is seemingly the perfect candidate, it’s also the fact that there really doesn’t appear to be any other palatable Patriots options.
Yes that Adam Gase. The one best known for the wild eyes during his introductory press conference in New York that led to many a memorable meme. The one also known for less than ideal development of young quarterbacks, most notably Ryan Tannehill and Sam Darnold. The one who really hasn’t found much success running an offense since he left the side of Peyton Manning in Denver.
For whatever reason, Gase is apparently well-respected by Belichick, who was one of the first to contact him after he was let go in Miami. He’s also aligned with Nick Saban, to some degree, based on his time on the legendary coach’s staff at LSU in the early 2000s. Some even believe that not only is Gase an option for the Patriots job, but that he would be a top candidate for Alabama’s coordinator job if O’Brien were to move on.
Unlike O’Brien, though, Gase has never found much success running an offense post-Manning in Chicago, Miami or New York. He’s never been able to develop a young QB, which he would obviously be tasked with in New England. He has no tangible experience in the Patriots system.
Really, other than Belichick’s apparent affinity for Gase, he makes less than zero sense for New England.
The rest of the list of speculative candidates to fill McDaniels’ large shoes is similarly flawed. Current Patriots offensive assistants Nick Caley (tight ends) and Mick Lombardi (wide receivers) have never called plays and wouldn’t necessarily be ready for the big jump in responsibility.
Matt Patricia, the former Lions head coach and Patriots defensive coordinator has been bandied about due mostly to his availability in a rather undefined roll in New England these days as well as the immense respect and confidence Belichick has in his prized pupil.
Similarly, former Giants coach Joe Judge’s name has been surfaced. Formerly New England’s longtime, successful special teams boss, Judge did serve as the wide receivers coach for one year before moving on to New York. Still, seems like a bit of a leap.
There’s also Hoyer, the longtime Patriots and NFL journeyman backup quarterback, who developed a close mentor relationship with Jones last fall. But a jump from backup to play-caller is a big one, even if Kellen Moore made the transition with success recently in Dallas with Dak Prescott.
Sure it’s fun to talk about creative options like Patricia, Judge, Hoyer or even Belichick himself taking over the Patriots offensive coordinator role.
But creative, outside-the-box options don’t make a hell of a lot of sense at this critical juncture in Jones’ career and expected development.
Jones is the future in New England. He’s the franchise QB. He’s what matters most.
With that in mind, O’Brien is the only option to turn to as the next offensive coordinator for the Patriots.
At least the only option that makes sense.
