There’s been a lot of focus on whom the Patriots will target as their next offensive coordinator, and rightfully so. But there are also other areas of the coaching staff that need to be addressed, including offensive line coach.
Matt Patricia handled those duties this season — in addition to his play-calling responsibilities — and the results were disastrous. The Patriots were a mess up front, and as a result, plays often broke down. Mac Jones seldom had time to throw.
On NBC Sports Boston’s “Patriots Talk” podcast, Phil Perry floated the idea of New England pursuing Doug Marrone for the offensive line job. In addition to being a veteran O-line coach, Marrone is also close with Bill O’Brien, who Tom Curran recently reported is the Patriots’ top target for offensive coordinator. O’Brien and Marrone coached together at Alabama in 2021.
“I would suggest Doug Marrone if you can get Bill O'Brien to be your offensive coordinator," said Perry. "Those guys worked together at Alabama. I believe they were roommates at Alabama. Their wives are really close. It's a great story, and Mike Rodak wrote about it a year or two ago I think when they were both joining the Alabama staff. They hadn't worked together since they worked together for Georgia Tech back in 1999. So they finally get to reunite and work under Nick Saban. But their wives were roommates, I believe at BC, and they've been friends for decades.”
Perry added that O’Brien and Marrone would be able to work in tandem with one another, which is crucial for the success of any offense.
“If Bill O'Brien is your quarterbacks coach and OC, and if Doug Marrone is your offensive line coach, I think you've got two really well-respected, accomplished guys who would know how to install a system and know how to coach an offense and run the offense if they had to, without any other help. I think right then and there you'd be good to go for next season and beyond,” he said.
Billy Yates was the Patriots’ assistant offensive line coach last season, and due to Patricia’s other duties, spent a lot of time with the unit. Perry says that Yates could continue his development working under Marrone.
Marrone, 58, largely came up as an offensive line coach in college and the pros before being named the Saints’ offensive coordinator in 2006. From there, he’s had head coaching stints with Syracuse, the Bills and the Jaguars.
Last season, Marrone returned to the Saints as their offensive line coach.
It would be atypical for Bill Belichick to bring in a coach with Marrone’s resume on his staff, especially since they’ve never worked together. But as Robert Kraft indicated in his year-end email to season ticket holders, and subsequent press release announcing the offensive coordinator search, it’s time for business to change in Foxborough.