Photos of Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia at Georgia’s Pro Day went viral earlier this week. But whom the Patriots sent to a smaller college’s pro day with much less fanfare might provide us with a big hint about how their undermanned coaching staff will shake out.
Joe Judge attended Western Michigan’s Pro Day in Kalamazoo Wednesday, according to the Providence Journal’s Mark Daniels. There were scouts and assistants from over 30 teams at the event, presumably to scout prospects such as receiver Skyy Moore and quarterback Kaleb Eleby.
One Michigan-based reporter, Patrick Mothaft of MLive and the Kalamazoo Gazette, told Daniels that Judge was the Patriots’ de facto quarterback coach scouting Eleby.
That anecdote jives with reporting earlier this offseason from SI’s Albert Breer, who wrote last month Judge is “expected to work with the quarterbacks.” Breer added that Patricia will likely handle the offensive line.
Judge came to the Patriots in 2012 and was named special teams coordinator in 2015. His only experience coaching on the offensive side of the ball came when he coached receivers in 2019.
The Giants hired Judge as their head coach in 2020 and fired him after two seasons. New York went 10-23 under Judge’s watch.
The Patriots rehired Judge as an offensive assistant shortly thereafter. They’ve lost four offensive coaches this offseason, with Josh McDaniels taking receivers coach Mick Lombardi, offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo and quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree with him to Vegas.
Interestingly enough, longtime Patriots captain and special teams ace Matthew Slater gave Judge a big endorsement when he met with reporters Thursday via Zoom. “I love Joe Judge,” Slater said.
Maybe Mac Jones will soon be saying similar things.
