The new England patriots have been out for two weeks since the end of the 2023 season. Let’s jump right in this week’s #postpulpit mailbag to address the organization’s major shifts. with Bill O’Brien now officially leaving Ohio state, new england will need their fourth offensive coordinator in four years. It could be mayo’s most valuable hire as a defensive coach with what is likely to be a rookie qb under center.
On wednesday, he stated that everything is still “under investigation.”i’d turn to rams quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Zac Robinson if it were up to me. Robinson ticks all the boxes in my book, coming from sean Mcvay’s system and is a former qb himself.
Having someone with such a background would be invaluable to mentor and coach any quarterback new england drafts. Robinson was drafted by the patriots in 2010 and had a small amount of overlap with mayo. I’d like to see him as my leading candidate. beyond the hiring of an offensive coordinator, Jerod Mayo’s next biggest challenge could be filling out the recruiting department. Both mayo and robert kraft have made it clear that this will be a more collaborative approach so far. Kraft has told us that the next step will be to investigate what new england has on its surface.
As the team’s draft board has been assembled in the last nine months, it’s important to note that scouts usually stay with the team through the draft after coaching changes. After their in-house research, external candidates are still in play, as they will explore the “marketplace.” Kraft explained that they would nominate someone “before the crucial decisions have to be made.”
I would not assume steve and brian are locked in their father’s house. Steve is a natural defensive coordinator who has a close working relationship with Jerod Mayo in new england and may be officially awarded the position. It would also give both sons the opportunity to establish themselves outside of their father’s shadow.
I would assume that the bulk of the offensive and special teams staff follows Belichick. Vinnie sunseri (running backs), joe judge (st), cam achord (st), and possibly troy brown (wide receivers) are among those unknowns. DeMarcus covington is the most feared player in the league.
This past week, covington was at both Belichick and mayo’s press conferences, and will be a defensive coordinator across the league. Mayo should keep mike pellegrino as a backup quarterback, but the cornerbacks coach seems to be the one who will follow Belichick. Once Belichick signs up with his new team (mostly atlanta), the dominoes will begin to fall. don’t underestimate the urgency. Adrian klemm doesn’t seem to be back with the organization, so they’ll need their fifth offensive line coach in five years.
It’s difficult to put names out there until the offensive coordinator is hired and we can find his connections. depending on how free agency unfolds, wide receiver would be my pick (pick no. 1). 68) if new england goes QB, then ot will begin the draft. Washington’s Ja’lynn polk and Jalen McMillan, Michigan’s Roman wilson, georgia’s ladd McConnell, western kentucky’s Malachi Corley, and florida’s ricky Pearsall are among the names i like early in the draft process. Kyle dugger’s free agency will be one of the more exciting ones to watch unfold. Willy has his warts in coverage, as you mentioned, which could make teams hesitant in a pass-happy league.
This season, he took a step back as a ballhawk, though playing in the deeper part of the field more often pushed him further away from the football. with Jabrill peppers under contract for another season — which they should continue to extend — bringing in a more traditional free safety may be the right move. Dugger is still a good footballer and could be retained, but i wouldn’t overextend if i were new england. Although it is expensive (at least $17 million), i’d also watch the value of the franchise tag.
