Vicariously Patriots: February 2024

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Ten Quarterbacks The Patriots Could Target From The 2024 Draft Class

There's a long list of quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL draft class. One would think we could count those that could fit for the Patriots on one hand if we listen to most talking heads. However, I have found ten quarterbacks that could be part of the Patriots organization heading into the preseason. Here they are with a list of scouting report. Note that I am limiting the prospects to only 10 reports, although with someone of them, I read a lot more than 10. Since Daniels is first, I am going with the first 10 sites that pop up for him that I read for all the reports for all the prospects if possible.

Jayden Daniels, LSU

6'4" 210, Age 23, Senior

Bo Nix, Oregon

6'2", 217, age 24, senior

Michael Penix Jr, Washington

6'3" 213, age 23, red shirt senior

Behind The Steel Curtain

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

6'3" 202, age 21, Jr

Michael Pratt, Tulane

6'3" 220, age 22, Junior

Behind The Steel Curtain

Spencer Rattler, South Carolina

6'1" 217, age 23, senior

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame

6'1" 212, age 24, senior

Carter Bradley, South Alabama

6'3" 216, age 23, senior

Davius Richard, NC Central

6'3" 220, age 22, senior

Parker Mckinney, Eastern Kentucky

6'3" 208, age N/A, red shirt senior

Now of course we cannot exclude Evan Lazar. Here is his take on some of the quarterbacks in this class.

Whether it's a starter or a backup that can spot start, the guys in this list should be on the Patriots draft board. Where they're ranked is another story. Ten possible prospects here that should thrive in AVP's offense

Thursday, February 22, 2024

The Patriots Staff Is Complete Or Is It?

The Patriots have their coaching staff and I think they're two assistants short. There are a few hold overs from the 2023 staff but for the most part it's an all new staff.

On offense they have Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt. His staff consists of the following:

Quarterbacks Coach: T.C. McCartney, Running Backs Coach: Tayler Embree, Wide Receivers Coach: Tyler Hughes, Tight Ends Coach: Bob Bicknell, Offensive Line Coach: Scott Peters, Senior Offensive Assistant: Ben McAdoo, Assistant Wide Receivers Coach: Tiquan Underwood, Assistant Offensive Line Coach: Robert Kugler, Offensive Coaching Assistant./ Quality Control: Michael McCarthy.

On offense I think the Patriots still need an assistant that can help develop the running backs and tight ends. Troy Brown is currently without a title. Making him the assistant running back coach and return game coach could help fill needed roles. McCarthy has experience with lineman and what are traditional tight ends but an extra tackle, so he could be Bicknell's understudy.

On defense they have Defensive Coordinator: DeMarcus Covington. His staff consists of:

Defensive Line Coach: Jerry Montgomery, Inside Linebackers Coach: Dont’a Hightower, Outside Linebackers Coach: Drew Wilkins, Cornerbacks Coach: Mike Pellegrino, Safeties Coach: Brian Belichick, Defensive Coaching Assistant / Quality Control: Vinny DePalma, Defensive Coaching Assistant / Quality Control: Jamael Lett.

Again, I think they need one assistant on defense maybe two. Realistically on defense there's the interior line, the edge, inside linebackers, corners and Safeties. They can merge one of the assistants as a DB coach, and they can merge one as a line or linebacker coach but they need to bring in a guy to do the other. I get Troy Brown is without title but they don't want him in defense.

The Special Teams Coordinator is: Jeremy Springer, who currently has the following staff.

Special Teams Assistant Coach: Tom Quinn, Special Teams Coaching Assistant / Quality Control: Coby Tippett.

When I think of special teams I think of the returners, the gunners/Defensive side of the return game, and the kicking/punting game. Maybe including the Coordinator, they have all three spots covered but Springer should be overseeing all three aspects. So they should have one more assistant here. Having Troy Brown who was has experience be a special teams assistant would make sense. Otherwise, They should bring in one more assistant. Maybe freshly retired Matthew Slater.

The team does have two strength and conditioning coaches. Those guys need to focus on the entire team and should not double as an assistant coach for either side of the ball.

Now I get not wanting to have people around with Nothing to do but I also get the staff size is to avoid the brain drain that has hurt the Patriots since Flores left. If the goal is to avoid a brain drain, they need two more assistants.

James Devlin, Kevin Faulk, Brian Hoyer, Matthew Slater, and Vince Wilfork are the five guys that I think the team should be looking at for the staff as assistants as far as former Patriots go. Yes four of them are former offensive guys but the few defenders I would bring in are on TV and I don't see them coming back to coach. Maybe one of the McCourtys but that's a long shot.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Mac Jones Isn't A Lock To Be Moved

Are the Patriots keeping Mac Jones? If you ask the typical echo chamber fan or media, Mac is a bum and is already gone. However, while the Patriots have not shown any smoke, there are some embers that they have kept warm that point to Mac returning on 2024.

The latest is Alex Van Pelt talking about the Patriots having a clean slate and informing some of the guys that they are clean with zero exceptions. And then he drops, "I talked with Mac Jones and informed him he has a clean slate."

There's two things with that. One it can be taken that there are no expectations for Mac to be the starter in 2024. At the same time he's being told he is forgiven for the past two years. All this implies that he will be allowed to compete for the job in 2024.

Go back to what Mayo said a few weeks ago. He basically said after hired that Mac is a good player and Bill screwed him up. He said that Mac was the first guy in and was putting in the work.

We know that Mac was okay to be treaded and we know that he's a Kraft guy. We also know that The 49ers were supposed to take him but someone pulled rank to draft Lance in San Francisco.

If the Patriots are keeping Mac, his play will be evaluated at a sophomore playing his third year but if they wanna extend him, there will be an urgency come week 10.

Whether the Patriots take a quarterback in the draft or sign a bridge guy, if they keep Mac, he will have to earn his job. And yes there are developmental starters that need a year to sit.

Remember, nobody outside the organization knows anything. And what people outside professional teams think is the smart decision, often is not what is done. All we can do is wait and see.

Friday, February 9, 2024

Patriots Thoughts The Week Before The Superbowl.

There is a lot to think about concerning the Patriots during the week before the Super Bowl. So it took some time to get my thoughts out. I'm still surprised Kraft admitted to getting his hands dirty. We knew it with the Jimmy G. trade, but still. Anyway, here are some takeaways from what's going on in Patriots circles.

As far as the roster goes, take Daniels, keep Mac, and trade Zappe, or trade down, keep Mac, and wait until rounds three or four to draft a developmental quarterback that could possibly compete for the job and hang on to both Mac and Zappe.

I've been listening, and there seems to be a consensus that the Patriots can repair Mac if they choose. It's about getting his confidence up. The West Coast System is a great system for that, but again, the team has to want Mac back. If it were me, I'd be drafting a middle-round quarterback and telling Mac that either his backup or replacement is now on the roster. The job is his to lose, and the team is going to do everything to help him, but he's got to do it.

I believe it was Dan Orlovsky who said that if the Patriots don't love the quarterback at three, they should trade down, build the team, and run with Mac because either he's going to play badly to where they're in position to get a quarterback next draft or he plays well and the Patriots either have their quarterback or they have to trade bait to get their quarterback.

If Mac plays well enough, the Patriots could get either a late first or a second for Mac. Combine that with their 2025 first-round pick, and the Patriots could move up significantly in round one if Mac plays well in 2024 if they want to draft a quarterback. For me again, I think Daniels is the best passer in the 2024 draft, and if the Patriots don't love him, don't take a quarterback until the midway point.

Resign, Judon, and show you're willing to pay top talent. Draft a big body burner for the X because I don't see them getting the type of X they need in free agency.

The Patriots front office appears set; it just comes down to figuring out what people are doing, as far as those of us not in the building are concerned. I still wish they had a football operations guy that let the staff vote on things and was just there to be the tiebreaker vote, as like the VP is in the U.S. Senate.

The Patriots defensive coaching staff appears set. While they can still bring in assistant coaches, this is the staff. Defensive coordinator: DeMarcus Covington; defensive line: Jerry Montgomery; Linebackers: Dont'a Hightower; cornerbacks: Mike Pellegrino; and safety: Brian Belichick.

Now there's talk about splitting the linebackers again. If you're going to do that, just make the position the edge coach. I mean, when you read scouting reports and draft boards, so few respect defensive ends and outside linebackers anymore. They just label them edge guys, so create that on the staff.

On offense, there's still three positions to be filled, but they're getting guys that know each other. I see a conflict between MacAdoo and AVP coming, but the staff is coming together.

The staff so far is Offensive coordinator: Alex Van Pelt; Quarterbacks: T.C. McCartney; Offensive Line: Scott Peters; and Senior offensive assistant: Ben McAdoo. Three spots are still undecided. Running backs: TBD; wide receivers: TBD; tight ends: TBD.

Another thing to remember is that McVeigh runs a version of the West Coast. Even if AVP and McAdoo are used to an older version of the west coast, if Mayo says he wants a version closer to what the Rams run, while it won't be perfect, those two should be able to come close.

At the moment, Troy Brown is the acting receivers coach and could be retained. Kevin Faulk would be nice to see back if he could coach the way he played. And while Edgar Bennett's name is being thrown out for the receiver position, I'd like to see Tony Sorrentino interviewed for the job.

Jeremy Springer is the special teams coordinator, but it's likely that they will bring in an assistant. If he retires, I would like Matthew Slater to be offered the role. The team is likely to devote fewer players to special teams, so having a specialist come back and coach would be huge for developing the depth chart that has to do double duty.

Again, lots more are still too tall about the draft. Speaking of the draft, I have my draft board for those who are interested. I'm revising it as needed, but I have prospects for pretty much every position that could work with the Patriots. Some of the offensive players will be coming off, as I started compiling the list when the college deadline ended for people to declare. If you're interested, here's the link.

I guess it's now, "In Mayo, We Trust!"

Kraft Got His Hands Dirty During The Fall Of The Dynasty

Robert Kraft's hands are dirty and he admits it. The Patriots have made questionable decisions over the past few years, going back to Jimmy G. How much we don't know but here's what Kraft said.

“I’ve actually tried to get us to sign players who maybe would’ve cost more but wouldn’t have been the right players or value. So, we always leave that to the people we assign the responsibility to," Robert Kraft

It was said that Robert Kraft was behind Jimmy G getting traded instead of Brady and it was said that Kraft was involved with AB getting cut. Those two things had impact on the Patriots.

“We all know, long-term, we have to find a way — either Jarrett Stidham or someone new we bring in. This isn’t something where you get algebraic formulas. Think of all the personnel wizards who passed on six rounds for Tom Brady in 2000. No one knows what’s going to happen. We have to balance everything. Look, quarterback is the most important position on the team. We know that. One way or another we have to get that position solidified," Robert Kraft said in 2021.

In the summer of 2023, Ben Volin said, "(The Krafts) are invested in Jones succeeding. Belichick, meanwhile, barely wants to say Jones’ name in public."

If Belichick and the front office had the power, why was there so much protection from the Krafts to keep Mac?

After the 2021 draft, Kraft said, "There were a lot of rumors that he was supposed to go No. 3. We feel very fortunate that he came to us and we're excited."

“Well, first of all, I’m amazed — he’s such a good person, and humble. … I come in there sometimes on the weekend, early, he’s there working out, watching film. Just doing things that I wouldn’t believe someone of his background would have that kind of commitment, given his past. And the guys in the locker room really like him — all the guys. … I actually believe he has a little more edge than we’ve seen. But he’s been respectful coming in as a rookie. So, I’m very high on him. I think we really, the staff did a great job drafting him. And we’re lucky to have him for our future, and this will be a good pick," said Robert Kraft in 2022.

When asked about drafting Mac Jones in the middle of the 2023 season, Bill Belichick said, “Organizationally, we thought it was the right thing to do." So Bill got asked again about the decision and said, “Collectively, we were all for that."

Belichick didn't claim ownership. He blamed the organization. It's true the Patriots didn't move up to get Mac but there were other players on the board. Furthermore, Stidham who some had a first or second round draft grade on, was still on the roster even though he didn't start in 2020.

The thing is Kraft admitted to meddling in the Patriots roster construction. And he stopped Belichick from trading Mac Jones. The speculation that he was behind drafting Mac Jones at 15, even though they didn't trade up has to be taken seriously with Kraft's latest spillage.

Don't forget, Kraft ordered Belichick to sign Bill O'Brien. Every decision the Patriots have made since the Jimmy G trade was made needs to be scrutinized because that's when things started to come unglued in Foxboro. What decisions were Bill Belichick's and what belong to Robert Kraft? Robert Kraft may not get credit for building the dynasty but I have a feeling it's gonna come out that he deserves some credit for the fall.

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Patriots Hire Alex Van Pelt To Be The Offensive Coordinator in 2024.

The Patriots hired Alex Van Pelt as the offensive coordinator. There seems to be confusion as to what tree he comes from. Personally, I liked the "Brady" offense but thought it needed to evolve and was hoping for Caley. But Van Pelt is supposed to be a west coast "Montana" offensive guy and if true, I can live with that.

Here's Van Pelt's exposure to offense:

At Pitt way back in his college days, he played under Paul Hackett who is of the Bill Walsh coaching tree for 3 seasons in the 80s. Hackett returned to Joe Montana in KC the same year Van Pelt got drafted.

Van Pelt got drafted by the Steelers and spent time learning the Erhardt-Perkins offense, which is the "Brady" offense before getting released.

He then returned to Hackett in K.C. and studied the west coast offense under Joe Montana for part of his rookie season.

His first three seasons in Buffalo he learned under Tom Bresnahan who was from the Jim Shofner tree, Shofner who ran a modified version of thr Erhardt and west coast offenses. Bresnahan ran the no huddle K-Gun offense.

He learned under Dan Henning, who is from the Joe Gibbs coaching tree that spun out the Shanahan tree.

He had a few seasons under Joseph Pendry who ran a version of the Erhardt-Perkins offense.

He then got more experience in the west coast system for a season under Mike Sheppard.

His final two playing years were under Kevin Gilbride's version of an Erhardt-Perkins system.

As a player, Van Pelt got plenty of experience in both the West Coast and Erhardt-Perkins systems, with a year of the Shanahan west coast zone system sprinkled in.

His coach exposure:

For two seasons, Van Pelt learned from Steve Fairchild who was from Martz Air Coryell system and then Lubick's zone offense which is part of the Shanahan tree.

For a season, he learned from Turk Schonert who was from Sam Wyche's no huddle west coast offense tree.

Van Pelt spent a year running a version of the no huddle in his first stint as OC in 2009.

He learn Greg Olsen's offense who just seems to adapt his offense but seems to like power zone.

He learned Tom Clements's west coast system in Green Bay and then from a combination of the Air Coryall and West coast from Edgar Bennett.

In 2018 he got more experience in a west coast offense and in 2019 he got a year under the McVeigh system under Zac Taylor in Cincinnati.

And for the last 4 years he's learned the wide zone west coast under Kevin Stefanski.

As a coach he has been under the Air Coryell and various West Coast zone offenses.

Van Pelt's over all experience should allow him to mix in the old Patriots Erhardt-Perkins system with the West Coast and Air Coryell offensive systems. It will be interesting to see if Van Pelt brings in any of the no huddle offenses he's been exposed to as both a player and a coach. If Mayo is smart, he will allow Van Pelt to design an offense around everything he knows and not limit him to the McVeigh style west coast offense.