The Patriots have had a ton of turnover on their staff, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, the past couple of years, and that got even more pronounced today. “Defensive line coach Brendan Daly is leaving for a spot on the Kansas City Chiefs’ staff”, a source told Jim McBride of The Boston Globe (Twitter link). Daly, 43, had been with the team since the 2014 season. The team lost defensive coordinator Matt Patricia last year, who left to become head coach of the Lions.
This year, they lost defensive play-caller Brian Flores, who left to become the head coach of the Dolphins. Flores took several Patriots assistants with him to Miami, and New England’s staff will look radically different. It’s a notable occurrence for an organization known for their stability, although Bill Belichick shouldn’t have any issue building a new quality staff. The team is reportedly hiring former Buccaneers head coach and Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano to replace Flores.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Speaking of the Patriots, the champs will have some tough decisions to make this offseason. The team has a bunch of impending free agents, and likely won’t be able to keep them all. While the Patriots have a few players who could possibly be franchise tagged, kicker Stephen Gostkowski “makes the most sense”, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe. Volin writes that left tackle Trent Brown is another candidate, but that it’s “more likely the Patriots would let him walk and insert Isaiah Wynn into the lineup” in his place. Wynn was New England’s first round pick in the 2018 draft, but missed his entire rookie campaign after tearing his Achilles during the preseason.
- We heard Thursday that the Redskins were interviewing Tim Rattay for their quarterbacks coach opening, and the team is indeed hiring him, they announced via Twitter. Rattay will be the replacement for former quarterbacks coach Kevin O’Connell, who earlier this month was promoted to offensive coordinator. He’s never coached in the NFL before, and has spent the previous six seasons as an assistant at Louisiana Tech. He did interview for the Raiders’ QBs coach position last offseason. As such, it’s possible Oakland head coach Jon Gruden put in a good word for Rattay with his brother, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden.
- In case you missed it yesterday, you can check out the latest update in the Antonio Brown domestic dispute case here.
What, the Patriots lost their 1st round draft choice before he played a regular season down? No worries, go win the Super Bowl anyways! Bill Belichick is playing 3D Star Trek chess and the rest of the NFL is playing hopscotch. BTW, if Dont’a Hightower had played in the Super Bowl against the Eagles the outcome would have been much different, as shown against the Rams. GO PATS! WE’RE STILL HERE!
Well they had 2 first round picks
To be fair they had 2, and used the other on Michel.
Agree would have been 3 in a row. Not to mention bad calls that went way of Eagles. But Pats fans didn’t complain. Just go back out next year and win like always.
It could be 5 in a row if Bellichick didnt tank the 2015 week 17 game. Shoulda coulda woulda
“But Pats fans didn’t complain.” Line of the week.
Had Seattle handed off that would of been much different along with a million other scenarios. Belicheck is way ahead of the others but let’s be honest they have yet to blow anyone out in a SuperBowl so don’t run the “ Hightower” smack. They ya e been very good and very lucky for a long time. Belicheck is superior in tight games.
To be honest, most Super Bowl’s aren’t “blowouts”, since 2000, only 3 have been “blowouts.”
Well since 2000 the patriots have been in 9 of those games . 3 have been blowouts accounting for 12 games so there have been 6 or 7 others . 3 being blowouts of those is near half. It only looks better when adding in the patriot 9 but no patriots super Bowl has been a blow out. This means the patriots are the anomaly
The Pats take advantage of any mistakes other teams make while making few themselves. Sign of a well coached and well run team.
Where’s my barf bag?
I was a fan of tagging Flowers but this draft is really defense heavy so there’s a good chance that a really good guy falls to us. Dream scenario imo sign Gostkowski to a multi year deal and tag Brown having a rookie that was injured protecting Brady isn’t that appealing.
red zone targets and situational blocking it would be a dream if gronk returns
Now with the de-line coach heading to Kansas City maybe Andy Reid can finally see what a Super Bowl ring looks like