About a week and a half ago, we wrote the latest on this situation with some fairly surprising names like head coach Bill Belichick, former special teams coordinator Joe Judge, and former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia being considered for the open offensive play-calling duties left vacant when former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels took the head coaching position in Las Vegas. Jeff Howe of The Athletic was able to provide a bit of an update today that shows things are trending in an unlikely direction. 
To recap, since leaving New England to be head coach of the Lions, Patricia has since returned in the role of senior football advisor. All the way back in 2004 and 2005, Patricia was on the offensive side of the ball working with the Patriots’ offensive line. It’s been presumed that he will be, once again, working with the big men on offense this season.
Judge, since leaving to be head coach of the Giants, has also returned, now in the role of offensive assistant. Despite working primarily with special teams during his tenure in New England, he did add wide receivers to his docket in his final year before going to New York. Those in league circles believe that this year he will be working directly with Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, and the other quarterbacks.
Now, Belichick has never officially held play-calling duties. While it’s generally accepted that he’s always had an influence on the Patriots’ offense, McDaniels was always granted free rein to call plays. To his credit, though, in Belichick’s first head coaching job in Cleveland, he was heavily credited for his role in the offensive play-calling, though he claimed it was a group effort.
Howe’s update tells that things are still a bit up in the air but that they’re starting to fall into place. While the three have still been sharing the duties during OTAs, there has been some speculation that, due to Patricia handling run-based sessions and Judge taking charge of pass-based sessions, they may end up with the roles of run-game coordinator and pass-game coordinator, respectively.
For now, though, while no decision has been made, both Patricia and Judge are preparing as if they’ll be given the assignment. Early reports are indicating that “Patricia’s workload this spring has suggested he’s the early favorite to handle” play-calling duties.
Another nugget from Howe’s update suggests that McDaniels’ departure has led to the revamping of an offensive system that’s been notoriously difficult for free agents and rookies to learn. McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for the past 10 years in New England and for three more years in an interval before that. The familiarity and memorization involved with that level of continuity can make things difficult for newcomers from the outside. So the trio of play-calling candidates have been working, not necessarily to change the system, but to simplify the terminology to help ease the learning process.
I heard a rumor that the Patriots marketing department might be offering fans the “Patricia Pencil” soon. It has an eraser at each end.
Joe Judge got one but there was no lead in it.
lmao, please please please let Joe Judge handle the passing game. Dude was an absolute joke of a head coach overall but particularly on the offensive side. Gettleman didn’t help with the players he provided, but Judge was atrocious on offense, with the Giants finishing 31st in points scored both years. Judge made Pat Shurmer look like a genius in retrospect.
Brady is gone and very apparent he was the the reason not Belicheat for all those Championships. How many would he have won had the hoodie at least got him a couple more offensive targets. Now Brady is gone and Belicheat has no player left to overcome his horrible drafting skills. Plus you add in the Bone Heads and rejects he has now brought back on his coaching staff and it ends up a long cold season.
It’s pretty clear at this point that the celebrated Patriots legacy was built on cheating and Tom Brady being a better NFL player than he was a college player.
The Patriot Way was a specialized approach and as with all things specialized, inability to adapt is the Achilles heel.
First, I hate you for making me defend the Patriots. Anyway, with that out of the way, can you give me an unemotional list of what they were doing that wasn’t being done by a bunch of other teams? Please and thank you.
Spying on opponents.
Running up the score.
Gangstas in the team (hello, Aaron Hernandez!).
Destruction of evidence (deflated footballs).
Owner patronizing prostitutes.
All teams spied
Running up the score ??? Stop them from scoring
How was Hernandez on the team cheating ?
Deflategate was disproven
How is the owner playing with prostitutes cheating
Complete fail on your part but I’m sure you’re used to it
Aaron Hernandez was a made member of the Bloods. The culture warriors who’re all hot and bothered about Kaepernick have yet to say a word about a real-life gangbanger playing for an NFL team.
Deflated footballs was not “disproven” — Tom Brady had to serve a 4-game league-imposed suspension for his part.
Robert Kraft got a slap on the wrist for patronizing prostitutes in southeast Florida — in the same federal jurisdiction where Jeffrey Epstein was treated with kid gloves.
Deflategate WAS disproven get an education kiddo
Hernandez was bad judgement
They didn’t press charges against Kraft.You’re not very start obviously so again this wasn’t cheating.Take your jealousy elsewhere
In BB we trust haters.