Last night’s preseason opener represented the next significant opportunity for observers to assess the Patriots’ approach with respect to their offensive play-calling. Over the course of the game, both Matt Patricia and Joe Judge operated as de-facto offensive coordinators, keeping the matter as unclear as it has been throughout the offseason. 
Patricia called plays to begin the game, during which time Brian Hoyer was the quarterback. After the Patriots replaced him with fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe, however, Judge assumed the role of play-caller, as detailed by Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.
That development comes after the team officially unveiled the titles for their coaching staff last month, including offensive assistant/quarterbacks for Judge and senior football advisor/offensive line for Patricia. While each staffer is coming off of a recent (and underwhelming) head coaching gig elsewhere, they have years of experience working on the sidelines under head coach Bill Belichick. Neither of them have offensive play-calling on their resumes, however.
When asked after the game about the decision to split the duties, Belichick said, via PFT’s Mike Florio, “We did a lot of things in this game that are going to be beneficial in the long run, whether it was on the coaching staff, playing time, players that played and so forth. That’s all part of the process.”
With the Patriots electing not to employ an official OC – something they also did in 2010 – the question of who will call plays in the regular season has been an ongoing one through the spring and summer. Patricia was initially considered the favorite for the role, but with both he and Judge being auditioned yesterday, it appears the final decision has yet to be made.
On that topic, Belichick added, “don’t worry about that. We’ll work it out… We’re going through a process.” The outcome of that process will be one worth watching as the preseason continues.
Brian Flores 2.0. Look how well that ended in Miami.
I don’t understand why this is a story. Do that many people really care about the “play-calling responsibility battle” between two guys who failed miserably as head coaches?
A playoff team from last year with the head coach who’s won the most Super Bowls is changing up its offensive scheme and replacing its offensive coordinator with either a defensive coach who flamed out horribly as a head coach or a special teams coach who flamed out horribly as a head coach. Do you really not get why that’s a story?
BB is the OC, DC, ST coach, and everything else in between coach. The other coaches just execute what BB tells them too.
The Patriots used a QB sneak to get a first down on one drive. Was that Judge’s call by chance?
What a play call! link to youtube.com
What you can expect to see on the Patriots sideline when the play calling goes bad…link to youtube.com
Can I call some plays, too? I don’t have any experience, but I’ve played a lot of Madden and I know not to run back-to-back QB sneaks near our own end zone.
Too many cooks, but none can actually cook.
I always take a wait-and-see approach to BB. Since Brady left, BB has been low hanging fruit for the media, especially from the Hub. Some of it is deserved, but don’t forget, in addition to Brady, BB has had to rebuild the entire team on offense and defense. If the team can win at least one playoff game, I would consider it a good year.
This is becoming a Joke Bill Wake Up!
Calling plays in a game situation is actually pretty difficult – so why not give them some practice – no different from playing your third string receivers.
I would submit that play calling is relatively easy because factors such as weather, available personnel, score, field possession, down and distance and time remaining generally narrow down the options to just a few plays that have a high probability of being successful. Of course you can always call for a pass at the opponents 1 yard line in a SB just to prove to everyone what a genius you are.