The more you can do…
For years, that’s been a popular phrase in New England under Bill Belichick’s watch to explain and praise the immense value of a player’s versatility.
Troy Brown or Julian Edelman jump to defense?
The more you can do…
Marcus Jones making plays in all three phases right out the gates as a revelatory rookie?
The more you can do…
But the more roles that Belichick himself has been forced into in recent years, the less successful it would seem it was for the coach and his team.
That came to a dismal head this past season with the debacle that was the offensive coaching staff Belichick assembled. His decision to put Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in charge of New England’s offense and Mac Jones in the wake of Josh McDaniels’ departure was maddening.
Not only was it doomed to fail, but it left Belichick necessarily focused on the offense from spring to season’s end. And everyone paid the price. The offense wasn’t good. Special teams was an area of weekly weakness rather than strength. Overall the team was as shell of its former well-coached self, living off executional reputation that ran counter to what actually unfolded on the field most weeks.
As the former Patriots receiver turned TV analyst Edelman puts it, there were a “lot of brain farts” for his former team last fall. Critical situations and game-changing plays that were once a hallmark of Patriots’ success, didn’t go New England’s way.
That leads us to the present. A week in Las Vegas for Belichick and the bulk of his coaching staff working the East-West Shrine Bowl. A week that Belichick has spent in what the Shrine Bowl calls a “supervisory role,” overseeing a West squad led by head coach Troy Brown and the rest of New England’s assistants.
It’s a role that just might be a precursor to what we see from Belichick moving forward in Foxborough. And it’s a really good thing.
With Bill O’Brien back in New England to run the Patriots offense, that’s less on Belichick’s plate. With Jerod Mayo retained this offseason and seemingly given an elevated role in the organization – he was reportedly a part of the interviews with offensive coordinator candidates that led to the O’Brien hire – the defense is under established, proven leadership with him and Steve Belichick working that side of the ball.
And while nothing has been announced regarding Judge’s future, his involvement at the Shrine Bowl would indicate he’s going to remain in New England and it’s not hard to envision him returning to the kicking game where he built up his resume in the NFL.
After a year of coaching turmoil and ineptitude, Belichick suddenly could have a former NFL head coach running his offense, a former NFL head coaching running his special teams and two trusted, proven ascending assistants running his defense, the unit that’s been by far the strength of the team for the past two years.
Heck, in terms of coaching, it’s almost like a return to the glory days of the sidelines at Gillette Stadium, way back when Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis and Brad Seely led the three phases. All three more than capably filled out the titles of coordinators as the team secured its own Super Bowl titles.
So where does that leave Belichick? Where it’s always left him in New England, overseeing it all. A supervisor, if you will, who can pick his spots on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis as to where he can impart his immense knowledge and put his unparalleled experience to use.
“It’s gonna allow Coach Belichick to really focus on everything else on the team.” Edelman told NBC Sports Boston of O’Brien’s arrival. “I felt like little things were slipping away this last year. Little details that you always see, special teams, situational type football…lot of brain farts.”
For Belichick heading into 2023 with a revamped and stabilized coaching staff, the less he absolutely has to do in any one specific area should mean the more he can do…
And that could be a very good thing for both the aging coach and his football team.