FOXBOROUGH – After 10 games, the Patriots are averaging an NFL worst in yards per game (271.1) and passing yards per game (156.8). They’re also second worst in points per game (16.0).
While rookie QB Drake Maye has energized the fan base, as well as his teammates, play caller Alex Van Pelt is still searching for ways to move the ball and put more points up on the board.
With Chicago pulling the plug on offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after the Patriots defense devoured Caleb Williams (nine sacks) and the Bears offense, it’s fair to wonder if Van Pelt might suffer the same fate.
Depending what happens from here on out, the Patriots might be pondering a moves with respect to coaches on Jerod Mayo’s staff. In fact, one report by SI’s Albert Breer suggested the Patriots were doing research on the “right way to handle a young quarterback,” and “how they’re going to do that going forward.”
Translation: They might be kicking the tires on upgrading the offensive coaching staff, starting with Van Pelt, who is in his first year in New England.
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With Van Pelt, a decision to part with the offensive coordinator and play caller after one season isn’t as simple as some might think.
Sure, Brian Daboll, who successfully mentored Josh Allen and designed an offense around the Bills star quarterback, might be available after the season if the New York Giants move on from their head coach. And former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, one of the better offensive play callers around, remains in limbo after being fired by the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
Beyond those two, there could also be other notable offensive minds available once the smoke clears from off-season firings.
On one hand, the Patriots should want to equip Maye with the best possible offensive coach. They should want to have someone who is going to get the most out of his talent.
But there are different variables at work here. It’s not a cut and dried proposition. The most important element to consider here is doing what’s best for Maye.
While some might pan Van Pelt’s ability as a play caller, it’s hard to knock the job he’s done developing the Patriots rookie to this point.
The first-year quarterback is far from being a finished product, but he’s made fairly significant strides from the time he first strolled into Gillette six months ago, to now.
Mayo praised Van Pelt and the job he’s done on Wednesday.
“He’s been huge. I’d say that, look, there’s no one in this organization that deserves more credit, as far as what Drake’s been able to do on the football field, than Alex Van Pelt,” Mayo said. “When we interviewed Alex, I’d say when we interviewed all of the coaches that are here, one of the prerequisites or requirements was a guy who was level head and a guy who believes in working together – a guy who doesn’t get too high or get too low. That’s Alex and I appreciate that.”
While this marks Van Pelt’s first full-time gig as a play caller, he’s been hailed for his work developing quarterbacks.
With Maye spending the year learning from Van Pelt, and getting his playbook down pat, do the Patriots really want to have their prized quarterback learn a whole new offensive system in Year 2? Shouldn’t they want him to hit the ground running his second season, as opposed to taking a step back to wrap his head around a new offense?
Tom Brady started with Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator, but also had Bill O’Brien and Josh McDaniels during his storied 20-year run in Foxborough. The common thread between the three coordinators was that they were brought up in the Patriots system, with the same playbook. So Brady never had to learn a new offense over the course of his 20 years in Foxborough. He just had to deal with different tweaks – some he added himself.
Let’s put it this way. If the Patriots are competitive the rest of the way, show even more strides offensively, and win more games, it’s hard to see them moving on from Van Pelt.
If the offense stays stagnant, or Maye regresses over the course of the final seven games, they might be compelled to hire someone else.
Outside of those scenarios, if Maye continues to progress the rest of the year, and the Patriots still decide to go in another direction, they would be playing with fire.
They would be taking a needless chance. The real focus should be on providing better personnel for Maye, and Van Pelt and seeing what happens with an improved lineup.
Maye offered his two cents on Van Pelt Wednesday, and pumped up his coach. He appreciates how much he’s learned from Van Pelt, as well as quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney and senior offensive assistant Ben McAdoo.
“He’s been huge. I think he’s just a confidence booster for a quarterback,” Maye said of Van Pelt. “You love playing for an offensive coordinator like AVP. He’s positive, and also at the same time, he’ll coach you hard. He’s done it; he’s played quarterback in this league and at a high level, so he knows what needs to be done and the tasks.
“He knows it’s a tall task as well, which is pretty – him and T.C. [McCartney] both kind of have the quarterback minds, and Coach [Ben] McAdoo. So, those three all know what it’s like, how hard it is to play quarterback in this league and give a lot of leeway, but at the same time, know what needs to be done.”
Maye seems comfortable and confident with the group in place. He loves AVP. Continuity is important for quarterbacks. That’s why the Patriots have to be absolutely sure about the direction they choose.
