Following Bill O’Brien’s departure to Ohio State, the New England Patriots are in need of a new offensive coordinator.
Evan Lazar of Patriots.com claimed that Josh McDaniels may return. McDaniels was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator from 2012 to 2021 before taking over as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022-2023.
“The total package from McDaniels always seemed to give the Patriots a base offense to lean on when they needed to find a rhythm: lead ISO, FB counter, and play-action off gap schemes were frequent in his early-down sequencing,” Lazar said in his article.
As a result, McDaniels’ offenses in the last three full seasons placed fifth, ninth, and eighth in rush DVOA. He also altered his scheme to provide planned quarterback runs for Cam Newton in 2020, so he has that covered,” Lazar noted.
After a 4-13 season in 2023, New England desperately needs an offensive comeback. The Patriots scored 13.9 points per game and gained 295.2 yards per game.
Lazar went on to say that “McDaniels was hanging around 1 Patriot Place in the final days of the [Bill] Belichick era, including attending Belichick’s farewell press conference” on the 11th of January. While “reports are indicating” that new head coach Jerod Mayo could consider McDaniels, “early indications are that he’ll follow Belichick to his next stop”, Lazar wrote.
“It’s also worth noting the Krafts are huge fans of McDaniels, with rumblings that he was once viewed as the heir apparent to Belichick,” Lazar stated in an email.
McDaniels departed instead, but things did not go well in Vegas. The Raiders went 6-11 in 2022, then 3-5 before owner Mark Davis fired McDaniels in the middle of the season.
Josh McDaniels has a stronger rush scheme than Bill O’Brien.
His previous success in New England may strengthen his case, and Lazar observed similarities between O’Brien and McDaniels as offensive coordinators. O’Brien previously worked as offensive coordinator for the Patriots in 2011, the year before McDaniels arrived.
“The Patriots’ drop-back pass game and protection strategy would remain the same. However, their early-down base attack would shift,” Lazar noted. “McDaniels is a big believer in ’21’ personnel with two-back sets featuring a fullback, whereas O’Brien bases his offense out of ’12’ personnel with two tight ends.”
“From this standpoint, McDaniels’ run game is more versatile and effective. “O’Brien reduced the Patriots’ rushing attack to duo and trap schemes,” Lazar added. “The simplicity could’ve been due to issues along the offensive line, but McDaniels is a far more creative schemer in the run game, marrying that to effective play-action concepts.”
New England’s running game declined in 2023 following a strong 2022 season. In 2022, running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris accumulated 1,040 and 462 yards, respectively. Stevenson finished with 619 yards, while Ezekiel Elliott topped with 642 yards in 2023.
Josh McDaniels’ Experience Could Be ‘Very Valuable’ to Jerod Mayo
Noting McDaniels’ prior success with the Patriots offense, Lazar noted that “McDaniels’ base plays gave the Patriots a comfort zone to hang their hat on”. Lazar suggested that Mayo make McDaniels “the de facto head coach of the offense, with a Rolodex of coaching connections to build an offensive staff” in Foxborough.
“That’s very valuable for a first-time head coach,” Lazar concluded.
