Bill O’Brien named Patriots OC

Jed Zeppelin

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Aug 23, 2008
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It's a shame the timing didn't line up better to make this happen a season earlier but I'll take it. Very much OK with a proven guy over a potential young exciting hire who would probably bail for a HC job soon anyway if Mayo is indeed the presumed succession plan here.
 

Mooch

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Jul 15, 2005
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Very happy with this choice. If BOB can’t unlock Mac, we’ll know he isn’t the guy.
 

BigJay

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Jul 22, 2022
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Has Mayo actually signed yet? I haven't heard anything.




I wouldn't read anything into that. Have we ever heard anything about Bill signing an extention or his contract status? If he is being groomed to replace him, we may status never know his contract
 

RoDaddy

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A year too late but he was under Bama control so... Now lets figure out a way to get Lamar and Donald and win this whole effing thing

tenor.gif
 

MonstahsInLeft

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Thank you baby Jesus!

Will be VERY interesting IMO to see how this offensive staff is built. For two reasons.

- prior to the Mayo announcement you’d have to think BOB would have been a solid successor pick to replace Bill in a few years (and a big enticement for him to come)

But if Mayo is now the potential heir the likelihood of BOB sticking around for long is a lot lower I’d think. So hopefully identifying HIS successor will go better than the vacuum when Josh left.

- and having said that how is this staff going to take shape? Is there a bright young offensive mind or two he can bring from Alabama to learn the system but bring some fresh blood to the building?

Did those other OC interviews potentially identify some NFL candidates to improve the staff and wait in the wings?

So glad to put this catastrophic decision in the rear view mirror though!

LFG!!!
 

Steve Dillard

wishes drew noticed him instead of sweet & sour
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Oct 7, 2003
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Do Patricia/Judge just slink away, or are they around to be handed something else (special teams/OL?)
 

Cousin Walter

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Jun 26, 2006
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Can someone explain to what extent Bill O'Brien "worked" with Mac Jones? BOB was fired by HOU midway through 2020, which was Mac's last season at Alabama. From what I found, BOB became the Alabama OC on 1/21/21, which is after the college football season. What kind of relationship is there?
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
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Do Patricia/Judge just slink away, or are they around to be handed something else (special teams/OL?)
Interesting question. Clearly BB values their "football minds," even though he was mistaken in how that would work for planning/running an offense.
 

Dotrat

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Ideally, Patricia goes to Pink Stripes, and Judge returns to ST, while and BOB and BB set about adding a couple of bright young things or guys with proven experience to the offensive staff, especially QB and OL coaches. Should be interesting.
 

BillMuellerFanClub

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Aug 1, 2006
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Can someone explain to what extent Bill O'Brien "worked" with Mac Jones? BOB was fired by HOU midway through 2020, which was Mac's last season at Alabama. From what I found, BOB became the Alabama OC on 1/21/21, which is after the college football season. What kind of relationship is there?
AFAIK, Saban wants his OCs to run the Sark/Bama offense. Mac taught the offense to O’Brien after the conclusion of the season but after his hire.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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Sep 9, 2008
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At last @DennyDoyle'sBoil has the confirmation he needs to be disappointed the search wasn’t broader.
I have a very Eeyore like disposition. I find a way to be disappointed either way. Confirmation optional.

The best thing about this signing is the fact that the team did it, because that suggests they felt it needed to be done. Which suggests that they believe maybe it was coaching not the players. Which is hopeful. Yes, this is what we all thought was obvious, but the team is in best position to know. So, let’s see how it goes.
 

Shelterdog

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I have a very Eeyore like disposition. I find a way to be disappointed either way. Confirmation optional.

The best thing about this signing is the fact that the team did it, because that suggests they felt it needed to be done. Which suggests that they believe maybe it was coaching not the players. Which is hopeful. Yes, this is what we all thought was obvious, but the team is in best position to know. So, let’s see how it goes.
Not a hundred percent following. I do think it's the overwhelming consensus that the offensive coaching wasn't good last year and had to get better this year (either new people or at a minimum major improvement by the old ones) but I also I think a pretty big percentage of this board thinks that Mac Jones is basically a combination of richie rich and greg mcelroy (and sadly with mcelroy's arm talent not RR's) and that even with a good OC Mac will not be the solution. (Of course a lot of posters are in the general camp of "keep trying to get a top 5 QB because an average or above average QB signed to a real contact is death to a franchise" so some of them might think that a pretty good Mac is still not woth signing).
 

cornwalls@6

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Apr 23, 2010
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Good hire. Very glad to have a legitimate, experienced, OC. Very interested to see how the rest of the offensive staff shakes out, particularly OL. Is Marrone still out there? I also don’t think this in anyway insures another year of Mac as the starter. At minimum, I expect an experienced veteran to be signed to compete/ push him, and wouldn’t rule out a bigger splash. Either way, this is a big step in the right direction.
 

DJnVa

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Dec 16, 2010
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Do Patricia/Judge just slink away, or are they around to be handed something else (special teams/OL?)
I've heard that in Patricia's case at least, last season the Lions were still paying him, allowing him to work on the cheap for the Patriots. That's not the case this season, so we will see.
 

Shelterdog

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What are their job prospects in the NFL? Can’t imagine there’s an organization or fan base clamoring for either one of them at this point.
I assume organizations think they're both the same very good football minds that made them hot head coaching prospects a couple years ago and there are lots of jobs they could get--just not head coaching jobs any time soon, and likely not positions on the offensive side of the ball either. But would an Arizona or Tennessee take them as a defensive secondary coach and a special teams coach? You've got to think the answer is yes, don't you?
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
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Jul 15, 2005
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Good hire. Very glad to have a legitimate, experienced, OC. Very interested to see how the rest of the offensive staff shakes out, particularly OL. Is Marrone still out there? I also don’t think this in anyway insures another year of Mac as the starter. At minimum, I expect an experienced veteran to be signed to compete/ push him, and wouldn’t rule out a bigger splash. Either way, this is a big step in the right direction.
Same thoughts here. Go get Marrone.
 

Justthetippett

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Aug 9, 2015
2,392
Thank you baby Jesus!

Will be VERY interesting IMO to see how this offensive staff is built. For two reasons.

- prior to the Mayo announcement you’d have to think BOB would have been a solid successor pick to replace Bill in a few years (and a big enticement for him to come)

But if Mayo is now the potential heir the likelihood of BOB sticking around for long is a lot lower I’d think. So hopefully identifying HIS successor will go better than the vacuum when Josh left.

- and having said that how is this staff going to take shape? Is there a bright young offensive mind or two he can bring from Alabama to learn the system but bring some fresh blood to the building?

Did those other OC interviews potentially identify some NFL candidates to improve the staff and wait in the wings?

So glad to put this catastrophic decision in the rear view mirror though!

LFG!!!
I’m not so sure the Mayo thing ends with him as HC. We had this same discussion when McDaniels shirked Indy. I think they want him in the building because he’s a great asset, and they needed to do something to keep him. I don’t think any long term promises were made.

Totally agree on the offensive staff. I want a whole bunch of young nerds walking around coming up with new stuff for BOB and Mac to consider. They can all tell their grandkids they worked on BBs staff. And one of them can take over when BOB leaves after delivering Mac to the promised land.
 

dynomite

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Ideally, Patricia goes to Pink Stripes, and Judge returns to ST, while and BOB and BB set about adding a couple of bright young things or guys with proven experience to the offensive staff, especially QB and OL coaches. Should be interesting.
Exactly.

Patricia should go upstairs and be head of Football Analytics or Research or something, Judge should go back to ST with new Asst ST Coach Matthew Slater.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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May 11, 2011
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That's exactly what Mac needs. I welcome the new offense. Well, because it will be an actual offense. Let's get Mac comfortable get him some o-line help and we're on to 2023. Never thought I'd be excited by O'Brien but here we are.
 

Ale Xander

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Oct 31, 2013
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Does this make it more like they re-sign Harris?

BOB makes a lot of sense when you have to figure out Mac.
 

astrozombie

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Sep 12, 2022
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As someone who voiced my displeasure at the Pats coaching staff last year, I will say that I am pretty happy with this hire and it is a giant step in the right direction for the team.
 

BaseballJones

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Oct 1, 2015
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Does this make it more like they re-sign Harris?

BOB makes a lot of sense when you have to figure out Mac.
Harris was long gone by the time BOB arrived at Alabama. There's no relationship there as far as I know. And Harris' situation is about $$$. Rhamondre is terrific, and I think Kevin Harris and Strong showed that they probably can be more than adequate backups. I think Damien Harris will cost too much money, when they can more than adequately fill the RB room with quality for a lot less money. Unless Damien is willing to take a very low salary, I don't see him back at all.
 

tims4wins

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Harris was long gone by the time BOB arrived at Alabama. There's no relationship there as far as I know. And Harris' situation is about $$$. Rhamondre is terrific, and I think Kevin Harris and Strong showed that they probably can be more than adequate backups. I think Damien Harris will cost too much money, when they can more than adequately fill the RB room with quality for a lot less money. Unless Damien is willing to take a very low salary, I don't see him back at all.
Fully agree.

If Ivan Fears was unretiring, I could maybe squint and see it.

With Rhamondre, K Harris, and Strong, I think that ship has sailed.

They also still have Ty Montgomery under contract for 2023. He showed some potential early before going down with injury. I wouldn't be surprised to see him have a meaningful impact in 2023 (I also wouldn't be surprised to see him cut - who knows with this team!).
 

8slim

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Very good. The Pats could have been a playoff team this past season with an adequate offense. I expect O'Brien can generate that at the very least. And this can only be a big positive in determining if Mac has a real future as an NFL starter.

Hooray for competence.