Underappreciated assistant coaches

[Fencer]

We've long known that besides coaching the DL, Pepper Johnson was effectively the coach in charge of takeaways. But after that stat went blah for a while, we lost focus on that. So he hasn't gotten the praise he deserves this year for the huge takeaways accomplishment.

We've long known that Dante Scarnecchia was a great drillmaster kind of coach, in line with Ross Tucker's recent excellent article on same: O-line coach Dante Scarnecchia unsung hero for New England Patriots - ESPN But Greg Bedard's very recent article on Dante as serious week-to-week schemer -- With Patriots’ run game working, Bills went to pieces - The Boston Globe --was a real eye-opener for me.

I wonder who coaches the skill position players in blocking. That's been pretty impressive this season too. I'm guessing that Dante schemes the blocking for everybody, but that the drilling in blocking fundamentals is done by position coaches like Fears.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Unfortunately, given the Pats success, I have a feeling that Pepper will be a DC with another team next year. I hope I am wrong.

 

[*ChungFu*]

Unfortunately, given the Pats success, I have a feeling that Pepper will be a DC with another team next year. I hope I am wrong.

It has been my feeling all along that the reason he hasn't been named DC here is so that when that other team comes calling BB can offer him DC of the Pats. It puts one more promotional step on the way out the door. Naming McDaniels rather quickly just expedited league interest and the same could possibly have happened with Pepper....or O'Brien. BB had to do something to stop the bleeding. He has done a fantastic job of finding and mentoring young coaching talent. Even though the success here hasn't meant assured success elsewhere it doesn't stop other teams from taking shots at BBs staff every year.

 

[Sciz]

I fully expect Patricia to get the DC job. That makes me worry that Pepper is as good as gone.

 

[Fencer]

I fully expect Patricia to get the DC job. That makes me worry that Pepper is as good as gone.

Same here.

I'm guessing that Pepper is a great teacher of fundamentals, but not the contributor to scheming that BB would want in the role.

 

[RayClay]

You missed one Fencah. We have a consistent running game for the first time in years. With two UDFAs carrying the load.

More than one reason, obviously, but Ivan Fears is certainly a long time unsung coach.

 

[DarrylS]

Pepper and Bill have been a tandem for something like 20 years now.. not sure he is going anywhere.. difficult to tell who is in charge of the D.. Patricia or Pepper?? Whenever he speaks of Pepper he really piles it on...

With that being said after Mangini, McDaniels, RAC and to a lesser extent Weiss not sure that our coaches will be in such demand.. our Front Office People may be more sought after.

Our coaches have done an outstanding job, and in reality aside from Pepper, Dante, Patricia and Fears hard pressed to name another.. but it is obvious that as a group have made an impact.

 

[patriotscpfc]

Pepper and Bill have been a tandem for something like 20 years now.. not sure he is going anywhere.. difficult to tell who is in charge of the D.. Patricia or Pepper?? Whenever he speaks of Pepper he really piles it on...

With that being said after Mangini, McDaniels, RAC and to a lesser extent Weiss not sure that our coaches will be in such demand.. our Front Office People may be more sought after.

Our coaches have done an outstanding job, and in reality aside from Pepper, Dante, Patricia and Fears hard pressed to name another.. but it is obvious that as a group have made an impact.

Patricia is the defacto DC, he's the one calling the plays right now.

Whether or not it's a joint effort with Pepper or not I don't know.

Whatever it is, it's working.

 

[Potstickas]

The poaching needs to slow down. I like to see the league start to compensate teams that loose coaches with a comp pick dependent on position. Similar to comp picks given due to loosing free agents. At least this won't hurt as much.

 

[DarrylS]

Patricia is the defacto DC, he's the one calling the plays right now.

Whether or not it's a joint effort with Pepper or not I don't know.

Whatever it is, it's working.

Source that he is doing it alone????

The reality is that you do not know..

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Patricia is clearly the defacto DC even though Bill is more involved than ever on the field and in meeting rooms per the players. I think he's doing that because he senses the importance of getting the foundation right on so many youngsters... I saw a clip of Matt somewhere in the last week that really impressed me and convinced me he's the guy and not just some buttoned up scheme robot Bill created. He was bent down in front of several defenders on the sidelines getting seriously into their faces with this maniacal look on his face screaming I do not want to see that look...you know that look and I do not want to see it... I assumed that look was either one of dispair or disinterest and he was coaching them to play for 60 minutes irrespective of an either an early setback or early lead.

Because of Bill and Tom's direct leadership involvement on the defense and offense this season I really don't anticipate any raiding of the non coordinators. And if BB doesn't think Pepper is the guy here I don't think anyone else will pull the trigger. What Pepper needs to do is hang tight because they will probably come after Patricia in another year or so and he would then likely get the nod here.

 

[Tasco]

He was bent down in front of several defenders on the sidelines getting seriously into their faces with this maniacal look on his face screaming I do not want to see that look...you know that look and I do not want to see it... I assumed that look was either one of dispair or disinterest and he was coaching them to play for 60 minutes irrespective of an either an early setback or early lead.

got a vid/clip of this?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

got a vid/clip of this?

Nah, I wish. I can't remember where I caught it but I think it was on NFLN and they were just showing a montage of sideline coaching. It's the first time I saw Patricia look possessed and passionate, which is what I think Pees always seemed to lack. Players need to be challenged every now and again. This was one of the recent weather games, either Chicago or GB because Matt had his crazy ear flap hat on and snot in his mustache and he looked like some sort of berserk mountain man you didn't want to cross up...

Moreso than x's and o's help Bill has missed that passion that RAC and even Charlie brought to the fray in game situations when players were running on fumes or losing focus. Charlie could scare guys into performing with his cussing and RAC was the consumate inspirational motivator with his I need men mantras... That leaves Bill free to do what he does best in game, correct the technical execution flaws.

These coaches are an interesting tapestry of technique. Dante seems to have this reputation as a tough teacher yet on the sidelines all you ever see is the softer spoken dad like figure extolling his boys to dig deep and make plays - and it seems to work on them by and large. Ivan seems like a hardass - I was almost upset for Benny to see him reaming him on that chop block penalty that seemed almost unavoidable. Clearly he never like Maroney and Maroney didn't listen yet oddly Bill played good cop for a couple of seasons in that relationship to try and find a way to get something out of him talent wise.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I remember Patricia calling plays in the pre-season, and when asked about it, he simply said he was the LB coach and the LBs had the headsets, nothing more to it. But that seemed a bit diplomatic.

My guess is Patricia takes over as DC when one is named, and Pepper may want out at that point, which is sad because he's done a great job with the DL.

And have to give some credit to Corwin Brown and Josh Boyer for coaching up the DBs. I know the pass defense has been atrocious at times, but that can't be a surprise considering what we started the season with. Bodden and McGowan were lost for the season, Meriweather was benched early on, we started a rookie and a 2nd-year corner, then replaced Butler with a special teamer, yet still found a way to hold it all together and lead the league in interceptions. I also wonder if Brown is responsible for James Sanders' big leap this season. Brown was a former NFL safety and played for BB.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I remember Patricia calling plays in the pre-season, and when asked about it, he simply said he was the LB coach and the LBs had the headsets, nothing more to it. But that seemed a bit diplomatic.

My guess is Patricia takes over as DC when one is named, and Pepper may want out at that point, which is sad because he's done a great job with the DL.

And have to give some credit to Corwin Brown and Josh Boyer for coaching up the DBs. I know the pass defense has been atrocious at times, but that can't be a surprise considering what we started the season with. Bodden and McGowan were lost for the season, Meriweather was benched early on, we started a rookie and a 2nd-year corner, then replaced Butler with a special teamer, yet still found a way to hold it all together and lead the league in interceptions. I also wonder if Brown is responsible for James Sanders' big leap this season. Brown was a former NFL safety and played for BB.

I thought bringing in Corwin Brown was a very interesting move on a number of levels. Josh Boyer is still the secondary coach but CW is listed as a "defensive coach"

As you highlight CW was a player when BB was here in 96 and for the NYJ in 97 and 98. He is also a Parcells guy as his first year in the league was with the Pats in 1993. He was more of a special teams guy back then as opposed to a DB who got regular time but thats besides the point. More to the point, he was recognized by Tuna as someone who could be counted on to keep players in line. It was said by Parcells that Corwin Brown was one of the toughest SOBs on the team and was well respected.

BB knew that this would be a young team and he wanted coaches who could teach and break down for them what he wanted, but at the same time relate to younger players and keep them focused. He didn't particularity need that back then as his defenses were stocked with veterans and his coaches were very experienced with RAC and Pees especially. He need coaches who taught and offered a firm hand.

I don't have proof of this but I do think that something was lost with Dean Pees and the defensive players in 2009 which ultimately led to his departure. Could have been communication. Could have been Pees defensive style wasn't in alignment with the personnel BB was bringing in. Who knows.

What I do know is that even though this defense has given up a ton of yards, I don't recall a secondary this physical, aggressive or ballhawking since Rodney, Ty and Geno Wilson were back there.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I thought bringing in Corwin Brown was a very interesting move on a number of levels. Josh Boyer is still the secondary coach but CW is listed as a "defensive coach"

As you highlight CW was a player when BB was here in 96 and for the NYJ in 97 and 98. He is also a Parcells guy as his first year in the league was with the Pats in 1993. He was more of a special teams guy back then as opposed to a DB who got regular time but thats besides the point. More to the point, he was recognized by Tuna as someone who could be counted on to keep players in line. It was said by Parcells that Corwin Brown was one of the toughest SOBs on the team and was well respected.

BB knew that this would be a young team and he wanted coaches who could teach and break down for them what he wanted, but at the same time relate to younger players and keep them focused. He didn't particularity need that back then as his defenses were stocked with veterans and his coaches were very experienced with RAC and Pees especially. He need coaches who taught and offered a firm hand.

I don't have proof of this but I do think that something was lost with Dean Pees and the defensive players in 2009 which ultimately led to his departure. Could have been communication. Could have been Pees defensive style wasn't in alignment with the personnel BB was bringing in. Who knows.

What I do know is that even though this defense has given up a ton of yards, I don't recall a secondary this physical, aggressive or ballhawking since Rodney, Ty and Geno Wilson were back there.

I remember watching a clip of BB on the sidelines last season yelling on the field about the massive cushions the DBs were giving. Could be evidence of that disconnect between him and Pees. While Boyer was officially the secondary coach last season, Pees was in all the meetings, perhaps as a veteran coach of sorts. Reiss mentioned it here.

So perhaps Boyer has taken on more responsibility in his second year, but I think Corwin has added a lot to that secondary as well. Hard to highlight those guys in a season with so many passing yards given up, but they've definitely made a big difference.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Found this interesting and on-topic regarding DCs:

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Rap Sheet Blog Archive Pats D-Line coach Pepper Johnson: ”We’ve got the ultimate defensive coordinator . . . Bill Belichick”

Very complimentary, as one should be of one's boss But you can tell there's a great deal of respect for Bill from Pepper. Pepper also talks about why he coaches DL when he was a great LB. I hope Pepper stays with the team, even if Patricia is named DC.

 

[The Dynasty]

Found this interesting and on-topic regarding DCs:

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Rap Sheet Blog Archive Pats D-Line coach Pepper Johnson: ”We’ve got the ultimate defensive coordinator . . . Bill Belichick”

Very complimentary, as one should be of one's boss But you can tell there's a great deal of respect for Bill from Pepper. Pepper also talks about why he coaches DL when he was a great LB. I hope Pepper stays with the team, even if Patricia is named DC.

I agree, I hope he stays as well. As for the defense I think that Belichick is primarily in charge, but Patricia is second in command. I could see Patricia getting the official title next year. As for Pepper, he strikes me as a guy who doesnt look for an official title of DC and I think he genuinely likes working for Belichick and the Patriots and would expect him to stay in the role he has now.

Also, I think Bill O'Brien deserves a lot of credit. He has made a huge jump from last year to this year, and there is no question that he is the official OC, and I would expect he would get the title next year, although this year seems to have worked well without him being named the OC so maybe next year the Patriots go another year with official coordinators.

 

[Fencer]

As for Pepper, he strikes me as a guy who doesnt look for an official title of DC

I'm pretty sure I've seem him quoted as saying of course he wants the title at some point.

 

[Fencer]

Ya know:

• Pepper has coached DL for years.
• Pepper has both coached and played LB.
• Pepper does part of the coaching of the DBs (takeaways).

That pretty much covers the whole defense.