If you could have one former Patriots player become a coach in the future...

Who would it be?

It can be for the offense or defense or even special teams as a coach and it can be a player from the 80s,90s or 2000s

The player you choose should be considered as a player who you think would make the transition from player to coach a successful one.

It can be for ANY coaching postion including head coach,offensive coordinator,defensive coordinator,linebackers coach,defensive backs coach,special teams coach,running backs coach,wide receivers coach,tight ends coach ect:

There is 2 rules regarding this though...
1) The former Patriot must still be alive today
2) The former Patriot can no longer be in the league as a player but could have left the league with another team (for example Curtis Martin)

My choices would be

Andre Tippett as linebackers coach - The man still spends alot of his time around the team and its developments and he certainly was a leader on the defenses of the 80s and I could see him being a very good linebackers coach,he could still do the job,hell he could probably play linebacker better than some of our guys today.

Ben Coates as Tight Ends Coach In an area where we have not had alot of great talent the past decade, we certainly can use a former player who knew how to play the game and this position for this team,the transition would be interesting to say the least but with our 2 young draftees added in to the offense,he would have some good new talent to work with and help them along to try and become as good as he once was.


Of course transition from player to coach and for being out of the game for quite a while could be a factor but I went with two old timers anyway .

Re: If you could have one former Patriots player become a coach in the future....

Willie McGinest-Linebackers Coach

Re: If you could have one former Patriots player become a coach in the future....

Rodney as DB coach.

Re: If you could have one former Patriots player become a coach in the future....

Troy Brown as WR coach.

Re: If you could have one former Patriots player become a coach in the future....

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:

Ben Coates as Tight Ends Coach In an area where we have not had alot of great talent the past decade, we certainly can use a former player who knew how to play the game and this position for this team,the transition would be interesting to say the least but with our 2 young draftees added in to the offense,he would have some good new talent to work with and help them along to try and become as good as he once was.


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I don't know about Ben as a coach. I might be wrong but it seems to me he was not as effective after the "push off" rule went into effect.
But he was a beast of a tight end.
Tedy Bruschi is the most realistic if not desirable guy to have back as coach. I'm surprised I'm the first one to mention his name.

Tippett or McGinest or Steve Nelson

Re: If you could have one former Patriots player become a coach in the future....

Willie McGinest as the Linebackers coach.

re: Ben Coates, I think talent and scheme, not coaching, has been the problem over the years.

Re: If you could have one former Patriots player become a coach in the future....

Would have to be Bruschi....but since someone said it already I will go with Seau.

Similar reasons to Bru about knowledge of defense but might be a better motivator.

Re: If you could have one former Patriots player become a coach in the future....

363839 said:

I don't know about Ben as a coach. I might be wrong but it seems to me he was not as effective after the "push off" rule went into effect.
But he was a beast of a tight end.
Tedy Bruschi is the most realistic if not desirable guy to have back as coach. I'm surprised I'm the first one to mention his name.

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Agreed. Bruschi has forgotten more about being a linebacker on this team in this system than the vast majority of people will ever know.

People have already taken my answers (Bruschi and Harrison) as well as my alternates. I don't think he'd do it for a minute, but I wouldn't mind finding a place for Andruzzi.

Anyone for Larry Izzo as Special Teams coach down the road?

Bruschi and it's not even close. You don't go from a highly successful college pass-rushing DE to Pro Bowl NFL MLB/ILB without having a good football mind, great instincts and a hunger to learn and improve...all great qualities in an NFL coach. Add to that his leadership qualities (watch any of the Pats DVDs if you doubt this), that he spent his prime under the best coach of this era, that he embraced BB's sometimes unorthodox approach* to the game and his determination to overcome the stroke he suffered after SB39 and I cannot think of another player who offers such a "coaching potential" resume.

Regards,
Chris

* When Seau came to the Pats, he said their defensive system was unlike any he had ever played in. Bruschi is on record explaining how in most systems the LBs are expected to shed blocks while in the Pats' system they are expected to take on the blockers, blowing up the blocking scheme...and he loved it.

Always thought Grogan would make a good coach
... he used to call his own plays and the locker room respected him.

As some mentioned above ... Tippett, Nelson and Bruschi I like.

Kevin Faulk for RB coach.

Vrable - LB coach, possible future DC.

By all accounts, not only was he a respected leader. But was also widely praised for his high football IQ. He's already been quoted as saying he would welcome a trade back here. Not saying we should, but it's at least a good prospect that he doesn't hold hard feelings toward the organization.

Bru - LB coach by acclimation Hon Mention Andre Tippett
Rodney - DB coach... attitude is everything Hon Mention Mike Haynes

John Hannah - OL... get the most out of what you have
Stanley Morgan - WRs
Mosi Tatupo - RBs Ah Hell!

patsinthesnow said:

Kevin Faulk for RB coach.

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This is good. Who was the one who said, "Put Kevin Faulk's football mind in Lawrence Maroney's body and you'd have the best back in the NFL"? I think it was a player last year.

Regards,
Chris

Bruschi - he's got the smarts but more importantly serves as an example of what drive, determination and heart mean to even an "undersized" player's ability to be a success on this team.

But Bruschi's also smart enough to know just how much a grind being a football coach is... so I don't see it happening anytime soon

Rodney Harrison for Head Coach.

Bryan Cox! He had the fire.

Rodney: maybe he could teach the kids how to intimidate instead of being milquetoasts. The few years the DBs have been playing paddy-cake with the recievers...

Troy Brown