Hm. Well don’t love not doing a coaching search. Hopefully he can bring in some fresh faces.
This is clear benefit of hiring a young head coach. For the most part the coaches in their 60’s and early 70’s aren’t in touch with the emerging young assistants who are leading the way in innovations and play design. Hopefully Mayo has been doing the work to get ready for his HC role by figuring out who he would try to bring in to be his assistants when the time came. And the same goes for who to get rid of, which is a much easier list for us to come up with. I would start by clearing out many of the coaches on Belichick’s staff, like Judge, O’Brien, Achord, Troy Brown, and whomever took over the OL when Klemm left. And I old try to bring MacDaniels back, for as bad as a HC as he has been, he’s a really good OC, and they will need someone who works well with young QB’s, which is a strength for him. And even though many won’t like it I would see if Steven Belichick wants the be the DC, because their defense is really good, and the continuity would help keep it that way, while also allowing Mayo to keep focusing on the bigger picture. Then Mayo will have his 2 coordinators, and he can start building the rest of his staff with good young minds that can grow with his team.
To me the Steven Belichick decision will be really interesting. Does he want to follow his dad to a shorter term gig for another franchise, or be on his own with a HC he has been working side by side with for a few years? As much as being with his dad must be enjoyable for him, I think his best bet would be to strike out on his own now, especially if becoming a HC is what he is shooting for, which it almost certainly is. I think his brother will follow his dad wherever he goes.
The other really big decision is pretty much out of Mayo’s hands, although you would think that his relationship with Groh, Wolf, or both will play a role in the Kraft’s GM decision. I don’t think they can keep both, as other franchises have tried to hire Wolf in recent years, but he’s has stuck with the Patriots. My gut tells me that Groh was Belichick’s choice, and I’m leaning towards naming Wolf the GM, and letting Groh leave with Belichick.
I like the fact that they acted decisively in naming Mayo, the entire front office and coaching staff is obviously in flux at a time when many big decisions need to be made about the coaching staff, scouting department, re-signing/releasing decisions on players, free agency, and the Draft, so the more clarity they have in every area the greater likelihood of the best outcomes. Fortunately I think the Kraft’s got out ahead of these decisions, and have done their homework on all of them, and will act swiftly in making them.