How will the Patriots ever survive the loss of Flores and O’Shea?? They are doomed! another master stroke by Ross. Miami will own this ***** for years to come now.
They are both good coaches but the likelihood that this will move the dial at all in the AFC East is very low. Flores may succeed but it is more likely than not that Ross hired a coach who is not ready for prime time, based upon on the recommendation of yet another young GM who hopes to recreate the Foxboro magic in his city. Plus, BB plans years ahead in every aspect of the organization come including the coaches. It will be next man up on the coaching staff as well and they are unlikely to miss a beat in terms of quality and effectiveness.
I don't know why people think that Flores is not ready to be a HC. If he is an overnight success, he is one that has been THIRTEEN years in the making. That's how long he has been working at his craft that led him to this point.
I think he has a great chance to succeed. Think about it. He has worked in all areas of the football operations. From scouting, to quality control, he was worked on the offensive side and more so on the defensive side. He has a fully formed coaching style that resonates well with players on both sides of the ball. Why wait.
Sure if he stayed, he might have become a better DC with more experience, but the fact is, he isn't moving on to be a DC. He's moving on to be a HC. Being a better DC isn't going to make him a better HC.
Right now I think he's made a number of good moves. Hiring Jim Caldwell was genius. He is a very well respected veteran offensive mind who had relatively decent success as a HC. It was smart to add someone who has been there and done that to smooth the transition.
O'shea was another one as OC. I think he's important not because he's going to import the Pats offense, but the Pats LANGUAGE. The semantics that has evolved over the years is one of the reasons that Pats have been able to become a week to week game planning team. Not only bringing in O'Shea brings a good football mind, he's the guy that will tasked with teaching all the other coaches "the language". No small task, but a critical one, because they are the guys who have to teach it to the players.
I can almost guarantee that Flores had Bill's blessing to take Chad. It only makes sense given that Josh will be staying for the foreseeable future. Bill has never been one to block someone's advancement.
Now who will replace these 2? Billema might be the new DC, or might have some other job. The Pats will likely promote from within. I'm sure they have a half dozen young smart guys who have spent the last few years breaking down film, going for coffee, and otherwise learning the ropes who are ready to move up to a position coach position. If no one is ready, I'm sure there are dozens of young coaches who would love to come in and fill a job here, just like O'Shea did 10 years ago.
We'll be OK