Late to the Party; But this guy thinks Kraft screwed up BIGTIME

[IcyPatriot]

Link to his article on the topic ...

Why Head Coaches Should Always be Offensive Playcallers

https://www.patreon.com/posts/why-head-coaches-120704560

 

[MrTibbs]

Who is this guy???

 

[Tunescribe]

Who is this guy???

Exhibit A of why a (very) little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

 

[mgcolby]

He says we blew a chance to take Drake and the Pats back into Super Bowl relevancy by selecting Vrabel over Ben Johnson. He even goes as far as to say Ben turned down the Commanders last year once he learned that they were selecting Daniels over Maye. That's how bad he wanted to coach him. It's a pretty funny watch so I felt I should share since it's not likely going to garner attention otherwise.

I haven't read the thread. But I think many of us, I know I was, of the mindset that the higher ceiling was probably Ben. But he also came with a huge bust potential. Mike brings stability and a proven track record that should right the ship, but also at the possibility of less of success.

Mike Vrabel is what this organization needs for 2025 and hopefully beyond. Also, Ben Johnson has never coached in nor been a part of a coaching staff that has won a Super Bowl let a lone multiple.

I think the end result is the best of both worlds. A proven HC who happens to be a Patriot legend and the OC with the best resume in the NFL. I would conclude Kraft made the right decision, and that the Mike & Josh combo ceiling is greater than Ben Johnson and whoever he would of brought in as a DC.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Who is this guy???

*insert any shrugging meme you can think of*

Someone whose opinion means nothing to me.

 

[Tunescribe]

the higher ceiling was probably Ben

This narrative is wild conjecture, owing more to Detroit's superior OL personnel vs. unfounded notions of Johnson being some sort of coaching mastermind.

Detroit Lions 2024 Offensive Line Breakdown

There's a different feeling this offseason for the Detroit Lions. Seemingly every position of the offense is now occupied with significant talent.

thedraftnetwork.com

 

[Family]

How many times has a great coordinator fallen flat on his face as a head coach?

I'm ok with the course.

 

[PScottman]

see if Vrabel wasn't the problem on the Titans and if we can do better here

The obvious hope here is that this is similar to the Cleveland Belichick history - coach learns some valuable lessons from first HC stint and improves in second one. At least that's my guess as to another reason why the Krafts went with Vrabel vice Johnson.

As others have said, it's immaterial now as the selection has been made so now the proof will be in the future, not second guessing the past.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I also wanted Ben Johnson but I love the combo of Vrabel and McDaniels.
I feel like McDaniels could be just as good for Drake as Ben Johnson could be.

Josh has won 3 SB’s, is still young and just had a year off to retool. I’m fine with him. Plus Vrabel is a + HC. We’re in a good spot.

 

[Ross12]

Thing is - Johnson benefitted greatly from working under a “culture” coach in Dan Campbell. He didn’t have to worry about all that, he just got to tinker in the lab and come up with great ideas weekly.

The Pats are emulating that more than people realize by having Vrabel in charge (Campbell equivalent) and McDaniels at OC (whom Ben Johnson has many similarities to). They also have Terrell Williams at DC, who is imported from Detroit as their former DL coach - with Detroit’s DL being the key piece of their defense in recent years.

 

[signbabybrady]

*insert any shrugging meme you can think of*

Someone whose opinion means nothing to me.

 

[Real fan 02]

It might be mistake, but I see Ben Johnson crashing and burning in Chicago. I think he played games with Bob and really wanted the Bears job.

I agree. We on the forum spoke on Ben Johnson when he interviewed. Brilliant offensive mind. However take notice he went to Chicago where there is a ready-made roster for him as opposed to NE. Vrabel was and is the best thing for us right now.. I really am not looking at win totals i as fan am looking at the direction of the team next season.

 

[Triumph]

BJ was spot on about Daniels.

Not.

 

[Triumph]

The Bears are cursed.

They always screw up when picking QBs. I'm not sold on Williams at all. The Chiefs OC went there and ruined his name.

 

[KCSVEN]

This guy does a pretty good job with his film review on the QB's but he can be very black and white with some opinions.

His position is you can only succeed with a great offensive play caller as head coach because they will never leave and the offensive play caller is more important than anything else. Couple, a great play caller that will be there long term with a great young QB and you are golden for 15 years.

I agree that is the ideal scenario but plenty of great OC's have flamed out as HC. Replacing a top OC when they leave can be a killer.

Vrabel/McDaniels is really a better scenario. a top OC that won't leave coupled with a top HC. Best of both worlds.

This guy just says Josh did not have a top offense anywhere without Brady so it was all Brady.
Josh, in reality, might be as good as Johnson.

It really comes down to how good (or bad) Josh is as an OC. The guy with 6 SB rings and OC for the greatest offense of all time.

Kind of ironic because this same guy has Drake Maye as the best QB prospect he ever scouted yet hates the guy that called plays and won Super Bowls as the OC for the GOAT.

 

[Triumph]

It might be mistake, but I see Ben Johnson crashing and burning in Chicago. I think he played games with Bob and really wanted the Bears job.

The Bears have OL problems like 75% of the NFL. With a shortage of good players available to remedy things.

Its not going to be a quick fix because Johnson is there.

 

[Grogan14]

I can understand Kraft being a little gun shy with a first time head coach after the Mayo disaster.
Vrabel is a sound pick and I am pretty sure McDaniels knows as much about instituting a great offense as Ben Johnson.
Not a dis on Johnson, but with the Offensive line the Lions had in place....it's not too hard to look like a genius.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

ive seen a few of his all 22 reviews on drake. From what i remember hes a huge on drake and kind of a jayden hater lol knowledgeable guy tho

I get the Johnson arguments but it wouldve been pretty risky for my liking. The vrabel /josh combo are both proven in their roles and im hoping will work out great for us. Despite the recent shift towards offense minded hc’s I think teams can succeed regardless of having a defensive vs offensive hc as long as the counterpart has a strong, highly experienced coordinator and we have that.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

I’m with @TheRainMaker on this. I think he will not do well in Chicago tho I still wish he ended up here Virgin HC or not…

 

[Rob0729]

I was initially all in on Johnson being the next Patriots head coach. One thing I learned as the process went on is that he may not have the temperament to be a head coach. I mean it could just have been spin because Vrabel was a forgone conclusion, but a lot of his personality traits do not really seem to fit what a head coach needs to have.

Johnson could make Williams and the Bears playoff contenders. Who knows? But to say that the Pats cannot do that with Vrabel is silly. Vrabel was a very good coach in his first coaching stint and usually coaches do better their second time around.