The Coaching Staff

[mayoclinic]

This has been discussed before, but I came across 2 recent items that reminded me about how good and deep the Patriots coaching staff is:

Up-and-coming coach explains decision to stay with Patriots

Ashton Grant decided to stay put despite some offensive coordinator interest.

www.patspulpit.com

The Patriots called about A.J. Brown for 2 years and were 'laughed at.' Now, the ex-Eagles WR is practicing with them

Patriots executive Eliot Wolf is relishing the opportunity work with a receiver he's had his eye on since his college days. "All right, he's still got some juice.'"

sports.yahoo.com

This second article mentions that WR coach Todd Downing was AJ Brown's OC in Tennessee with Mike Vrabel. I was not aware of that.

The coaching staff under Jerod Mayo was a joke. BB had some great staff, but also some head-scratchers (Matt Patricia as OC comes to mind, among others). Mike Vrabel seems to have put together a deep, experienced, and personally connected crew.

To highlight a few:

Mike Vrabel, HC: DC, Texans (2017). HC, Titans (2018-2024). Sets the tone and the culture, very driven, player oriented.

Terrell Williams, Assistant HC: DL coach, Raiders (2012-2014), Dolphins (2015-2017) and Titans under Vrabel (2018-2023). Assistant HC, Titans (2023). DC, Patriots (2025).

Josh McDaniels, OC: OC, Patriots, 2006-2008 (while Vrabel was a player). HC, Broncos, 2009-2010. OC, Ramsey, 2011. OC Patriots, 2012-2021. HC, Raiders, 2022-2023.

Doug Marrone, OL Coach: OL. Coach, Jets (2002-2005) and Saints (2006-2007). OC, Saints, 207-2007. HC, Syracuse, 2009-2012. HC, Bills, 2013-2014. OL and Assistant H, Jacksonville, 2015-2016, became interim HC. HC, Jacksonville, 2017-2020. OL coach, Saints, 2022.

Thomas Brown, TE Coach: RB and Assistant HC, Rams (2021-2022). OC, Carolina (2023). OC and Interim HC, Bears (2024). Viewed as a potential future HC candidate.

Todd Dowling, WR Coach: Served as OC for the Raiders (2017) and for the Titans under Vrabel (2021-2022).

Ashton Grant, QB Coach: A relatively young coach, worked with Vrabel in Cleveland (2024). Apparently viewed as a future OC.

Zak Kuhr, DC: Worked with Vrabel in Tennessee from 2020-2023. Was interim DC last year with Terrell Williams out, did well enough to earn the full time job.

It's a nice mix of experience and creative young minds, a lot of experience with Vrabel, and probably one of the better coaching weapons in the NFL. I think it's an under-appreciated asset.

 

[rkarp1]

I maintain among the numerous problems/shortcomings Mayo may have had, his biggest downfall was his inability to construct a competent staff

 

[Brady85-23]

Would be cool if jim Schwartz gets put on the defensive staff next year

 

[mayoclinic]

The fact that the Pats did not make a run at Jim Schwartz this year also shows how highly they regard Zak Kuhr.

 

[FortressX]

Would be cool if jim Schwartz gets put on the defensive staff next year

Too many chefs spoil ...

 

[Brady85-23]

The fact that the Pats did not make a run at Jim Schwartz this year also shows how highly they regard Zak Kuhr.

I think Schwartz has to sit out a year or stay with the browns. But maybe next year.

 

[Brady85-23]

Too many chefs spoil ...

Possibly. But all it takes is 1 or more seasons of good coaching by Kur and some team will snag him

 

[Zuma]

This has been discussed before, but I came across 2 recent items that reminded me about how good and deep the Patriots coaching staff is:

Up-and-coming coach explains decision to stay with Patriots

Ashton Grant decided to stay put despite some offensive coordinator interest.

www.patspulpit.com

The Patriots called about A.J. Brown for 2 years and were 'laughed at.' Now, the ex-Eagles WR is practicing with them

Patriots executive Eliot Wolf is relishing the opportunity work with a receiver he's had his eye on since his college days. "All right, he's still got some juice.'"

sports.yahoo.com

This second article mentions that WR coach Todd Downing was AJ Brown's OC in Tennessee with Mike Vrabel. I was not aware of that.

The coaching staff under Jerod Mayo was a joke. BB had some great staff, but also some head-scratchers (Matt Patricia as OC comes to mind, among others). Mike Vrabel seems to have put together a deep, experienced, and personally connected crew.

To highlight a few:

Mike Vrabel, HC: DC, Texans (2017). HC, Titans (2018-2024). Sets the tone and the culture, very driven, player oriented.

Terrell Williams, Assistant HC: DL coach, Raiders (2012-2014), Dolphins (2015-2017) and Titans under Vrabel (2018-2023). Assistant HC, Titans (2023). DC, Patriots (2025).

Josh McDaniels, OC: OC, Patriots, 2006-2008 (while Vrabel was a player). HC, Broncos, 2009-2010. OC, Ramsey, 2011. OC Patriots, 2012-2021. HC, Raiders, 2022-2023.

Doug Marrone, OL Coach: OL. Coach, Jets (2002-2005) and Saints (2006-2007). OC, Saints, 207-2007. HC, Syracuse, 2009-2012. HC, Bills, 2013-2014. OL and Assistant H, Jacksonville, 2015-2016, became interim HC. HC, Jacksonville, 2017-2020. OL coach, Saints, 2022.

Thomas Brown, TE Coach: RB and Assistant HC, Rams (2021-2022). OC, Carolina (2023). OC and Interim HC, Bears (2024). Viewed as a potential future HC candidate.

Todd Dowling, WR Coach: Served as OC for the Raiders (2017) and for the Titans under Vrabel (2021-2022).

Ashton Grant, QB Coach: A relatively young coach, worked with Vrabel in Cleveland (2024). Apparently viewed as a future OC.

Zak Kuhr, DC: Worked with Vrabel in Tennessee from 2020-2023. Was interim DC last year with Terrell Williams out, did well enough to earn the full time job.

It's a nice mix of experience and creative young minds, a lot of experience with Vrabel, and probably one of the better coaching weapons in the NFL. I think it's an under-appreciated asset.

I was going to mention the Dowling - Brown connection when I saw the 2 talking a lot at practice (presumably about the differences between the Titans and Patriots offense) but I didn't bother for whatever reason. Glad you did

 

[mgteich]

Possibly. But all it takes is 1 or more seasons of good coaching by Kur and some team will snag him

snag Kuhr as a HC? naah

 

[mayoclinic]

Kuhr is already a DC. The Pats are protected from someone else snagging him, unless as a HC. He's a long way from that.

 

[Brady85-23]

Kuhr is already a DC. The Pats are protected from someone else snagging him, unless as a HC. He's a long way from that.

Your Probably right. But the head coaching turnover rate has been crazy recently. And the trends are young up and comer coaches.
If he coaches 2 more seasons of great Defense it wouldn't surprise me one bit.
One of the biggest reasons for belichecks downfall is his front office and coaching staff was constantly getting plucked. Thats what happens with good teams and im assuming the patriots are good again. Either way Shwartz would be an awesome addition to the D next year he has experience with Vrabel.