May 10 in Pats History: Matt Patricia named Defensive Coordinator

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Coaching Staff Changes​

May 10, 2012:
The Patriots announce 2012 coaching staff responsibilities and additions. Most notably Matt Patricia becomes the Defensive Coordinator. In addition Josh Boyer transitions from defensive backs coach to cornerbacks coach, while Brian Flores is promoted from a defensive assistant to safeties coach. Patrick Graham moves from linebacker coach to defensive line coach, swapping assignments with Pepper Johnson.

Elsewhere George Godsey is promoted from offensive assistant to tight ends coach. Joe Judge is hired as special teams assistant after previously being employed at the same position under Nick Saban at Alabama. In addition Stephen Belichick is hired as a coaching assistant.

Patriots announce position responsibilities for 2012 coaching staff and addition of two new coaches

The New England Patriots have announced position responsibilities for six members on the current coaching staff.

www.patriots.com

May 10, 2019:
Patriots reveal coaching staff changes in meeting with the sports media.

Patriots' 2019 Coaching Staff Finally Taking Shape: Five Changes To Know - NESN.com

FOXBORO, Mass. — It took until mid-May, but we finally have a sense of how the New England Patriots’ 2019 coaching staff will be constructed. The Patriots lost five assistant coaches in the aftermath of Super Bowl LIII, and until their assistants met with the media Friday afternoon, it was...

nesn.com

Coaches still were hesitant to reveal their official titles, but they did explain what their general responsibilities will be this season. Here’s a rundown of the changes:​

— Former Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo is coaching inside linebackers, as he announced earlier this spring.​

— DeMarcus Covington is coaching outside linebackers and “the front seven.” He primarily worked with ‘backers as a coaching assistant last season.​

— Mike Pellegrino said he is coaching defensive backs. Safeties coach Steve Belichick confirmed he’s sticking with his position group (“They’re not escaping me,” he joked), so Pellegrino’s primary focus will be cornerbacks.​

Pellegrino, 25, is a former lacrosse player for Johns Hopkins and the Boston Cannons. He joined the Patriots organization as a football operations intern in 2015 and spent the last three seasons as a coaching assistant.​

— Bret Bielema, the former Arkansas and Wisconsin head coach, will coach the defensive line. Bielema worked for the Patriots last season under the title “consultant to the head coach.”​

— Joe Judge will continue to coach the Patriots’ special teams but had added wide receivers to his plate this season. Assistant special teams coach Cameron Achord will help him manage the kicking game.​

— Josh McDaniels (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Ivan Fears (running backs), Dante Scarnecchia (offensive line), Nick Caley (tight ends) and Steve Belichick are remaining in their previous roles.​

The Patriots have yet to name a defensive coordinator following the departures of Brian Flores and Greg Schiano this offseason. Head coach Bill Belichick is expected to handle coordinator duties himself this season.​

Updated Patriots coaching roster

New England’s official pre-draft press release offers little insight into the status of Bill Belichick staff of assistants.

www.patriots.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Role Players​

Happy 47th birthday to Grant Williams
Born May 10, 1974 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Patriot OT, 2000-2001; uniform #76

Williams was originally signed by the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 17, 2000. He originally signed with Seattle as a rookie free agent out of Louisiana Tech, and spent four seasons with the Seahawks. The 6'7, 320-pound offensive lineman appeared in 29 regular season games for the Patriots in two seasons, starting eight games at right tackle and four games at left tackle. In two of his four 2001 starts RB Antowain Smith rushed for over 100 yards. Williams also played in each of the Pats three 2001 postseason games, including the Patriots' Super Bowl 36 Silence of the Rams.

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St. Louis was apparently impressed by Williams and traded for him on August 19, 2002. The Pats had used two 2001 draft picks on tackles (Matt Light, Kenyatta Jones) and had Tom Ashworth and Russ Hochstein for depth, making Williams expendable. The Pats received a 7th round draft pick in return. That draft pick, along with a fifth rounder was traded to Tennessee for three draft picks. Those were used to select C Dan Koppen, QB Kliff Kingsbury and DT Ethan Kelly.

Williams played in 122 games with 49 over nine NFL seasons. He also appeared in seven playoff games, earning a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots. He is now an offensive line coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. He also attempts to provide positive spiritual influence and is a chaplain for baseball's St. Louis Cardinals. Williams also somehow finds time to coach at Westminster Christian Academy, a private christian school in St. Louis.

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Happy 32nd birthday to Jabaal Sheard
Born May 10, 1989 in Hollywood Hills, Florida
Patriot DE, 2015-2016; uniform #93

Sheard was signed to a 2-year, $11 mil contract early in 2015 free agency. That season he played in 13 games with one start, registering 37 tackles, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 passes defensed. He also played in both playoff games, with 9 tackles.

The former Pitt Panther and Cleveland Brown took on a bigger role in 2016, playing in 15 games with 8 starts. In the playoffs Sheard had 2 tackles vs Houston, 3 vs Pittsburgh, and two tackles and a clutch pressure on Matt Ryan in Super Bowl 51. Sheard followed that up by wisely cashing in on a 3-year, $25 million contract with the Colts in 2017. He has started all 32 games with Indy the last two seasons.

May 10, 2021: Patriots re-sign LB Harvey Langi

Agent: Patriots re-sign Harvey Langi, coming off career year with Jets

New England has certainly bolstered its linebacking corps.

www.masslive.com

Other pro football players born on May 10, with New England connections:

Curly Oden (5/10/1899); Providence native; went to Classical HS and Brown
Blocking Back for the Providence Steamrollers and Boston Braves, 1925-1932. In 1926 he scored ten touchdowns: 6 rushing, 1 receiving and 3 on punt returns.

Jeremy Trueblood, 38 (5/10/83); Boston College class of 2006
RT started 94 games from 2006-13, mostly for Tampa Bay.

'Chuckin' Charlie' O'Rourke (5/10/17); went to Malden HS and Boston College.
Montreal born QB/P was the 39th pick in the 1941 draft by the Bears. In '46 with the Los Angeles Dons he led the league in pass completion percentage (57.7%).

Dameon Reilly, 58 (5/10/63); University of Rhode Island, class of 1986.
The WR appeared in three games as a replacement player for Miami in 1987, with five receptions for 70 yards.