MORSE: Is Belichick Taking Back his Team?
(PHOTO: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 4 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots News
(PHOTO: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 4 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports) Some Patriots-related thoughts this afternoon, as well some news Morsels:
Last season the players were much more vocal in their opposition to the coaching staff. This was Belichick’s decision to bring in Matt Patricia and Joe Judge as offensive coordinator and QB coach respectively. The players expressed their dissatisfaction with the coaches in the position room and when nothing changed they took it to the media. The players were openly challenging Belichicks decision. Further, the players were not as disciplined as they were in the past, taking stupid penalties, not completing pass routes, and just making stupid plays.
The Patriots have already rid themselves of two of the more vocal players in Brian Hoyer and Jakobi Meyers. When Pro Football Talk broke the story that Mac Jones had been put up for trade offers around the league, they don’t post that story unless someone from the Patriots organization leaked the story. When there is smoke there is fire and it appears that Belichick is putting pressure on Mac Jones to get in line. Belichick had the opportunity to squelch these rumors and it has been radio silence from Foxboro.
Jones went outside the organization for advice about the situation he was put in last season. Belichick is still pissed that he did that and floated the story that he was made available for trade. This is another stab at Mac Jones. What team actually changes the offense and brings in inexperienced coaches to run the offense? It was incredibly unfair to the development of the 2nd year player. They dumbed down the offense not because the QB couldn’t handle the complicated terminology and execution. Jones flourished under McDaniel’s offense as a rookie. They did it because the Offensive coordinators Matt Patricia and Joe Judge couldn’t handle it. Patricia and Judge were Bill Belichick’s mistake and bringing in Bill O’Brien was an admission that they didn’t work out.
Devin McCourty in his retirement announcement press conference stated that he had tremendous confidence in Jones. He further stated that Jones is a regular at Gillette trying to improve himself for the upcoming season. Jones doesn’t have to be there, yet he is.
Scott Zolak on 98.5 the Sports Hub made a statement that Bailey Zappe isn’t that far off from Jones. Zappe did remarkably well when he played. However, Zappe played against inferior opponents. Mac Jones is their leader and has a higher ceiling. Stop trying to drag this guy down. He has the potential to be a top-10 QB in the league. Give him a solid Offensive Line and better receiver weapons and I think he will flourish. If we are having the same questions about Jones’s ability after a year under O’Brien then we will need to look for a better answer at QB.
There is one veteran available that I would like the team to sign. That player is former BC QB, Matt Ryan. Sign him with the knowledge that he is unlikely to see any playing time, but he will serve as a sounding board veteran that Jones and Zappe can lean on for advice. Remember that Brian Hoyer is not here any longer because he agreed with Jones about the ineptitude of the coaching. To add insult to injury, Matt Patricia was supposed to be the Offensive Line coach. Their inability to protect the QB and Patricia’s inability to make corrections or adjustments is one of the main reasons we had two QBs hurt. They never gave the QBs sufficient time to make plays.
That gives the Patriots another young veteran (27) for camp and competition. The former 3rd round pick #101, Cajuste was drafted injured with a Quad injury. He has played in 17 games with 7 starts. Last season he started weeks 5 and 6, then went on IR in week 7. He was reactivated on Oct 29th. If he can stay healthy they may have something. Can Adrian Klemm get the best out of him?
In a surprise move by Patriots owner Robert Kraft, he announced to the Patriots Hall of Fame committee, the selection of Dante Scarnecchia as a Contributor. He waived the requirement to be retired for 4 years. Scarnecchia was present as a member of the committee for Krafts announcement The news brought the group to a standing ovation for Scar.
Scarnecchia worked as a Special Teams, Assistant to the Head coach, and Offensive Line coach in his 34 years with the Patriots. Dante came in with Ron Meyer from Southern Methodist University in 1982. He left briefly with Meyers to coach the Indianapolis Colts but was back two years later. Scarnecchia is also receiving an award of achievement from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Scarnecchia is the first coach to enter the Patriots Hall of Fame and the 3rd non-player.
This is a well-deserved recognition of Scarnecchia’s hard work over his 34 years. He coached under Ron Meyers, Raymond Berry, Dick McPherson, Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll, and Bill Belichick. He was on the coaching staff for 10 of the teams’ 11 Super Bowl appearances and has 6 Super Bowl rings. His son, Steve, is the Chief of Staff for the New York Jets.
It has got to that point that the rumor mills are churning and teams are pushing out false narratives to throw off their competitors. Here are a few that involve the Patriots.
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