{"id":57831,"date":"2025-01-26T06:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T11:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=57831"},"modified":"2025-02-20T15:02:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T20:02:45","slug":"patriots-news-1-26-with-the-coordinators-its-back-to-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2025\/01\/26\/patriots-news-1-26-with-the-coordinators-its-back-to-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots News 1-26: With the Coordinators, It\u2019s Back to the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning. Here are your Patriots News, 1-26, and NFL notes. The Patriots have hired coordinators, offense, defense, and special teams and filled a few assistant roles. This already has the makings of a good staff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mike Vrable\u2019s staff has guys with experience and who are well thought of around the league. And this is a staff with experience that can support each other and the head coach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Josh McDaniels<\/b> is an excellent offensive coordinator. Depending on the opponent, he could morph the Patriots\u2019 identity from week to week. Many have questioned McDaniels ability to evolve to keep up with the modern game. Look back to the 2007 team with Moss, Stallworth, and Welker.\u00a0 Then he transformed it into a two-tight end offense built around Gronkowski, and you know who. In the Patriots\u2019 last Super Bowl season, they changed in-season to a running team with a fullback.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s a great teacher; he worked with Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, and Mac Jones in his rookie season. The Jones story may have ended differently if he hadn\u2019t left for the Raiders\u2019 job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

McDaniels will not force Drake Maye to adapt to the Erhardt-Perkins system. He will adapt to whatever Maye does best and build the offense around that. He\u2019s done that before. And now, with Maye\u2019s athleticism, he can incorporate that added feature into the offense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Terrell Williams<\/b> is getting his first crack at being a defensive coordinator. He spent six years with the Titans and worked with Mike Vrabel, earning his trust. In Vrabel\u2019s final season with Tennessee, he gave Williams the title of Defensive Line\/Assistant Head Coach. This past season, he was the Lions\u2019 defensive line and running game coordinator.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His now-famous quote in New England will be the hallmark of his defensive philosophy. \u201cYou have to play violent, and you have to play with effort,\u201d Williams said.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019ll have Vrabel to lean on if any issues arise. With McDaniels experience, Vrabel can let him run the offense, and he can spend more time with Williams if need be. Here is his <\/span>introductory press conference<\/span><\/a>. Check it out. It is hard not to be excited with his hire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy Springer <\/b>has been retained as the Special Teams Coordinator, which was a smart move. Under Springer and top assistant Tom Quinn, who also coached under Vrabel in Tennessee, the special teams made significant progress from 2023 to 2024. <\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Vrabel said, \u201c<\/span>I like the dynamic in there<\/span><\/i> (on special teams),\u201d Vrabel said in an upcoming interview with MassLive.com. \u201c<\/span>I know Tom, he was with us in Tennessee. Veteran coach who had done it. Jeremy is young, exciting, and a great teacher. He\u2019s creative. I think through the interview process and the product they had on the field, it led me to that decision<\/span><\/i>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The coordinators are now in place and Vrabel has also hired some assistant coaches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

John Streicher is arguably the most intriguing hire for Vrabel\u2019s assistants. He was hired as a game management specialist and was Vrabel\u2019s eyes and ears for six years in Tennessee. Sean McVay lamented Streicher’s loss after he spent 2024 with the Rams. He\u2019ll be Vrabel’s Ernie Adams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ashton Grant has been hired as the quarterback coach. He played wide receiver at Assumption College, coached at Holy Cross, and has been on the Cleveland Browns staff for the past four years. He got to know Vrabel there last season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tony Dews has been named as the new running backs coach. He\u2019s been coaching in the college ranks and the NFL since 1998. He also coached with Vrabel in Tennessee and drew rave reviews from then-offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur and running back Derrick Henry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Riley Larkin has been named as an offensive assistant. Larkin served as the Ohio State Buckeyes offensive assistant with the quarterbacks in 2024. He joined Ohio State in 2023 after being on the staff for Middle Tennessee State. Larkin was also a former quarterback for John Carroll University, where Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels graduated from.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clinton McMillan, another former Tennessee coach under Vrabel, has been hired. He was the defensive line\/pass rush specialist coach there, and he is expected to hold the same role in New England.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zak Kuhr was hired by Vrabel in Tennessee in 2020 as a quality control coach, and then moved to inside linebackers coach. He spent last season with the New York Giants as a defensive assistant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Jabrill<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Jabrill Peppers:<\/b> A jury acquitted New England Patriots<\/strong><\/a> safety Jabrill Peppers in just minutes on Friday in his assault and battery trial.<\/span><\/p>\n

Peppers denied that he choked or shoved the woman who had accused him. Peppers, who first took the witness stand Thursday, had been on trial on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I usually say, ‘My client was found not guilty,'” <\/span><\/i>Marc Brofsky, Peppers’ attorney, said.<\/span> “But in this case I will say, ‘He was found innocent,’ given the state of the evidence, given how quickly the jury returned their verdict. They knew it was a joke<\/span><\/i>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

A civil trial is pending. Peppers did plead guilty to cocaine possession, which the judge continued without finding. If Peppers stays out of trouble for four months, that will be cleared off his record. But he still faces league punishment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vrabel and Steve Burton: <\/b>WBZ\u2019s Steve Burton<\/span><\/a> interviewed the head coach, Burton does an outstanding job on Patriots Gameday. In an interview which will air today at 11:30, Vrabel touched on several topics.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Josh McDaniels: “<\/span>When you talk about Josh, I think schematically and the way he teaches the quarterback. The versatility of the offense and the base foundation of the offense. His growth in that offense, trying to put conflict on the defense and the way he structures a gameplan, having gone against him and seen the system here as a player,” <\/span><\/i>said Vrabel<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

“It has evolved and there is a lot more to it than that. I know from our conversations that he’s worked hard and studied, visited and met with people, and we’re going to continue to add things that we feel helps our players and give us an advantage to score touchdowns and take care of the football.<\/span><\/i>“<\/span><\/p>\n

Vrabel had this to say about Terrell Williams:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“I’m excited for the people here in Boston and New England and our fans to get to know Terrell the way that I did my first year in Tennessee,”<\/span><\/i> said Vrabel. <\/span>“He was on our coaching staff for six years and was a vital contributor to that success.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

“<\/span>I’ve seen him meet and visit and have a connection with offensive linemen. So much so I was excited to make him the interim head coach for a preseason game<\/span><\/i>,” said Vrabel. “<\/span>He had earned that opportunity and I thought it was something that was important for me to do, to reward those coaches that have earned the right. That is something he had earned at the time, just like he earned this opportunity to be the defensive coordinator<\/span><\/i>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

But Vrabel\u2019s most interesting comments came from his answers about Drake Maye: “<\/span>He’s exciting, talented, ready to learn and ready to continue to develop. He’s athletic and mobile, has the ability to make throws to all part of the field with arm talent,” he said. “But every year is a new process. There will be some new terminology, and some carryover from what he’s had. I know that he’s ready to learn and is excited. We welcome that and want him to lead our football team<\/span><\/i>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

No \u201cBlueskies\u201d for the Patriots:<\/b> We missed a small item last week. The NFL ordered the Patriots to take down their Blue Sky account because the app has yet to be approved by the league. Fred Kirsch reported this on the Patriots Unfiltered podcast last week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast:<\/b> Derek and I were joined by our partner, Russ Goldman, who checked in to discuss the Patriots coordinators who had been hired. Please check us out and <\/span>give us a listen<\/span><\/a> on YouTube, Apple, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russ Francis\/Chuck Fairbanks:<\/b> The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn\u2019t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders\u2019 Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be discussed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis\u2019 numbers stand up well against Casper\u2019s, yet he isn\u2019t even in the team\u2019s HOF.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Josh<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Parting Shots:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com did his first mock draft of the year. He has the Tennessee Titans taking Abdul Carter with the #1 pick and the Patriots taking Will Campell at #4. Jeremiah is really good, but remember that it is still early in the process, and things will change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Jets have hired Aaron Glenn as their next head coach. Like Vrabel in New England, this move made perfect sense. Glenn was a draft pick of the Jets and played eight years there. He is an excellent coach and will right the ship in New Jersey if ownership stays out of football operations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins have hired Robert Prince from the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff as their new wide receiver coach. Prince has a lot of coaching experience in both college and the NFL. Miami fired Wes Welker after three seasons as Miami\u2019s WR coach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I think Pete Carroll will turn things around in Las Vegas. It certainly appears that Tom Brady, the \u201cminority owner,\u201d has a pretty large hand in the situation. I have always liked Pete Carroll as a head coach and believe he\u2019ll be successful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The two Conference Championship games are set. I like the Philly defense to slow down the Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels this afternoon. Washington has been really exciting to watch this year. But the Eagles\u2019 running game with Saquon Barkley has been tough to stop. He may have broken Eric Dickerson’s rushing record if he hadn\u2019t sat out of Week 18. Of course the big question is, whether Jalen Hurts will play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills will get a fourth crack at Patty Mahomes and the Chiefs in the past five years later tonight. While the Bills have done well against KC in the regular season, the playoffs are another matter. The Bills have been knocked out of the playoffs the past three times they’ve faced the Chiefs.<\/span><\/p>\n

They will have to deal with the crowd noise in Arrowhead, Mahomes, and\u2026 let\u2019s call it what it is, the game officials. The calls Kansas City gets and aren\u2019t called against are far too numerous to be called a coincidence. The league really wants a three-peat, and Buffalo is standing in the way\u2026again.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, why am I picking Buffalo? Because Josh Allen leaves no doubt this time. It is the Bills’ year, and they\u2019re going to and will win the Super Bowl. You heard it here first.<\/span><\/p>\n

______________\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conference Championship Predictions:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Sunday, January 26<\/b><\/p>\n

Buffalo <\/b>over Kansas City<\/span>
\n<\/span>Philadelphia <\/b>over Washington<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Last week: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 3\u20141<\/b><\/p>\n

2024 Season<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>204\u201468 (best season yet)<\/b><\/p>\n

2023 Season\u00a0 \u00a0 178\u201494\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

2022 Season: \u00a0 178\u201492\u20142<\/b><\/p>\n

2021 Season: \u00a0 183\u201488\u20141<\/b><\/p>\n

2020 Season: \u00a0 169\u201486\u20141\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

2019 Season: \u00a0 162\u201493\u20141<\/b><\/p>\n

______________<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to galvanize our football team. I want to galvanize this building. I want to galvanize our fans. The most important thing is the players. There are some of them right here. I want to provide a program that provides their ownership but also their accountability of each other, and one that they\u2019ll be proud to be a part of and that they\u2019re going to fight for.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys are going to ask me questions about culture, which I\u2019ll be happy to talk about and discuss. One thing I\u2019ve realized about culture is that you can find out what your culture looks like when your family, your business, or your team is at its low point.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not when you\u2019re winning Super Bowls, or it\u2019s not when you\u2019re 7-1 or 10-1 because then everybody\u2019s waving towels and everybody\u2019s happy and they\u2019re excited to come to work. But when you get hit in the mouth, or you\u2019re down, or the chips are against you, then you can take a snapshot of what your company or your team looks like, and then you\u2019ll find out what culture you have.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cBut that culture is going to be built on winning, a competitive spirit throughout our roster, throughout our players, and throughout our coaches and our staff, and the ability to put the team first and care about somebody other than yourself. I\u2019m excited to do that. I\u2019m excited to get to work. But everyone in this building is going to understand and believe that their job is critically important for our success. And it\u2019s going to be, \u2018How can I help you in order to help the players?\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cOur players will respect and they will appreciate, and they will be grateful for the opportunity that they have here and the people that work in this building, some very familiar faces that I can\u2019t wait to reconnect and to work and figure out how we help these players and this football team.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to earn the right to be here every day. <\/span><\/i>We\u2019re going to remove entitlement from our football team<\/i><\/b>. We\u2019re going to get everything that we\u2019ve earned from the head coach to the position coaches, all the way down to the players. We\u2019re going to earn the right to be here every single day. I always say that I don\u2019t want to get into too many messages that will be geared for the players, but I hold those conversations.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThose are special conversations between the coaches and the players, but we want to treat every player the same way they treat the team, and we want to treat every employee the same way that they treat the team. If they care about the team and they come here with a great attitude and a willingness to work and help the team, I\u2019ve asked Robert to do everything that we can for them, to support them and their families. That\u2019s the type of environment that I want to build, and I\u2019m excited about it.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

At his introductory press conference, the Patriots’ new head coach, Mike Vrabel, discussed building a team culture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

_______________<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTalent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.\u201d Bill Belichick<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at<\/span><\/i> stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our<\/span><\/i> Patriots 4th and 2<\/span><\/i><\/a> podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Russ Goldman, Derek Havens, and myself from<\/span><\/i> PatsFans.com<\/span><\/i><\/a> discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“He’s exciting, talented, ready to learn and ready to continue to develop. 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