Phil Perry: Why bringing back Josh McDaniels is complicated
On Tuesday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston explained why bringing Josh McDaniels back might be complicated for the Patriots.
I would lean towards making the break…
Phil Perry: Here’s why this is complicated. They could use some experience on the coaching staff somewhere, right? Somebody with some head coaching experience, some of them with a lot of years in the league who can help this young group.
Scott Zolak: On your worst unit, offense.
Phil Perry: 100% true. Experience would be helpful. Do you want the offense to be the old Patriots offense? I think that is a very valid question, because I think it’s something that has been proven to be very difficult for young players, especially quarterbacks that are new to that system to pick up.
Scott Zolak: The Ron Erhardt offense. I would say no Phil.
Phil Perry: So you’re going to bring in Josh McDaniels. But you don’t really want the Josh McDaniels offense. And it’s been clear based on the interviews that they’ve conducted a lot of Sean McVay assistants a lot of Kyle Shanahan and Shanahan adjacent assistants. They want to go to that scheme. That’s what it looks like. So are you willing to sacrifice a little bit of experience for the new system? Or do you say it’s so vital for us to have someone who has seen it all? That’s so important to us that we’re willing to accept an offense that we don’t love, especially for young players. That would be the conversation. And if it were me. I would lean towards just making that break and going to the new offense and starting fresh, even though those guys don’t have the experience that you’re talking about.
Scott Zolak: Then get on it and let’s go. Like, I know he wanted (Anthony) Richardson to go to the Raiders but got overruled. He wanted to build young that way. He was intrigued by Lamar (Jackson). Wanted Lamar, wanted Baker Mayfield, did draft Tim Tebow. That’s the bad one. So there are good and there are bad ones when you talk about evaluating the quarterback position. But he’s done it for a long time and I’m sure he can adapt. If you want to scrap it and say, hey we want to be more creative, we don’t want to be as structured as the old one. Can you do that? Can he sell them on that? That’s how he gets the gig if he can.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 27: New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels walks with owner Robert Kraft before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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Barth's 2024 Draft Profiles: USC QB Caleb Williams
USC quarterback Caleb Williams entered the 2023 college football season projected to be the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and despite not quite matching his 2022 production still did enough to maintain that expectation. Will the Trojans’ dynamic passer live up to the hype?
Caleb Williams Scouting Report
Sep 2, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) throws the ball against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Background
College: USC
Age: 22
Height: 6’1
Weight: 215
Awards: Heisman Trophy (2022), Maxwell Award (2022), Walter Camp Award (2022), AP College Football Player of the Year (2022), Unanimous All-American (2022), All-Pac-12 First Team (2022), All-Big 12 Second Team (2021)
Williams was a five-star recruit out of Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC. He was the second-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2021, behind Quinn Ewers. He initially committed to Oklahoma and as a true freshman he beat out preseason Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler for the Sooners’ starting job mid-season. Following the season he followed his head coach Lincoln Riley, who took the head coaching job at USC.
In his first full season as a starter Williams had a breakout sophomore year. He won a number of awards including the Heisman, Maxwell, Walter Camp, and was named a unanimous All-American. Williams had another impressive season in 2023 but shortcomings elsewhere on USC’s roster (they had the 121st-ranked defense) saw the team take a step back record-wise.
For more player breakdowns, scouting reports, and all things 2024 NFL Draft, check out the 98.5 The Sports Hub Draft Hub page.
