There’s a new piece of analysis from a top Patriots insider that seems to indicate major changes are on the horizon for Bill Belichick’s coaching staff.

That’s according to Mike Reiss, who provided the breakdown for the Pats on the latest NFL power rankings at ESPN.com. Reiss named senior football advisor/offensive line coach Matt Patricia as the Patriot who was on the “hot seat” in the preseason. And now, the temperature of the seat is still “hot,” according to Reiss.

Here’s his full analysis of Patricia and the Patriots:

Bill Belichick’s belief that a good coach can be moved to any position – even if his primary background is on the other side of the football – is being put to the test. One of Belichick’s primary concerns has to be that QB Mac Jones, after a promising rookie season, hasn’t taken the expected Year 2 jump. Belichick thinks highly of Patricia, who will likely always have a spot on his staff, but the results to date spark questions about whether Patricia’s current position is the right fit.

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For context: all teams were assigned a writer to name a “hot seat” candidate, with seat temperatures ranging from “cold,” to “lukewarm,” to “hot.” There was one seat listed as “boiling hot,” for Bengals cornerback Eli Apple.

But back to Patricia. Reiss is strongly indicating that a different role is in the offing for Patricia, who is currently the Patriots’ offensive play-caller, in addition to the offensive line coach and Belichick’s senior advisor. It’s unclear what Reiss would think is the timeline for a role change, but it’s interesting enough for him to wonder about it during the Pats’ bye week.

Because of the timing of this analysis, and Reiss’ impeccable insider knowledge, it wouldn’t be terribly surprising if the coaching setup looks different for the Patriots when they face the New York Jets on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. And maybe the change for Patricia is more of a reduction in workload.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots stands on the sideline with Senior Football Advisor Matt Patricia during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Since Patricia’s mere presence on the staff sounds safe, the best course of action would be to let him focus on one role, rather than try to juggle three simultaneously. Patricia has essentially filled the voids left by three key departures – Josh McDaniels, Dante Scarnecchia, and Ernie Adams – all at once. Based on the results so far for the offense, it seems that Belichick has indeed asked too much of Patricia. It would’ve been asking too much of anyone, really.

Belichick may not want to reorganize his coaching operation mid-season, and save that for the off-season. But it wouldn’t be unprecedented. Belichick himself called defensive plays to begin the 2010 season, before handing the keys to Patricia later on.

In the case of the 2022 offense, the next man up may actually be Joe Judge, who called plays at times in the preseason. It’s feasible to envision this particular setup with Belichick’s offensive assistants:

Matt Patricia: Senior advisor (the “Ernie Adams role”)
Joe Judge: Offensive play-caller
Evan Rothstein: Quarterbacks coach
Billy Yates: Offensive line coach

Maybe it’s unrealistic to expect that kind of overhaul in the middle of the season. It seems more like a plan for Belichick to formulate in the off-season. But it’s plausible, based on who they currently have. And the off-season could bring new complications, such as the possible departure of Jerod Mayo, so why not try it now? It’s unfathomable that the Patriots, who rank 26th in offensive touchdowns and 29th in total yards, could produce any less than it already has.

This will be something to watch for as the Patriots-Jets game gets started. If the offensive coaching staff remains the same setup that we’ve seen for nine weeks, that could signal that Belichick is staying the course. But it’s interesting enough that one of the top Patriots reporters is hinting at changes coming for Patricia.

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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.