The Patriots appear to be zeroing in on a new offensive line coach, too

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The Patriots have taken the big and necessary step of bringing back Bill O’Brien as their new offensive coordinator. But there’s still work to do on the coaching staff, particularly on O’Brien’s side of the ball.

Amid rumors of Matt Patricia being reassigned or leaving entirely, the Patriots are also likely to need a new offensive line coach. That’s where Adrian Klemm could come in. According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, Klemm is “anticipated” to have a second interview with the Patriots after meeting with them via videoconference for the OC job last week. There’s good reason to believe Klemm, if hired, would be assigned to work with the offensive line.

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  Oct 8, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks associate head coach Adrian Klemm against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

• For starters, Klemm was literally an offensive lineman. The first draft pick of Belichick’s Patriots career, Klemm played 26 games with 10 starts for the Patriots from 2000-04. He finished his playing career with a 16-game season in Green Bay, including eight starts.

  Second, Klemm already has offensive line coaching experience in both the NFL and the college ranks. Klemm coached the Steelers’ offensive line from 2019-21, for two years as an assistant and one as the primary O-line coach. Klemm had a bit of an awkward departure from the Steelers, as Mike Tomlin allowed him to leave for his new job at Oregon before the end of the 2021 regular season, explaining that he wanted to avoid any possible distractions in Pittsburgh. Klemm spent the 2022 season as Oregon’s associate head coach, offensive line coach, and run game coordinator.

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  Oct 8, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks associate head coach Adrian Klemm against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

• The Oregon Ducks finished second in the Pac-12 in yards per carry (5.5) and rushing touchdowns (34) in the 2022 season under Klemm’s leadership. So, hopefully, if the Patriots bring Klemm aboard, that success can translate to improving an O-line that struggled with execution and discipline for most of 2022.

  Also, the hope is that Klemm isn’t some kind of flight risk, since he’s now left his post two years in a row and appeared to be something of a distraction behind the scenes in Pittsburgh. If he’s here, and doing a good job, ideally he stays a while. It appears the Krafts are sick of the Pats losing coaches to better opportunities, and want to provide said opportunities in their own house.

  For Klemm, the Patriots represent a chance to reclaim his path in the NFL coaching ranks, if the way he left the Steelers is viewed with any derision around the league. But he’ll need to actually improve the offensive line for that to matter.

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  EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 09: Owner Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots (L) talks with head coach Bill Belichick during warmups before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 09, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

• We’ll continue to keep you updated on the Patriots’ off-season coaching searches here at 985TheSportsHub.com.

  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.