Jul 30, 2022; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots senior football advisor Matt Patricia walks to the practice field at the Patriots training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Patricia is preparing for a major role in the Patriots offense ahead of Mac Jones’ pivotal second season. Or should we say, roles.
Though officially labeled the Patriots’ senior football advisor and offensive line coach, Patricia is ostensibly the offensive coordinator, just without the title. At the very least, he’s the primary offensive play-caller, as evidenced by burying his face in a play sheet and walkie-talkie as the Pats huddle up before team drills.
According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the “continued expectation” is for Patricia to be the play-caller and “de facto” offensive coordinator at the start of the 2022 regular season, confirming what’s been on display in Foxboro for the first two weeks of training camp.
Head Coach Bill Belichick has stepped in and called a few plays of his own at times, as has Joe Judge, who’s officially listed as “offensive assistant/quarterbacks.” But Judge’s play-calls have come more in 7-on-7.
Judge has also worked closely with the wide receivers during camp. Offensive assistant Evan Rothstein has worked closely with the quarterbacks. But it’s Patricia whose roles on the staff appear more multiple than the rest.
Everything is incumbent upon Belichick to oversee the operation and help it coalesce. But the concern is the necessity for coalescence in the first place, and that a lot of it falls on Patricia’s shoulders.
This feels like too much for any one coach, let alone one with no offensive coordinator experience, who hasn’t worked on the offensive side of the ball in 17 years.
Patricia does have something of a background on the offensive line, having played four years as a center/guard at RPI before joining the Patriots as an assistant under legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. But from 2006-17, he worked his way up through the defensive ranks, serving as the Pats’ defensive coordinator from 2012-17 before becoming head coach of the Detroit Lions in 2018.
While he certainly had a hand in the offense in Detroit, Patricia posted a 13-29-1 record as Lions head coach. Their scoring offense ranked 25th, 18th, and 20th from 2018-20. In Patricia’s final season in Detroit, they allowed the 10th-most sacks in the league (42).
Jul 30, 2022; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots senior football advisor Matt Patricia coaches quarterback Mac Jones (10) at the Patriots training camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Jalen Mills settling into major new role on Patriots defense
Jul 30, 2022; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Jalen Mills (2) walks to the practice field at the Patriots training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
It’ll be a while before we find out how the Patriots’ secondary holds up against high-end receiver groups. But there’s no question about who will be their No. 1 cornerback.
Jalen Mills is settling in nicely to a streamlined new role for him on the Patriots’ defense. Heading into year 2, he’s locked in as the top corner on the outside. After a year of moving him around and trying him a lot inside, Bill Belichick and his defensive staff have parked him on the perimeter.
So far, the results have been good. The Patriots may lack a Ja’Marr Chase-level game-changer at wide receiver, but it’s their deepest group in at least four years. Mills has been competitive in his 11-on-11 reps on the outside, including a few pass breakups.
Mills may not live up to the legacy of Ty Law, Stephon Gilmore, or Darrelle Revis. But he’s embracing the challenge of being the top guy deployed against the other team’s top receivers.
“That’s the standard here,” Mills told reporters Thursday. “Corners here from the past decade, guys being able to line up play man-to-man, play zone, whatever it may be, you’ve got to be able to step up to the challenge.”
Mills also credited speedy rookie Tyquan Thornton for giving him a good challenge with his wheels, but also with his smooth route-running and length. Thornton made one of the best catches of camp in a 1-on-1 drill against Mills, who was close in coverage but couldn’t quite stop Thornton from securing an over-the-shoulder grab on a pretty rainbow from Jones.
Mills is being counted upon, as a member of the Patriots’ expensive 2021 free-agent class, to make a big jump in his second season compared to his first. Even if he’s still a slight downgrade from J.C. Jackson as the new No. 1 outside corner, that would be a major step forward, and could ease lingering concerns about a secondary that could surprise some people this season.
May 23, 2022; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Jalen Mills (2) walks to the practice field for the team’s OTA at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
PHOTOS: Patriots hit the field for 2022 training camp in Foxboro
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