Bill O’Brien Set to Return to Patriots as Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach

Bill O’Brien has been officially recruited by Bill Belichick to return to Foxborough and take charge of the struggling Patriots’ offense. Pats fans have every reason to be delighted with O’Brien’s comeback, mainly because of the familiarity he brings. He previously coached during a period of immense offensive success for the team and has a strong bond with QB Mac Jones, having worked together during Jones’ NFL Draft preparations while O’Brien was at Alabama.

In the previous year, Matt Patricia, a coach known for his defensive expertise, took on the responsibility of calling plays for the Patriots. However, his lack of experience in offensive play-calling became apparent as both Jones and the entire New England team experienced a significant decline in performance compared to the previous year. The Patriots’ offense ranked among the lowest in the league in terms of productivity during the recent season. Moreover, Jones’ QBR, completion percentage, and pass attempts all saw a decline.

Now, let’s closely examine the offensive rankings of New England from the previous season in comparison to the current season.

• The red zone efficiency rankings have dropped from 11th place, with 39 touchdowns scored in 63 trips, to 32nd place, with only 19 touchdowns scored in 45 trips.
• The team’s third-down efficiency dropped from 10th place at 43.5% to 27th place at 34.8%.
• The team’s first downs ranged from being tied for ninth place with 362, to falling to 28th place with 288.
• The number of sacks allowed ranged from eighth place, with a total of 28 sacks for 241 yards, to nineteenth place, with a total of 41 sacks for 279 yards.
• The number of touchdowns scored was 48 to 31.

ESPN provides a statistical outline.

Bill O’Brien QB Track Record

Under O’Brien’s guidance, several prominent quarterbacks, including Tom Brady, have thrived. While Brady had already solidified his status as a highly accomplished player prior to O’Brien’s initial stint with the team, it was during this time that Brady experienced two of his most impressive seasons in terms of statistics. O’Brien served as the offensive assistant in 2007 when Brady threw an astounding 50 touchdowns, and later became the offensive coordinator in 2011 when Brady achieved his first 5,000-yard passing season.

Under his guidance, Bryce Young achieved an impressive feat in 2021 by winning the Heisman Trophy. As a sophomore quarterback at that time, Young showcased his exceptional skills by amassing 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns, and a mere seven interceptions throughout the season. Despite a slight decline in Young’s performance the following year, he remains highly regarded as one of, if not the best, quarterbacks in this year’s draft, with credit going to O’Brien for his contributions.

Additionally, O’Brien had the privilege of witnessing Deshaun Watson’s most outstanding season to date. In 2020, under O’Brien’s leadership as the head coach of the Texans, Watson showcased his exceptional skills by amassing 4,823 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and a mere seven interceptions. Despite the team’s overall record not being exemplary, Watson’s performance was undeniably one of the most remarkable in the entire league that year.

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Reviving Mac Jones

It remains uncertain whether Jones is the long-term solution at QB for the Patriots. If there’s anyone who can assist the franchise in finding the answer, it’s O’Brien. Despite facing criticism for his play calling, particularly from former teams like Alabama, O’Brien has consistently placed quarterbacks he has coached in favorable positions for success.

Although O’Brien is indeed the Patriots’ primary requirement on offense, their needs extend further to include wide receivers and tight ends. The team is in dire need of assistance in these positions. According to recent mock drafts, the Patriots are projected to address this need in the upcoming first round, potentially selecting Quentin Johnson from TCU or Jordan Addison from USC. Either choice would undoubtedly be welcomed by both O’Brien and Jones.

With O’Brien returning to New England to lead the offense, Patriots fans have numerous reasons to be thrilled for what lies ahead. They will soon find the answers to their inquiries about Jones and the offense, further adding to their excitement.