Succeeding Tom Brady will be a daunting undertaking, whether Cam Newton’s recently acquired take over for the greatest quarterback of all time, or whether Jarrett Stidham wins the mission.
But it’s not the only difficult and vital mission that a member of the Patriots must undertake this coming season.
The next biggest job? Manage the offensive line.
Who follows Dante Scarnecchia? How does Bill Belichick replace the legendary coach?
Getting in after Brady is going to be quite difficult, but following Scar is also not a picnic. He is the GOAT of offensive line coaches.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterback coach Jedd Fisch, who are to prepare for Brady’s successor, the offensive line coach is also high on the importance meter, especially with a new quarterback rear that takes over.
Perhaps that is why Belichick leaves the job to two people, not one.
Enter Cole Popovich and Carmen Bricillo.
It appears that the Patriots are taking the tandem approach to managing the offensive line, Popovich and Bricillo, who were both part of the system working under Scarnecchia, joining forces to tackle the task.
In addition to the difficulty level, there is a pandemic which has made the off-season camps virtual. Because of the quarterback situation, having time on the field – or not – has a ripple effect. The Patriots can’t just have an ordinary line. They must be one of the best outfits in the league to give Newton, who is entering a new system, and / or an unproven Stidham, the best chance of succeeding.
In the case of Newton, who suffered two major injuries, protection is a must for the 31-year-old quarterback. Besides, he is not exactly the stationary type of QB members of the Patriots line accustomed to having behind them.
There will be a huge adjustment to having a mobile play-call, and what that means for the offensive line considering all of the adjustments that need to be made to the offense.
“You have to develop a feeling for a mobile quarterback, but since they really haven’t blocked for a guy like that, it’s going to be difficult,” said former Patriots offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer. “These things must be practiced, or at least seen. … The OTAs would have been useful. ”
Needless to say, Popovich and Bricillo have their work cut out for them.
“After Scar, it’s almost unfair,” said former Patriots offensive lineman and current ESPN analyst Damien Woody. “First of all, his longevity is crazy. And just the success he had. I’ve always said that Dante belongs to the Hall of Fame. He was an excellent coach in the National Football League. And then, on top of that, not only do you replace a legend, but you face a pandemic at one of the most crucial positions in all football. ”
In addition to having talented players, offensive line play is generally improved with the continuity of its line members and the building of confidence with the line workers next to you.
“The only thing about an offensive line, in the end, you have to get five guys to play as one,” said Woody. “The only way to do it usually, you have to represent yourself together, you have to practice together, which you don’t do during the pandemic. So it will be a challenge for the Patriots and all the other teams as well. But when you have a new O-line trainer and a pandemic, it’s not the best of times. ”
Then there is the new quarterback element. Although Stidham can use his legs and is not afraid to take off if necessary, this trait is more a staple of Newton’s game. It is a completely different animal that synchronizes with a moving watch, than a type that stays in the pocket. This process does not happen overnight.
Can Popovich and Bricillo take up the challenge?
First, a bit of history.
Six years ago, when Scarnecchia retired, Dave DeGuglielmo, aka “Gug” (pronounced: Googe) was brought in from the outside to take over.
The Patriots won a Super Bowl that year, but it quickly collapsed the following season due in part to an end-of-season injury to left tackle and armored armor Nate Solder. DeGuglielmo was sacked the day after the Broncos lost the AFC championship. Brady was sacked four times in the 20-18 loss. What is even more disturbing is that he was beaten 20 times, according to various accounts, and that the beatings came from everywhere. This is not how a franchise quarterback is supposed to be protected in a pivotal game.
This meant a quick exit for DeGuglielmo, Scarnecchia, in turn, coming out of retirement to return to his old job.
Vollmer, who was part of the team for this first transition from Scarnecchia, explained that part of the difficulty was due to the fact that DeGuglielmo was trying to change the blocking scheme and that the players were not necessarily on board.
The other problem leading to DeGuglielmo’s disappearance concerned the obvious: trying to replace an irreplaceable trainer.
“Scar, in my opinion, is the best offensive line coach who has coached anyone,” said Vollmer, who is currently the NFL ambassador to Germany. “His technique he developed and the way he trained will make you the best football player and offensive lineman you can be. It’s a bit like when Brady leaves, there is no one who can replace a guy like that. Or with Bill (Belichick).
“When you have someone who is good at something, the next guy, it’s really not fair to compare,” said Vollmer. “However, when Gug entered, he tried to change the offensive line into his blocking scheme … and it wasn’t fair to him either, that the players may not have joined.”
It’s an interesting acknowledgment from Vollmer. So there was a bit of conflict between DeGuglielmo and the players who were weaned on the way to Scarnecchia and who were successful. It was difficult to get away from something that worked, even if the new coach simply put his own system, which is usually the case.
“You go from being coached by one of the bigger guys,” said Vollmer, “now you tell me I have to change, especially the older guys who were six and seven, and who went to the Super Bowls “and stuff like that (with Scarnecchia)? It’s not the right attitude, but it does happen. When the push comes to an end, you go back to a technique you’re more comfortable with.”
Needless to say, she completely untangled the second year. Injury to key players and failure to fully embrace the new techniques led to a sloppy game.
Point?
Since Popovich has been with the team for five seasons, four under Scarnecchia and Bricillo spent his first season in the NFL last year working with Scar, Vollmer predicts that the system and blocking system will remain essentially the same. – the mobile quarterback notwithstanding.
So some of the difficulties DeGuglielmo has endured will not necessarily be on the table for Scarnecchia’s replacements this time around, especially if the transition with blocking patterns remains constant.
“It won’t be as dramatic,” said Vollmer. “If the same technique continues, they will be good. I worked under Cole. I think he’s going to be a good coach, and they also have a lot of talent on this offensive line. ”
Woody agreed.
“Again, looking at them in the face of the pandemic, the last thing you want is massive change,” said Woody. “If they don’t deviate from what the players have already learned, it will be of great help. No one is going to replace Dante. You cannot replace this amount of knowledge and experience. But keeping things in place, the things players know, will help them. ”
The biggest adjustment for players could be getting used to having a quarter take-off when the timing is right. It was not something that was in Brady’s repertoire. But with Newton, it is now a characteristic with which the line O must be comfortable, largely thanks to the repetition.
Before arriving in New England, Popovich was the offensive line coach / co-offensive coordinator in Minot State from 2014 to 2015. Previously, he worked as an offensive line coach at Fresno City College (2012- 13) and at Los Angeles Valley College (2011).
He was an offensive lineman at Fresno State, winning All-America honors in 2004.
Bricillo, meanwhile, was the offensive line coach at Youngstown State for nine years before landing in Foxboro and joining Scarnecchia staff as an assistant. Bricillo was a center in Duquesne.
Thus, the two men played on the offensive line and were already the best pistol to manage the line.
At the very least, this makes them applicable to players. And, while maintaining the continuity of the system, Vollmer warned against Popovich and Bricillo while trying to imitate Scarnecchia, who had a distinctive character. This was part of the advice from the old lineman to the new coaches.
“It’s a bit like Bill (Belichick). If you try to be Bill, it won’t work. You are not Bill, ”said Vollmer. “And Scar, he is simply unique. You can’t be him. His path worked for him, and I have nothing but gratitude for this man. But I don’t think you should coach this way. ”
With David Andrews coming back to center after missing last season with blood clots in the lungs and the rest of the starting line intact, assuming Joe Thuney ($ 14.7 million franchise label) does not is not exchanged, it should help Popovich and Bricillo to meet the challenges of being ahead.
The starting unit, as it stands, is one of the best lines in the league. After eliminating third-year tackle Isaiah Wynn, the other four (Thuney, Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon) have been together for four seasons and have won two Super Bowls. The biggest question marks with the line come with new coaches having to decide on the best assembly of staff to fill the backup roles.
Obviously, a good line game is a must with a new quarterback in the system, or a young beginner quarterback. If the unit helps start an effective racing game and gives Newton, Stidham, or anyone else enough time to return, it’s hard to ask for more.
“Tom Brady has the ability to make an offensive line better or more beautiful,” said Vollmer. “He quickly gets rid of the ball, his readings are quick, he knows the protections. This luxury has probably disappeared. ”
If Stidham, who has had only four NFL success attempts, wins the job, that would likely be the case. His inexperience will cause some hesitation and indecision.
This will not be the case with Newton, who has a pretty good trigger, and yet he is not in Brady’s league when it comes to making readings and delivering the ball in a super-fast way . He’s also getting used to a new offense, so there might be some hesitation at first.
Bottom line: If beginners on the offensive line can stay healthy and perform to past standards, this is the best recipe for success for any quarterback. It is also the ticket for Popovich and Bricillo to succeed according to a legend.
