The New England Patriots are finalizing their coaching staff and currently have only two spots left to fill: tight ends and wide receivers. With the departure of Bill Belichick to kick off this offseason, the increased role of front office member Eliot Wolf was apparent well before it was reported by Ian Rapoport. There were multiple hirings immediately following the regime change that had ties dating back to Wolf’s time with the Green Bay Packers. Potentially the most significant among them was the hiring of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt from the Cleveland Browns.
Alex Van Pelt Committed to Doing “What’s Best For His Players” As Patriots OC
At the heart of Van Pelt’s coaching career is a philosophy deeply rooted in quarterback development. As a former NFL quarterback, he’s spent over half of his 19-year coaching career as a quarterbacks coach. Perhaps the most significant being his work with Aaron Rodgers during his time with the Green Bay Packers. Under Van Pelt’s guidance from 2014-2017, Rodgers averaged 4,161 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions per (16 game) season. After being awarded the league MVP in their first season together, Rodgers reportedly didn’t like when Van Pelt wasn’t retained by the Packers following the team’s 7-9 record in 2017.
Van Pelt went on to make a quick stop in Cincinnati to work under Zac Taylor until he was plucked by the Cleveland Browns to become their offensive coordinator in 2020. Since stepping into the role, the Browns have placed a significant emphasis on their running backs, with rushes making up 48% of their offensive plays. That emphasis on running the ball paid off for them as the team averaged 140 rushing yards per game through his tenure there.
The first thing that stands out with the Browns offense under new #Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt is the diversity of their run game. Cleveland was a big wide zone team early on under Stefanski/AVP, but has incorporated more gap schemes the last few years.
Pin-pull, counter, crack… pic.twitter.com/Hv3oCj30Ij
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) February 2, 2024
Adapt or Fall Behind
The Patriots new offensive coordinator has shown a great ability to be adaptable with his offenses. Just this past season for the Browns was one of the greatest examples; a season in which he had five different quarterbacks start a game. His leadership allowed him to get the team ready to go with completely different styles of playing quarterback throughout the year. This adaptability suggests that with the Patriots, we should get an offense that’s much more fluid and dynamic than those in recent memory, one capable of shifting its approach from year to year to be able to adjust to the changing roster.
In his first time speaking since being hired by the Patriots, Van Pelt doubled down on his flexible approach to building an offense in a YouTube video posted to the team’s account. Saying, “A good coordinator will often take the strengths of the players that he has, play to their strengths well, at the same time being able to protect them from their weaknesses.”
Focusing On the Franchise’s Future
The Patriots offense has been missing a level of adaptability lately. With a limited roster this past season, the scheme never seemed to mold or change to try and garner more production. With all signs pointing to a new quarterback under center this season, it’s going to be as important as ever to set whoever that might be, up for success.
Having played the position in this league, Van Pelt knows just how important the situation around the quarterback is to his success. “Quarterback plays a big part of what I believe in, putting him in a position to be successful, and you know, if you can make that guy successful, oftentimes your offense is successful.”
Music to Patriots fan’s ears! Even after being benched four times this season, there are still some in the fan base who believe Mac Jones’ poor play was solely due to the situation around him. But whether you think that’s the case or you think Jones shouldn’t be a starter in the NFL, everyone (including Van Pelt) seems to agree that the situation has to get better for the next guy.
A Perfect Fit For the Mayo Era?
All the reports about Jerod Mayo as a coach were saying that he was a ‘player’s coach.’ Someone who could be a great leader of men and knows how to resonate with the players, and the players themselves have backed up these claims with comments of their own. Mack Wilson took to X (formerly Twitter) to say, “The start of a New Era that I’d love to be a part of. So happy for this dude… Well deserved BIG COACH! ❤️” Much of the same can be, and was, said for Van Pelt.
The start of a New Era that I'd love to be apart of. So happy for this dude.. Well deserved BIG COACH! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VDwd2HJ5Mm
— MWS (@MackWilSr) January 12, 2024
In an appearance on the Zolak and Bertrand show, Albert Breer said Van Pelt “was the glue guy of that [Browns] staff… the one that held that staff together as guys were coming out, as guys were going in.” This is exactly the kind of person that Mayo needed on his staff, especially on the offensive side of the ball. With him being so young himself, and a few of his initial hires being in the younger side as well, this staff was missing that experience to be able to lean on in crucial moments.
Time for a Modern Offense in New England
From the interviews the Patriots conducted in their search for an offensive coordinator, it became clear that the team wanted someone with Shanahan/McVay, West Coast, style of offense. That may be why they were so quick to hire Van Pelt following his interview, considering he has experience in both. With his recent time in Cleveland under Kevin Stefanski, who was in Minnesota with Gary Kubiak, he was able to experience the Shanahan offense. His knowledge of the McVay offense stems from his time in Cincinnati working with Zac Taylor, who was hired from McVay’s staff. The Patriots may have gotten the best of both worlds in Van Pelt, who can morph the Patriots’ offense to best fit whoever they put under center.
Van Pelt dialing up Shanahan's fake double screen Y delay with play action mixed in pic.twitter.com/dBdB6X33Vn
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) February 3, 2024
No matter the scheme, the Patriots new offensive coordinator is focused on the team being connected. Saying, “Teams that are close and that are connected—connected is a big word that I’ll use—the connectivity, those teams always play better.” Following a 2023 season that had more distractions than wins, this team needs to connect quickly to right the ship.
Main Photo: [Ken Blaze] – USA Today Sports
