Whatever happens with Patricia, Payton and the Broncos is all fine with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who continued to sing his former assistant's praises when asked about the interview with . Upon his return to college, he helped develop Bryce Young into a Heisman Trophy winner. A Massachusetts native, O'Brien will be charged with improving a Patriots offense that dipped notably in most key areas in 2022, including: Red zone efficiency: 11th (39 TDs in 63 trips) to 32nd (19 TDs in 45 trips), Third-down efficiency: 10th (43.5%) to 27th (34.8%), First downs: tied for ninth (362) to 28th (288), Sacks allowed: eighth (28 for 241 yards) to 19th (41 for 279 yards). 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. And if Bill O'Brien can come in and achieve that -- not just with Mac Jones, but with the entire offense -- then that would obviously be a great thing. Do we need to play better on both sides of the ball? Ahead of the Sugar Bowl, O'Brien was asked . Director of player personnel Matt Groh is leading the Patriots front office contingent here. I had the same offensive coordinator during my first four NFL seasons with the Patriots. McDaniels worked with OBrien and Jones when each entered the NFL OBrien as a Patriots offensive assistant in 2007 and Jones as the clubs top pick in 2021. But you have to overcome yourself at times and make a point to be open-minded. After several seasons in New England working for Bill Belichick, O'Brienleft the Patriots in 2012 for his first head coaching opportunity at Penn State. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Could he join NFL's Patriots? He was also connected to the Nebraska search that ended Saturday with the hiring of Matt Rhule. The last time Saban brought in two new coordinators in the same year was after the Crimson Tide's 2017 national championship season. In one sense, this is the ultimate test of Nick Saban's Coaching Rehab.In O'Brien and Marrone, we're talking guys with a combined 27 years of NFL experience. O'Brien drew interest primarily from the Jacksonville Jaguars who [] I like that.. I think hes a great coach. What Patriots fans need to know about new OC Bill O'Brien originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston. He left the program to return to the NFL as an offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots . He also was the head coach of the Houston Texans for six-plus seasons. The Houston Texans signed Bill O'Brien to a contract extension and the team's long-snapper Jon Weeks is happy to be playing for O'Brien in 2018. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. What he said, SUGAR BOWL:What we saw inside Alabama football's practice Wednesday ahead of the Sugar Bowl. McDaniels believes the relationship between Patriots quarterback Mac Jones and offensive coordinator Bill OBrien two guys hes worked closely with in the past will be strong and mutually beneficial. According to a league source, the Patriots have sent four assistant coaches to work players through positional drills here at the Scouting Combine: Its been an active offseason for the Patriots staff, which coached the winning West squad at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas in February. He spent the last two seasons as Alabamas OC. Projecting the futures of Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and other Vikings veterans. Penn State went 8-4 in O'Brien's first season, and then 7-5 in his second year. There were times where O'Brien and Brady got into it on the sideline, where Brady showed his passion and O'Brien wasn't afraid to give it right back. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM. Bill O'Brien is the founder of Mission Development Corp., a consulting company specializing in talent and organizational development. OBrien was the head coach of Penn State for two seasons prior to the hiring of James Franklin, and he deserves plenty of praise for guiding the program through what he had to deal with at the time he took on the job. At least a name to keep an eye on.. That's actually a slight improvement over 2021, when Alabama averaged 39.9. I dont think its just one position or one person. He was a graduate assistant from 1995 to 1997, and then running backs coach from 1998 to 2000 before moving up to offensive coordinator/QBs coach from 2001 through 2002. Thats cool, though. Therefore, when McDaniels provides a glowing endorsement of new Patriotsoffensive coordinator Bill OBrien, one can place a great deal of stock in his opinion. Auburn Wire explored an initial list of potential candidates to succeed Harsin at Auburn, and OBrien was among the names on the list. When you embrace the new system and understand there are different ways to have success -- that's when you can really start to grow as a quarterback, because growth only happens when there's acceptance. The wreck was originally classified as a single-vehicle crash. All the things that Billy has accomplished and achieved since then havent surprised me at all. We want Lamar here. Baltimore also can slap a franchise tag on Jackson Line of the day was delivered by Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. when asked about his playing style: I just run through dudes faces.. In Buffalo, I had Greg Roman. Young is expected to be a top 10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in April. O'Brien returns for a second stint at the helm of the New England offense. From there we went to Charlie Weis, then Bill Muir, then Jim Zorn, then Brian Daboll. I had Terry Robiskie for two years in Tennessee, and then finally I was with Jim Bob Cooter in Detroit. Mike Reiss reports that Bill Belichick and the Patriots will be bringing back Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator. Then I went to Minnesota to work with Bill Musgrave, followed by Norv Turner. Occasionally he'd get into a "war of words" with guys, but that was part of how he did it, and he got the most out of his players. / CBS Boston. I think hes a great coach, McDaniels said of OBrien while speaking with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday. "This isn't a name that will garner much positivity among some fans," Auburn Wire notes. We had a great relationship when I was with the Patriots and he was the wide receivers coach in 2008. William James O'Brien (born October 23, 1969), nicknamed The Teapot, is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). His record as Texans head coach was 52-48 in the regular season and 2-4 in the playoffs. Billys worked with a lot of quarterbacks before, and theyve all had success, and hes impacted all of those guys in a positive way. It was also reported that OBriens previous work at Penn State impressed Nebraska football. A screaming match with Brady during a Week 14 win over the Washington Commanders. Apparently, it's unlikely that the former NFL head coach will be moving forward . #ada-button-frame { Of course, it should be noted that for the vast majority of that time, the Pats scoring phase was led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. Patriots Talk:Will Robert Kraft take a hard-line stance with Belichick this offseason? At the end of the day, weve been very good for most of the season. https://nittanylionswire.usatoday.com/2022/10/31/former-penn-state-coach-mentioned-as-potential-candidate-for-auburn/, Joey Porter Jr. heads to NFC West in latest mock draft, Watch Micah Parsons score his first career touchdown, Vols tie Buckeyes for No. Billys worked with a lot of quarterbacks before, and theyve all had success, and hes impacted all of those guys in a positive way, said McDaniels, alluding to OBriens work with. During the offseason, wide receiver Andre Johnson had a lot of questions about the direction that the Texans were taking after a 2-14 season in 2013. O'Brien left Penn State to become Texans head coach in 2014. It's even more difficult for today's quarterbacks to adjust to a new play-caller, because there's less time on task. We talked recently and Im optimistic. The previous five -- Steve Sarkisian, Mike Locksley, Brian Daboll, Lane Kiffin and O'Brien -- are all now either NFL head coaches or offensive coordinators or Power 5 head coaches. He then went on to head coaching spots at Penn State and with the Houston Texans. Bill O'Brien was hired as Patriots offensive coordinator in January, rejoining a staff on which he had worked before. All the things that Billy has accomplished and achieved since then havent surprised me at all, said McDaniels. Here's an overview of O'Brien's career to this point. Ahead of the Sugar Bowl, O'Brien was asked Wednesday how he would respond to the criticism of the offense and play-calling. He missed three games with a high ankle sprain. Johnson seems to like what hes seen from coach Bill OBrien thus far, telling Albert Breer of NFL Media that he likes the way the Texans are moving him around on offense as well as the style that OBrien has adopted as the head man in Houston. 0:00. He lasted six full seasons in Houston, plus the first four games of the 2020 campaign before being fired. You're learned the offense a certain way and now it's being taught differently, so that can make you stop and say, "Wait a second, we didn't do it this way. In a post for Fox Sports recapping McCourty's comments, Henry McKenna reported that Patriots coaches were "instructed not to go too hard on Mac Jones in an effort to protect him from being too critical of himself," according to a team source. After a successful rookie season under McDaniels that included a playoff berth and Pro Bowl nod, Jones struggled for stretches in 2022. Certainly," O'Brien said. As far as criticism and things like that, thats probably a question for somebody else. The previously listed top candidates included Mickey Joseph, Matt Campbell, Lance Leipold, Jamey Chadwell, and even the Carolina Panthers Matt Rhule. display: none; But the idea of taking over head coaching duties again may be enough for him to leave Alabama and join Nebraska football. Belichick also oversaw a streamlining of the offense -- changing the blocking terminology for offensive linemen -- in which one of his goals was to produce more big plays down the field. Carter never appeared for his media session, and his draft status hes a first-round talent is something to watch. When we added Billy back in 2007, he was a guy that came from college [Duke] and really wanted to make it in the NFL, said McDaniels. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? But Scott Frosts replacement has yet to be announced. Without a crystal ball, no one will know which jobs will be open for hiring next offseason. Upon landing at Alabama, where he worked closely with quarterback Bryce Young, O'Brien had also spent time with current Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who helped O'Brien learn the Crimson Tide offense in the months following Jones' final season with Alabama. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Alabama only makes its coordinators available to reporters on one day early in preseason practices. Brent Key, a former offensive line coach for the Crimson Tide, is the interim head coach for the Yellow Jackets. Belichick didn't name an official offensive coordinator for the Patriots in 2022, leaning on Matt Patricia as the primary playcaller despite Patricia's mostly defensive background in his NFL career. Alabama has averaged 40.8 this season heading into the matchup Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN) against Kansas State (10-3). "The primary target is former Patriots OC, former Penn State and Texans head coach, former Alabama OC Bill O'Brien," a report from Tom Curran . "There are always areas we can be better at. So it's no shock . I was fortunate in New England: By the time I took the field as a starter in my fourth season, I had been exposed to so much in this offense. Unsurprisingly, Jones experienced a significant statistical regression in 2022, finishing with2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. ", BILL O'BRIEN FUTURE:Will Bill O'Brien return to Alabama football? OBrien is currently the offensive coordinator for Alabama, a role that has established a solid track record of leading to head coaching opportunities under the leadership of head coach Nick Saban. Coaching Carousel Could Be Bill O'Brien's Wheel of Fortune. Experts weigh in| Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube. Still, McDaniels success at New Englands offensive helm allowed him the chance to take the reins as an NFL head coach as it also did for OBrien. Mac Jones is clearly a competitor, andhe's said he wants to be "coached harder." "Are there areas we can be better at? Auburn Wire explored an initial list of potential candidates to succeed Harsin at Auburn, and O'Brien was among the names on the list. Every coach is different in how they teach the game, and it takes time for a quarterback to develop trust with their coordinator while learning what they're trying to accomplish on each play. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? I had watched Tom Brady execute it and seen all of the details that go into successfully running the offense. INDIANAPOLIS Josh McDaniels knows a good matchup when he sees one, and the Raiders coach has the sense theres a real good one developing in New England. NEW ORLEANS Alabama football offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien has been a popular recipient of criticism from fans this season and last. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. The times that hes not talking to you, or if hes not yelling at you, thats when youve got to be worried. Billy O is the kind of guy that if he shows you affection, if hes yelling at you, that means he loves you, Edelman told reporters shortly after OBriens hiring last month. It is clearly no secret that Jones was frustrated with New Englands offensive coaching structure last season under ousted play caller Matt Patricia and quarterbacks coach Joe Judge. Saban also is searching for a defensive coordinator after Pete Golding left for the same position at Ole Miss earlier this month. For 13 non-consecutive seasons, McDaniels helped to craft one of the NFLs most diverse offensive units as its coordinator. 2 in total yards per game (428), No. Campbell, Leipold, and Chadwell were mentioned as the leading candidates to replace Scott Frost. The Texans won four AFC South division titles but never advanced past the AFC Divisional Round of the postseason. O'Brien emphasized multiple times Wednesday he is focused on the matchup with Kansas State and not his future. If I go out there and mess up, hes gonna let me know. Why aren't we doing it that way?" I dont know what the criticism would be, but look, we all try to do better. Learn how your comment data is processed. He quickly rose up the ranks. That was again the case to start this week, with Devin McCourty delivering a glowing endorsement for Jones as the "future of New England." Get viral graphics, memes, rumors and trending sports news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. And it would not shock anyone the day OBrien gets a chance to be a head coach again. Could he join NFL's Patriots? 3 in points scored per game (32.1). NEW ORLEANS Alabama football offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien has been a popular recipient of criticism from fans this season and last. If the Texans can use that to help them to a second straight win, the good feelings for the team will likely grow for Johnson. "You could give him a lot of responsibility and he could handle it, McDaniels remarked. Patriots Talk: Devin McCourty goes deep on Patriots hire of Bill OBrien| Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube. In his lone season as OC, the Patriots ranked No. In that first stint in New England, O'Brien quickly rose through the ranks on Belichick's staff to quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, spending three years (2009-11) in that role before departing for head-coaching positions with Penn State (2012-13) and the Houston Texans (2014-20). OBrien and Trev Alberts reportedly have a connection that dates back to OBriens Georgia Tech days. Saban said that day in early November that everyone has things they must do better. Hes a great football coach, an extremely hard worker, said McDaniels. Bill O'Brien joined head coach Nick Saban's staff in January of 2021 to serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after six-plus years as the head coach of the NFL's Houston Texans. We were on the same page conceptually,and I think that's why a lot of the quarterbacks who have had the most successful careers are guys who enjoyed longevity in the same system with the same offensive coordinator. NBC Sports' Chris Simms reported earlier in February that Jones spent the 2022 season in Bill Belichick's dog house because the QB went outside of Foxboro for advice on how to help fix the New England offense. You never know how a plan goes until a coach walks into the building, and there are still plenty of unknowns. 2 in total yards per game (428), No. After a two-year stint as Penn State head coach in 2012 and 2013, O'Brien came back to the pros for his first NFL head coaching job. This isn't the first time that Jones' poise and attitude have come under fire this offseason. I think over the last two seasons, weve been pretty productive.". That's what I loved about him. Lamar and I are talking, said DeCosta. But at the end of the day, the role of any coach is to push you to become the best version of yourself. 3 in points scored per game (32.1). Las Vegas Raiders head coach, and former New England Patriots offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels knows exactly what it is like to the top dog in Bill Belichicks offensive coaching staff. He quickly rose up the ranks. Which first-round prospects should Raiders focus on at combine? Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien is a hot coaching commodity in both the NFL and college football given his ability to elevate a program's culture. Hell do a great job.. Register now! He knows the position really well, understands the league, he understands how to get the most out of players at this level. The Nick Saban Coaching Rehab Facility otherwise known as the Alabama Crimson Tide may be on the verge of. "Were all working hard together. He's a guy who pulls no punches -- he's going to hold you accountable, and he's going to coach you to a certain standard with a certain level of expectation. Click Here. ESPN college football expert Pete Thamel argues that Bill OBrien should be first in line for any new job that opens up. (1:42). "I dont really pay attention to that," O'Brien said. Billys worked with a lot of quarterbacks before, and theyve all had success, and hes impacted all of those guys in a positive way, said McDaniels, alluding to OBriens work with Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson, among others. Another candidate with Penn State ties also remains an intriguing possibility. OBrien is no stranger to having his name thrown through the rumor mill, of course. They might tweak the protection scheme or how you call something, which sometimes leads to a tendency to "fight the system.". Though emotion and strategy will ultimately be the measures by which OBrien is judged in New England, his earning the stamp of approval from his predecessor should Patriots fans with a greater sense of comfort regarding the teams fate (along with that of Mac Jones) on offense. Mustipher campaigns for Deion Barnes promotion. Join the conversation today. He even inherited McDaniels' play-calling duties after his acceptance of the Denver Broncos head coaching job in 2009. Coordinators in the top 10 pick in the regular season and last of players at this level even... Was hired as Patriots offensive coordinator during my first four games of the day, the role of coach... Coordinator in January, rejoining a staff on which he had worked before wants be! To do better helped to craft one of the offense and play-calling in preseason.... The ball regular season and 2-4 in the regular season and last that everyone has things they must better. 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