In need of assistants
McDaniels, Patricia on several wish lists
The annual purging of NFL head coaches — also known as Black Monday — came yesterday, and so did the now-perennial questions of whether Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and/or defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will fill any of those new openings.
At the very least, they will have plenty of opportunities if they desire to leave Foxboro.
According to ESPN, the New York Giants already have requested permission to talk to both McDaniels and Patricia and the Detroit Lions have done the same for Patricia. NFL Network reported the Indianapolis Colts and Bears want to interview McDaniels and the Arizona Cardinals asked to interview both Patricia and linebackers coach Brian Flores.
The Giants’ interest has been a conversation point since New York fired coach Ben McAdoo Dec.3. Patricia to the Lions has also been a consistent rumor because Detroit general manager Bob Quinn has a lengthy history with the Patriots that includes three years as the team’s director of pro scouting from 2012-2015.
Yesterday, McDaniels and Patricia, both of whom have interviewed for multiple jobs since joining the Pats, deflected any talk of potential head coaching opportunities.
“Yeah, I mean, that process, whatever it is, it will take place,” McDaniels said. “I’m certainly not aware of anything at this point. I’ve just been focused on trying to grade our tape and work with our staff to try and get ourselves ready to have a productive week with our guys and get ready to go. All of that stuff usually takes care of itself. There’s a time and a place for all of that. I’ve gone through it before, which is helpful in terms of being able to balance that and multi-task it.
“But, my focus here when I come into this building will always be on what’s best for the Patriots and trying to do what I can to help us prepare to play our best game the next time we go out on the field.”
Patricia gave a similar response.
“Yeah, I mean, I have no idea about any of that,” he said. “None of that’s even really applicable to me right now because I don’t have any information on that. I’m in normal mode. Came in, graded the Jets. Trying to take a good look on what we did on defense (Sunday) and try to see what things that were positive and things that we’ve got to get better on.”
No-look pass
Rob Gronkowski could have triggered a $2 million bonus on his contract had he caught 11 balls had 116 receiving yards during Sunday’s 26-6 win over the New York Jets.
He fell just a tad short of that as quarterback Tom Brady did not throw the tight end’s way once, the first time in Gronkowski’s career he did not garner a single target.
He can still hit that bonus by making the All-Pro team.
While the Jets generally had solid coverage on Gronk, it also did not make sense to force the ball his way and risk injury just before the playoffs, and the Pats were in control throughout.
Yesterday Pats coach Bill Belichick claimed the absence of looks for Gronkowski was more a function of the former.
“That’s just kind of the way it worked out (Sunday),” Belichick said. “Again, sometimes you call plays and they work out one play, and then you call the same play and you hit it against something different and it turns out another way. It’s the quarterback’s job to read the coverage, find the open receiver and Tom does a good job of that. That’s the way it goes.”
Getting close
The Patriots offense can undergo a facelift in the postseason if several players return. Although some injuries are considered more serious than others, running
backs Rex Burkhead (knee), James White (ankle) and
Mike Gillislee (knee) and wide receiver Chris Hogan (shoulder) were all inactive for the Jets game.
Malcolm Mitchell (knee) practiced for the first time last week, and McDaniels is holding out hope that the wide receiver can be available in two weeks for the AFC divisional round game at Gillette.
“You’ve just got to let it take its course and do the best you can working with him, and then if and when that time comes when he’s ready and can help us and can contribute, I’m sure that that will happen,” McDaniels said. “But, right now, it’s just good to have him out there and good for him to be there and be coached and work with his guys.”
Three and out
Patricia’s defense had been burned on third downs recently, as the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers — two potential playoff opponents — combined to convert 18-of-33 chances in the previous two games.
However, against an albeit inferior foe Sunday, the Pats cleaned that up and shut the Jets out in the stat on 12 attempts.
“I think those guys accepted that challenge and really tried to rise up to it,” Patricia said of his defense. “I would say they did a good job with the communication and, again, recognition and then made a few adjustments in the game that I thought those guys did a great job of handling once we kind of saw what they were doing.”