Reports: Flores on to Miami
Defensive playcaller is finalist for Fins job
FOXBORO — The Patriots seem likely to lose their defensive playcaller for the second consecutive year.
Brian Flores, who stepped in when Matt Patricia left for Detroit last February, has emerged as the leading candidate for the head coaching job in Miami, according to multiple reports.
Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network reported the Dolphins have “narrowed their focus” to Flores.
Flores cannot officially accept the job until the Pats’ playoff run concludes.
He interviewed with the Dolphins during the Pats’ playoff bye week.
At 37 years old, Flores has served as defensive playcaller for just one season (he wasn’t given the job title of defensive coordinator, even though he’s effectively handled those duties all year). He possesses a wealth of experience in several areas, though. He started his career in the Patriots’ scouting department and later transitioned to the coaching side, where he led special teams, defensive backs and linebackers.
A former linebacker at Boston College, Flores was hired by the Patriots right out of college in 2004. He worked his way up within the organization, eventually replacing Patricia.
Flores is highly respected by Patriots players.
“I think the approach that he’s taken is really hands-on and just being honest with us,” linebacker Dont’a Hightower said in September. “He kind of told us what it was and what we needed to do to be a good defense and what we needed to prevent from doing.”
If Flores accepts the Dolphins job, there’s no clearcut replacement. The Patriots could take a look at Greg Schiano, who parted ways with Ohio State earlier this month to “pursue options in the NFL.” Schiano, previously the coach at Rutgers, is close with Bill Belichick.
Cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer has been with the organization for 13 years. Defensive line coach Brendan Daly has six years of experience in New England, while safeties coach Steve Belichick has worked for the Patriots for the past eight years.
Dime defense
Wide receiver Chris Hogan anticipates a numbers game from the Chargers secondary tomorrow.
Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley employs dime coverage schemes that can swell to seven defensive backs depending on down and distance.
Tom Brady will contend with flooded zones patrolled by ball hawks like free safety Derwin James and corner Desmond King, two All-Pros who have combined for six of the Chargers’ 13 interceptions.
“It is something that we have seen and something we have to prepare for,” Hogan said. “You never now what you are going to get in these types of games and if there is something that we see, we will have to adjust to it.
“From what we’ve seen on film there can be a lot of post safety zone and we are going to prepare for all the stuff we see on film.”
Julian Edelman, who ranks third in NFL history with 89 postseason receptions, knows he is up against fast cover guys that pack a wallop.
“They do it (dime) for a reason because those guys can go in and play,” Edelman said. “They have guys that can cover in the dime package and they are good enough to stop runs so we’ll see how they play us.”
Block party
Rookie tailback Sony Michel is excited about his first NFL postseason experience and looks to employ his rushing and receiving skills against the Chargers defense.
Michel led the Patriots this season with 931 yards on 209 attempts for a 4.5-yard average with six touchdowns. His less glamorous responsibility is keeping Brady upright with backfield blocking against edge rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. The tandem combined for 12.5 sacks in the regular season.
“It is always important and they have great pass rushers,” said Michel. “We’ve got to protect the quarterback, we’ve got to protect our offense and that’s how we go.”
Talent abounds
Melvin Gordon is the Chargers featured running back, a designation he earned by rushing for a team-leading 885 yards on 173 carries with 10 touchdowns despite missing four games.
Gordon, who was a teammate of Patriots tailback James White at Wisconsin, is second on the team with 50 receptions for 490 yards and four touchdowns.
Belichick acknowledged Gordon’s talents but insisted the Chargers other backs, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson, were capable substitutes that need watching. Ekeler and Jackson combined for 760 rushing yards and five touchdowns and 539 receiving yards with three touchdowns.
“Gordon) looks good but all their backs look good,” Belichick said. “Their backs can play on all three downs, they can catch and they can run and they can run after the catch and they are hard to tackle.
“Whatever guy is in there is a problem.”