In this week’s edition of the NFL Notebook, we look at the possibility of Brian Flores drawing attention as a head coaching candidate, offer some praise for some out-of-position Patriots, and track down some ex-New Englanders who are in line for new gigs. But first, we look at how the Patriots’ play-action game has gone from ragged to resurgent at the start of the post-Thanksgiving stretch drive.
1. Mike Zimmer wasn’t kidding when he said this week the Patriots were the best play-action team in the league, but that only tells part of the story. In truth — like much of the New England offense this season — it’s been a work in progress. By our count, the first three weeks of the season, Tom Brady completed 55 percent of his passes for 139 yards and had an interception when operating out of play-action. The next three weeks, things kicked into gear — Brady’s completion percentage went from 55 to 67 percent. He also had 188 yards and a touchdown in that same frame. In the five games since, play-action has become a staple of the New England offense. When using straight play-action or play-fakes (usually involving James White when he’s in Brady’s hip pocket in shotgun) over the last five games, Brady has gone 44-for-55 (80 percent) for 584 yards and a touchdown. (That includes a dazzling 9-for-10 for 96 yards last week against the Jets.) It’s difficult to get a handle on how the Patriots stack up to every team in the league — we watched every New England snap this year to get these numbers, not everyone across the NFL. But using the charting provided by Football Outsiders, it’s easy to see just how important it is to the success of the New England passing game. By FO’s figuring, the Patriots are third in average yardage per play action play (9.7) and tied for fourth when it comes to play-action percentage (27 percent). One other thing worth noting? The most effective use of the play-action, including Sunday against the Jets, has come when the Patriots have had a healthy Sony Michel in the backfield. The threat of the young back has been enough to keep defenses honest, at least over the course of the first two-plus months of the season. We’ll see if it will be enough to keep it as a major part of New England’s offensive game plan moving forward.
2. There’s been a lot of talk this week about the potential ascension of Josh McDaniels to a head coaching gig sooner rather than later. But there was some concrete movement on another front this week involving a Patriots’ assistant coach and his head coaching chances when it was revealed New England linebackers coach Brian Flores was part of the latest list of 11 head coaching candidates drawn up by the Fritz Pollard Alliance, the diversity group that works with the NFL to help ensure that candidates of color receive opportunities to interview for head coaching positions. Each year, the group’s leaders meet with league officials and passes on its recommendations, and Flores was part of this year’s group, leading a collection of assistants that include Cowboys defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator Kris Richard, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and former head coaches Hue Jackson, Leslie Frazier and Jim Caldwell. It’s not known whether or not Flores will get a chance to interview for what could be as many as eight head coaching opportunities, but a chance to draw the recognition of such an organization certainly speaks highly of his chances. Flores interviewed with the Cardinals for their vacant opening last year, but didn’t land the gig, ultimately returning to serve as New England’s de facto defensive coordinator.
3. One other intriguing piece of coordinator news that could draw the attention of the Patriots — if McDaniels does end up leaving for a head coaching job, it would be interesting to see how they end up replacing him. A name that could resurface? Brian Daboll. New England’s former tight ends coach, who is now the offensive coordinator in Buffalo, has struggled through a rough season with the Bills that has included plenty of instability at the quarterback position. While injuries have derailed any sort of chance Daboll and Buffalo might have at assembling a consistent offense, I wonder if the Bills would have him be the fall guy for what has ultimately been a rough year for their offense. I’ve talked to a few people in Buffalo who say the franchise would likely have him back for next season regardless, but it’s something worth thinking about if McDaniels does decide to leave. (One scenario that would have been equally intriguing? The possibility of former Brady backup and ex-Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator. But alas, that’s a failed dream now that Kingsbury is apparently locked in at USC.)
4. In the vein of what Greg touched on here — things that make me encouraged about the 2018 Patriots — one of the things that has impressed me the most about this roster is the fact you have three guys in Trey Flowers, Trent Brown and Cordarrelle Patterson who were asked to make a position switch heading into a contract year. Flowers flipped sides as a defensive end to accommodate the arrival of Adrian Clayborn, while Brown moved from right tackle to left tackle, and Patterson has been a bit of a jack-of-all-trades for the New England offense, even spending time at running back. (That doesn’t even begin to include cornerback Jason McCourty spending time at safety.) All have not only done well with the switch, they have been foundational parts of the Patriots’ scheme this season. New England, of course, has a long history of guys playing out of position in the name of helping the franchise — Troy Brown at corner, Julian Edelman at defensive back, etc. And while we have no indication of any sort of behind-the-scenes assurances about these guys being taken care of contractually down the road, the fact they have willingly made the switch and have been good teammates about the move in a contract year says a lot about their character. (Of course, betting on yourself does have its benefits — the extra dose of versatility will also likely come in handy when free agency hits this offseason.) For his part, Patterson said Friday the Patriots have just begun to tap into his versatility, adding semi-seriously that he can also play a few other positions as well. But ultimately, the three deserve a tip of the cap for the professional manner in which they’ve all handled their respective moves this season.
Patriots-Vikings 2010: This ball somehow got to Brandon Tate lol #GoPATS pic.twitter.com/PgRZHCLABR
— #FreePhillipDorsett (@ftbeard_17) November 30, 2018