Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Tuesday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
It feels like we're starting the annual Josh McDaniels' Coaching Sweepstakes early this year.
Part of it is because the Packers and Browns made their moves a little earlier than usual. But our pals at Bovada have him as the odds' on favorite to land the Green Bay job. That's in addition to a report (which we'll get to in a second) that has assistants around the league jockeying to potentially join his staff if he does land with the Packers. Meanwhile, there are also rumblings that connect him to Cleveland, the (seemingly) perfect job for an Ohio native. And that doesn't begin to take into account the openings that will develop around the league as we get closer to Black Monday.
But before things start to get too nuts, we wanted to get your take on what might happen.
[democracy id="23"]
--Greg is taking his normal reps with the fellas from Felger & Mazz Tuesday from 2-4. Listen live here.
--Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts will be on the call for CBS this Sunday. The Patriots are 5-2 with them on the mic since the start of the 2017 season.
Tuesday’s Schedule
11 a.m.: Conference call with Bill Belichick
11:15 a.m.: Conference call with McDaniels
11:25 a.m.: Conference call with Brian Flores
Now, on with the links...
1. I had three leftover thoughts from Sunday -- well, two and an additional one that sprung from Belichick's conference call. I hit on a little bit of the history of the Patriots and amorphous defensive fronts, the rise of J.C. Jackson, and the Belichick-Nick Saban friendship.
2. It was another epic Overreaction Monday Q&A with questions that ran the gamut from Jackson to the shifting defensive looks to complaints with the offensive play-calling. If you are a new subscriber, you're going to want to jump in next Monday, because these are a great way to decompress the day after a game.
3. I have an updated version of the AFC playoff picture. Kansas City still holds the top spot, but how does their schedule the rest of the way match up with New England, Houston, and Pittsburgh? And why do we want to fast forward to the Week 15 slate of games now?
4. Joe Thuney deserves some sort of ironman award for his work over the last couple of seasons.
5. Charles Robinson of Yahoo says McDaniels-to-Green Bay is gaining steam around the league. "A handful of NFL assistant coaches have indicated interest in joining a McDaniels-led coaching staff in Green Bay, according to sources who spoke to Yahoo Sports on Sunday," writes Robinson. "So much so that at least one has pulled his name from consideration for a college coordinator position."
6. Pro Football Focus puts Patriots-Vikings in the spotlight, and gives a shoutout to one of New England's most underrated defenders. "Lawrence Guy continues to make a case for being the best run-defending lineman in the NFL this year," writes PFF. "He made two stops in the run game and altered a handful of others."
7. Mike Reiss offers praise for New England's ever-evolving defense. "Whereas other units around the NFL are known more for constant pressure, or blazing speed, the Patriots under Bill Belichick have always been a unit that morphs into different shapes on a weekly basis thanks to their versatile parts," writes Reiss.
8. Love these postgame locker room videos from the Patriots. Check out Andrews.
9. Looks like Patriots-Dolphins has opened with New England as an eight-point favorite.
10. Miami is ready to continue its playoff push this weekend against New England. “Every game at this point of the season is going to be meaningful — no matter who you’re playing,” said Dolphins coach Adam Gase. “We have to focus on preparing, correcting the things we can correct, and just focus on our jobs.”
Extra Point:
(John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Patriots
First and 10: So what's going to happen with Josh McDaniels?
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