NFL Notebook: Adam Butler talks about changes to coaching staff, offseason goals

In this week’s edition of the NFL Notebook, we remind you the combine isn’t the end-all and be-all for prospects, give you the name of one veteran free agent who would welcome a return to Foxborough, offer up some intriguing over/unders, and get a couple of updates on two guys who were off the radar for the bulk of the 2018 season. But first, we go one-on-one with Patriots defensive lineman Adam Butler to get his take on the defensive coaching changes, his priorities for the offseason, and what he’s been doing since the Super Bowl.

1. When appraised of the changes on the defensive coaching staff this offseason, Adam Butler has a simple philosophy: Another year, another defensive coaching change.

“It’s just part of the business,” he told BostonSportsJournal.com when reached by phone this week.

Butler, who will be heading into his third season in the league, will be playing for his third defensive signal-caller. It was Matt Patricia in 2017 and Brian Flores in 2018. Now, it sounds like it’ll be Greg Schiano in 2019.

Small wonder he and the rest of the guys on defense sound relatively nonplused about things. That’s not to dismiss the importance of Patricia or Flores. As Butler sees it, it’s just part of life in New England.

“I mean, it’s common when coaches go these days,” Butler said.

“We all just have to do our best to start a new relationship and a new sense of trust with whoever the new defensive coordinator is,” he said. “I can’t speak for the veteran guys — they might feel a little different than me, but as a young guy, I’ll just do whatever is asked of me, and will do whatever it takes to be able to work together.”

In all, the Patriots will be losing three members of their defensive coaching staff this offseason — Flores leaves to become the head coach of the Dolphins, while cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer will join him in Miami.

For Butler, the one that hits home is the loss of DL coach Brendan Daly -- he's off to join the Chiefs.

“Coach Daly was a great coach for us — I wouldn’t have wanted any other coach,’ Butler said. “He was a great mentor, and brought out the best in me. Obviously, he believed in me. I was undrafted, and as an undrafted guy, I needed guys like that to help me. The more he believed in me, the better I got, and now, I’m showing up and making plays and being a factor on this defense. A lot of the credit for that goes to him. But I’ll still show and keep working. As a D-Line, I’m sure we’ll all keep working, and work to establish a relationship with whoever is the new defensive line coach.”

2. Butler, who was getting on a plane back to New England on Friday, said he had some priorities to take care of when his offseason began.

“I’ve been getting some rest, but the best thing I did was when I got back home, I wanted to visit my great aunt at the Panola Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. They’ve been cheering me on all year, and I wanted to pay them back with a visit and some gifts," he said. "Other than that, I’ve just been relaxing at home and just enjoying my time and thinking about my goals for next year. I just want my body to rest and recover.”

The defensive lineman said he’s coming back for a few things, including treatment, a couple of weddings (“One in March and one in June,” he said) and he’s moving into a new place this offseason. But he’s savvy enough to know the page has already been turned to 2019 and beyond.

“I’m definitely excited for the challenges that lie ahead,” he said. “To try and recreate what we were able to do last year. It’s a whole new team and it’s going to take a lot of hard work. One thing people can expect from me is my best, and this offseason, I’m working to get better.”

3. The news Devin McCourty is set to return is great news for the Patriots’ defense and the secondary in particular. As we noted here, with multiple key defensive coaches leaving, establishing a level of continuity with veteran players like McCourty will be key for this group heading into 2019. Without Flores, Boyer and Daly on the coaching staff, McCourty’s steady leadership and veteran savvy should help keep things moving in the right direction. It’s a win for New England. At the same time, we’ll hit on the same theme we did late in the year and into the playoffs — the Patriots have to get younger at the safety position this offseason. McCourty and Patrick Chung will both be 32 before the start of the 2019 regular season, while Duron Harmon is 28. They’ve all played a lot of football, and while they remain a sizable part of New England’s success, the Patriots have to address the position in this year’s draft. They do have Obi Melifonwu as a possible infusion of youth this offseason, but I still wouldn’t be shocked to see the Patriots use a pick on a safety in the first two days of the draft.

4. One of the guys who really impressed us on and off the field down the stretch and into the postseason was linebacker/special teamer, Albert McClellan. The canny veteran joined the Patriots roughly midway through the year and immediately delivered a special teams jolt, with one blocked punt and another deflection. It wasn’t the only reason, but it wasn’t completely coincidental the Patriots’ punt coverage units got better after the arrival of McClellan. He blocked one punt, deflected another and came away with a botched punt return (in the playoff win over the Chargers). In all, in the first nine regular-season games this year, the Patriots allowed nearly 13 yards per punt return. In the seven games McClellan played in, that was nearly cut in half. Again, not the only reason, but not a coincidence. He’s heading into next month as a free agent, but a source close to McClellan says while there’s been no movement yet on a new deal, he’d welcome a return to the Patriots for 2019.