The Patriots suffered another self-inflicted wound on their coaching staff as Nick Caley, the longest-tenured offensive coach, departed to the Rams in a lateral move to be Sean McVay's tight ends coach.
But they also picked up a new offensive line coach, as Oregon Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator Adrian Klemm is reportedly joining the staff. He's expected to get a raise from his nearly $900,000 contract at Oregon. Klemm was Bill Belichick's first-ever draft choice with the Patriots in 2000.
Hopefully Klemm's hiring can provide some stability with the offensive line coaching for the Patriots. They've basically been in turmoil since Dante Scarnecchia's first retirement after the 2013 season.
2014-15: Dave DeGuglielmo
2016-19: Dante Scarnecchia
2020: Carm Bricillo/Cole Popovich
2021: Bricillo
2022: Matt Patricia/Billy Yates
Klemm has lasted one season in his previous two jobs (Steelers 2021, Oregon 2022). The Patriots also interviewed former guard Ryan Wendell. It's not known what input, if any, new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien had on Klemm's hiring. They have no known connection previously.
With Klemm's addition, both of Patricia's jobs in 2022 (playcaller, offensive line) have now gone to others, leaving his place in the organization up in the air. Joe Judge is expected to have a role on the coaching staff in 2023. He was on the offensive side at the Shrine Bowl.
Caley, who joined New England in 2015, was the Patriots' TE coach for six seasons. The Patriots now have zero offensive coaches from the 2019 staff. It's been a complete rebuild of the offensive staff since then.
Caley, who had one year left on his deal, was blocked by Belichick from joining Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas, and did not sign a contract extension when Belichick declined to clarify Caley's role for the 2022 season. It was believed that Caley could have done the job as playcaller/offensive coordinator but that never came to fruition, as Belichick elected to install Patricia and Judge in offensive power roles and passed over Caley. It was just a matter of time before Caley left for another opportunity after that.
Will Lawing, who has been with O'Brien at Penn State, Houston and Alabama, is expected to fill Caley's role.
Klemm is coming off a great first season in Oregon, where his Ducks ranked first in the country with just five sacks allowed in 13 games (Oregon was 21st in 2021). It should also be pointed out that among the top 17 offenses in fewest sacks allowed, four reside in the Pac-12, which is not exactly known for its stifling defense.
Former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz is an Oregon product and follows the Ducks closely. He was impressed with the job Klemm did this season in Eugene.
"I think he’s a good coach," Schwartz said. "He’s very good at Xs and Os. He’s a Patriots guy. He will do a good job there. Oregon was very good last season."
The Patriots enjoyed good success with Bricillo after came straight out of the college ranks (Youngstown State, 2010-18). Perhaps the Patriots going with a coach that has done his best work with college players is a sign they will continue to go young on an offensive line that could possibly have two new starting tackles this season.
RG Mike Onwenu and LG Cole Strange will be 25 this season. Center David Andrews (31) is coming off one of his best seasons and is signed through 2024. The Patriots have a vacancy at one tackle spot, and Trent Brown (30) has one year left on his deal, which could easily be moved.
In offensive line circles, Klemm is known as a good recruiter and a good coach of college-aged players. His resume, however, leaves much to prove at the NFL level where he didn't even last a full season as Mike Tomlin's offensive line coach with the Steelers in 2021.
Klemm was an assistant line coach for the Steelers in 2019-20 and was promoted to the head job after Tomlin parted ways with Shaun Sarrett. Tomlin announced Klemm was leaving for Oregon after a Week 16 loss to the Chiefs dropped Pittsburgh to 7-7-1. They won their final two games under interim line coach Chris Morgan to make the postseason. In the press conference, Tomlin said all the right things in regard to Klemm's departure:
"We released a statement yesterday regarding Adrian Klemm and his departure to go to Oregon. Let me start by saying I’m so appreciative of his efforts. The landscape that is coaching is changing each and every year. We see it; decisions are being made earlier in the processes. Colleges, the processes are happening faster, people are making hires and so forth.
“The financial component in our business is making college football much more competitive. So, we’re all getting faced with challenges that we really weren’t faced with in the past. We made the decision; I made the decision to allow Klemm to move on to Oregon. It provides tremendous clarity for us as we zero in on the last component of this season.
“Also, I think the move also eliminates the potential of any questions regarding distractions and so forth and let me be clear. I had no reservations about Klemm’s commitment and his willingness to work in detail, but it’s the potential perception that you want to combat, whether it’s inside or outside. We want to eliminate any potential questions that may occur in that regard, even before they develop.
“He and I have been in conversation dating back to last week or so regarding the potential of that. He did an awesome job of being professional and communicating. But at the same time, he also displayed unwavering commitment, so I didn’t have any concerns as it pertains to Adrian.
“It’s really as I outlined. I think it’s a real good opportunity for me to gain some exposure and the potential of C-Mo because he’ll be a candidate for the job, and what better way to see what he’s capable of than to allow him to do the job for the remaining portions of the season. I wanted to potentially alleviate any questions, whether inside or outside, about whether we’re circling the wagons, and everybody is zeroed in on this opportunity, and again, I’ll state I had no reservations about that, and that’s why I said perceptions.”
But according to two Steelers sources, Tomlin put a more positive spin on Klemm's departure — which is standard for Tomlin's outstanding professionalism. The reality was a bit different.
"He checked out on them about midway through the season," one source said. "Started looking for another job before the season was even close to over. Tomlin found out about it and told him if he wanted out so bad, he could leave right away."
To be fair, the Steelers have had some line coaching turmoil themselves. Morgan left for the Bears after the season, and Pat Meyer did a nice job this season.
"Emphasized them getting 'tougher and more physical' but neither happened," another source said. "The OL this year was better prepared to do that, 'and be coordinated.' Though, being fair to him, he didn’t have much to work with.
"The players there wasn't much worry (about Klemm). He saw the writing on the wall and bolted for more money at Oregon. Pat Meyer fixed a lot of the problems this year that persisted all last year."
While at UCLA (2012-16), Klemm's room only produced three drafted players, the highest being Xavier Su'a-Filo, the 33rd overall pick in 2014, who was by far his most decorated player.
It's puzzling to me why Klemm's Oregon bio does not tout Raiders LT Kolton Miller as a Klemm player (colleges love to show prospects that coaches developed NFL players). He entered UCLA in 2014 under Klemm and started games in '15 and '16. Miller really took a leap in '17 (after Klemm left for Steelers) when he was second-team all-Pac 12 and was the 15th overall pick in the '18 draft.
The other players Klemm produced for the NFL in college is a bit underwhelming:
2012
Jeff Baca, G/C, 6th round Vikings: Played 4 games in NFL.
2014
Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, 2nd round Texans (33rd overall in O'Brien's first draft): Was routinely one of the worst guards in the league. His PFF was below 60 five of his eight seasons, with 67 the highest. Out of the NFL last season.
2016
Caleb Benenoch, G, 5th round Bucs: Has bounced around eight teams, including two stints with the Patriots. Was not on an active roster in 2020 or 2022. Has played 2 games since 2018.
Also coached
C Scott Quessenberry (2018 5th round, Chargers): Started 10 games in 4 seasons for LA before starting 16 for Houston this past season.
OT Conor McDermott (2017 6th round, Patriots): Released by Patriots as rookie, bounced around most of the AFC East with 12 career starts, including 6 this last season for New England.
C Jake Brendel (2016 undrafted): Started 3 games his first four seasons (three with Miami) before starting all 17 for 49ers this season.
G Alex Redmond (2016 undrafted): Spent first 4 seasons with Bengals before signing to Patriots practice squad in 2021. Not on a team in 2022.
OT Kelvin Beachum (2015 7th round): Produced by Klemm at SMU. Undersized tackle has had a long, successful career.
