The New England Patriots are not only starting a new season but beginning a new era in Foxborough, Massachusetts. This season will be the first time in twenty-four years that former head coach Bill Belichick will not be walking the sidelines of Gillette Stadium. After six championships and three “Coach of the Year” awards, the Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, felt it was best to move in a new direction.
The Patriots hired former player Jerod Mayo as the franchise’s new head coach. Mayo spent eight seasons as a player for the Patriots from 2008 to 2015 winning a championship along the way. After retiring as a player, Mayo served on the Patriots coaching staff from 2019 to the present day. Jerod Mayo hopes to build a new culture in Foxborough due to morals being low from the last regime.
The Patriots offense will have a new signal caller at quarterback this upcoming season. Former first round pick and starting quarterback, Mac Jones was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this offseason. The Patriots selected quarterback Drake Maye, with the third overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Maye, a raw prospect from the University of North Carolina, has the opportunity to become this franchise’s next star quarterback. Jacoby Brissett, a veteran quarterback brought in to compete with Maye, has been named the starter for the time being.
The New England Patriots offense will look a bit different this upcoming season as new offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, will be calling the plays. Van Pelt, most recently with the Cleveland Browns in the same position, has spent time with several NFL teams. Van Pelt was fired by the Browns after four seasons as the offensive coordinator. Van Pelt will have full control over his offense with Mayo having a defensive background.
New England Patriots DeMario Douglas Might Not Fit in New Offense
DeMario Douglas, one of the few bright spots for the Patriots, could find himself losing snaps in Alex Van Pelt’s offense. According to the Chad Graff of the Athletic, “uncertainty about how he’ll (Douglas) fit into a scheme like Alex Van Pelt’s that utilizes more downfield passing and jumbo packages.”
Graff also stated, “Van Pelt’s offense doesn’t utilize three-wide-receiver sets as much as other teams, meaning the Patriots are likely to often have just two receivers on the field. It’s still unclear if coaches think Douglas is good enough to be one of those two receivers (as something more than a pure slot option).”
Alex Van Pelt, in the past, likes to call downfield passing sets which generally needs wide receivers with size. Douglas is a smaller wide out at 5’8″ and 192 pounds. It is unclear what the New England Patriots are going to do with DeMario Douglas as it’s too early to tell. If Douglas can transition to a more outside role, he should still see favorable playing time. Douglas is a talented receiver that under the right circumstances, could blossom into a star in this league.
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