Josh McDaniels: Patriots' 9 Winners & Losers

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Post on Jan 22, 2025

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Josh McDaniels: Patriots' 9 Winners & Losers from His Second Stint

Josh McDaniels' second tenure as the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator has concluded, leaving behind a mixed bag of successes and failures. While the team experienced moments of offensive brilliance, inconsistencies and ultimately, a disappointing season, cast a shadow over the year. Let's analyze nine key figures who were either significantly helped or hindered by McDaniels' play-calling and coaching strategies in 2023.

The Winners

1. Mac Jones: While not reaching superstar status, Jones arguably benefited from McDaniels’ return. After a shaky 2022, Jones saw a more tailored offensive scheme designed to leverage his strengths – accuracy and quick decision-making – rather than pushing him into a system beyond his capabilities. This focused approach undoubtedly contributed to his improved performance in certain games, showcasing a degree of consistency that was lacking previously.

2. Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson emerged as a true workhorse back, benefiting greatly from McDaniels' emphasis on the running game. McDaniels designed plays that perfectly utilized Stevenson's powerful running style, allowing him to rack up significant rushing yards and touchdowns. This consistent involvement solidified Stevenson's status as a key offensive weapon and a potential long-term asset for the Patriots.

3. Kendrick Bourne: After a largely disappointing 2022, Bourne saw a resurgence under McDaniels. The offensive coordinator clearly recognized Bourne's talent and utilized him more effectively within the scheme. Increased targets and a more defined role resulted in improved statistics and a revitalized contribution to the offense.

4. The Offensive Line (selectively): While the line struggled as a unit at times, certain linemen thrived under McDaniels’ coaching. Specific players likely saw an improvement in their technique or understanding of the offensive schemes, although this advantage wasn’t universal across the entire offensive line. Individual player success stories need further investigation to specify who benefitted the most.

The Losers

5. Bailey Zappe: Zappe's promising preseason performance seemed to fade into obscurity once the regular season began. The opportunity for significant playing time dwindled, hindering his development and showcasing the clear preference for Jones within the coaching staff’s plans.

6. Jakobi Meyers: While Meyers’ departure might have been planned before the season, the overall lack of consistent production from the receiving corps, despite improvements in some players, can partly be attributed to the offensive struggles that impacted every receiver to some degree.

7. The Entire Wide Receiver Corps (overall): The Patriots' wide receiver room consistently underperformed. This wasn't solely McDaniels' fault, but his play-calling and scheme arguably failed to consistently create opportunities for big plays through the air. The failure to establish a dominant receiving threat significantly hampered the overall offensive production.

8. Bill Belichick (in terms of Offensive Success): Ultimately, the inconsistency of the Patriots' offense falls partly on the head coach. While Belichick holds ultimate responsibility, the failure to establish a consistently high-performing offense significantly impacted the team's overall success and placed considerable pressure on the defense.

9. Patriots Fans: Let's be honest, the overall inconsistency and the team's failure to make a significant playoff push left many fans frustrated. While there were highlights, the overall performance did not meet the expectations of a franchise with its history and tradition.

Conclusion

Josh McDaniels' second stint as Patriots offensive coordinator resulted in a mixed bag. While some players thrived and showed significant improvement, others were seemingly left behind, highlighting the inconsistencies and ultimately, the unfulfilled potential of the offense. The success of next season’s offense will depend on addressing these imbalances and establishing a more potent and consistent attack. Only time will tell if the lessons learned during this past season are incorporated in a way that leads to significant improvements in the future.