Patriots fans and players want to see changes after this season, and multiple reports lean toward an offensive change.
Alex Van Pelt was hired as New England offensive coordinator and took on play-calling duties for the first time in his career. The 54-year-old’s tenure was a disaster but so has nearly everything else for the Patriots.
Head coach Jerod Mayo’s job seems safe. However, Van Pelt could be the one who takes the blame for another terrible season.
That could be a shocking change for the locker room as it was for the Browns. ESPN on Thursday released a feature on what went wrong for Cleveland this season and part of that was Ken Dorsey replacing Van Pelt as offensive coordinator.
“Amid the QB shuffle, another critical change received less national attention — the switch from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt to Ken Dorsey, a move that was curious to people both inside the building and out,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Daniel Oyefusi wrote.
An ex-Stefanski aide told ESPN it was a head-scratching move given how bought in Van Pelt was in Stefanski’s system and the success they brought to the Browns. The Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi noted the decision to move on from Van Pelt was not Stefanski’s and reiterated that it was “universally panned” by those in the organization and outside.
“Multiple Browns players told ESPN they were surprised by the decision to part ways with Van Pelt, which came four days after their season ended in Houston, while conceding the normal nature of NFL staff turnover from year to year,” Fowler and Oyefusi wrote.
Van Pelt admitted Thursday that the decision on his future is out of his hands and that it’s the nature of the NFL. However, it’s clear from hearing Patriots players this season that Van Pelt commands a lot of respect despite the lack of results. Drake Maye especially stood up for his offensive coordinator and credited him for his development.
While it might feel good for fans to see Van Pelt get fired, it might not be a popular move with the players and the team’s franchise star.
