Alex Van Pelt Faces a Tough Campaign in His Bid to Be Re-Elected OC of the Patriots

Last winter, when Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf went through a whole process of speed-dating offensive coordinator candidates and finally chose Alex Van Pelt, his job description was pretty straight forward. Develop the quarterback they were going to draft with the No. 3 pick and turn him into a legit NFL starter. While it didn't exactly qualify as a "You had ONE JOB" situation because there were other priorities as well, that was the Prime Directive. Give Drake Maye the the job training to be the long term solution the Patriots need at the position. What Charlie Weis was in 2001, as opposed to what his predecessors were the last two seasons. Do that and everything else will fall into place eventually. 

Which begs the question of whether Van Pelt will be here when that eventuality happens. Because his offense hasn't exactly been putting Matt Patricia's to shame. And is only a field goal per game ahead of Bill O'Brien's, which was worst in the league:

So it was a shock to absolutely no one when it was reported that the Krafts have been keeping their coaching options open:

After watching Mac Jones go from impressive rookie who was a Week 15 226-yard, 3 touchdown game from Ja'Marr Chase away from being Offensive Rookie of the Year to quivering, abused, rescue animal out of a Sarah McLachlan ad who couldn't tell an open receiver from triple coverage, it's only natural they'd never let that happen again. They're going to do their due diligence this time around, the feelings of the staff they've hired be damned. 

The thing about that is, Jerod Mayo says no such search has taken place:

WEEI - Greg Hill began to ask, “There were some reports this week that the organization was calling around, asking for the best way to develop a young quarterback, is that -”

        

Before Greg could finish his question, the first-year head coach cut him off.

        

“Yet we sit here and say, ‘He’s developing at a good trajectory.' … So, like, all those reports are false.”

        

“They’re all false?” clarified Greg.

        

“They’re all false,” Mayo responded abruptly. “None of those reports are true.”

Now, if I'm someone who's emotionally invested in the Patriots - oh right, I am - I'm a lot less disturbed about the fact ownership is seeking outside advice about how to handle Maye's development than I am that either:

A) They're not, but someone is leaking false reports saying they are. Or:

2) They are, but head coach doesn't know about it.

But such is life in the Post-Belichick Era. There's going to be this kind of crosstalk going on for the foreseeable future because the guy who was the best there ever was at silencing such chatter and keeping the whole organization singing out of the same songbook is now grabassing with the Manning brothers and watching Bridgerton with his girlfriend. (Presumably.)  This is going to be our new reality. And Mayo's.

Still, it's notable that the same NFL insider who reported about the Kraft's doing their research also says AVP is getting praise around the league for how he's brought Maye along:

NBC Sports Boston - Defensive coaches for the Patriots' last two opponents -- the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears -- shared their thoughts on Van Pelt and the Pats offense in conversations with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

"This is from a Titans coach, defensive side of the ball," Breer said on Sunday's Patriots Pregame Live.

"'The offense is similar to the Browns' with Baker Mayfield and Jacoby Brissett, which is where AVP was. Not as much what they were doing with Deshaun Watson. Run the ball, a lot of quick game, creating easy throws and quick reads for the quarterback …  to give Drake a clear picture of ways to get the ball out fast.

"'The tight ends are solid, the backs are good, but the line and receivers aren't good, which limits them. So AVP is making it as simple as he can for the rookie.' " …

"Here's a Bears coach," Breer added. "'AVP does a good job of keeping the quarterback out of third and long. Not a complicated offense in terms of personnel grouping, motions, or shifts. …  So I think keeping the picture clear for the quarterback really helps Drake out. The juice ain't worth the squeeze sometimes.'

"So again, AVP is a respected guy across the NFL, and those are defensive coaches from the last two teams they played who really think that Van Pelt's done a good job of getting Drake up and running and putting him in a position to succeed early in his career."

Which again, is in keeping with every priority that was set when AVP was hired and Maye was drafted. Sure, it would be great to see the offensive line be able to protect him. To open holes for Rhamondre Stevenson gap runs and have him up there with Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry instead of 44th in YPA (3.3). To develop a young group of wideouts instead of watching Ja'Lynn Polk climbing on board the express train to Bust Town and Javon Baker be a total non-factor. And who knows, even outscoring an opponent once in a while might be nice. But if none of those things happen but Maye comes out of this season as an established, competent NFL quarterback who gives us a bright future, then Van Pelt will have done what he was hired to do. 

So where do I come down on this? My opinion is exactly the same as whatever Drake Maye's is. He's the one who decides. Especially after the Mac Jones-Matt Patricia debacle. If I'm one of the Krafts (and if RKK signs the adoption papers I keep sending, I will be) I'm having a private meeting with Maye at the end of the season and asking him if he'd rather keep working with AVP or somebody else. And if it's the latter, I'm getting Somebody Else's agent on the phone and asking how many zeros he wants on his contract. 

All season, Maye has been in one frame of mind with regards to Van Pelt, and it's been all positivity all the time. From early in camp when he said AVP was installing plays he was already familiar with from his time at UNC to this week:

For now, that'll do. If we learned anything a couple of Tuesdays ago, it's that celebrity endorsements are super duper important to the American people. And I'm not willing to throw my celebrity support entirely behind Alex Van Pelt until we see how Maye - and to a lesser extent, everyone he's surrounded with - look over the next seven weeks, plus a bye. If we see continued improvement, great. If not, I'm perfectly willing to find another candidate. But ultimately, the only opinion that will really count will be the quarterback's. 

My name is Old Balls Thornton, and I approve this message.