Should the Patriots fire Alex Van Pelt? Why the OC decision is complicated originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
We know there will be changes to the New England Patriots roster in the coming months.
The franchise has no choice after a terrible 2024 NFL season that has resulted in a 3-13 record entering the Week 18 finale on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots are guaranteed to finish with four or fewer wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1967-70.
Free agency, the trade market and the 2025 NFL Draft are periods of vital importance in which the Patriots must make significant improvements to their roster in key positions such as left tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher and cornerback, among others.
But what about the coaching staff? Should the Patriots make substantial changes there as well?
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One coach under scrutiny is offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. The Patriots have the third-lowest scoring offense and rank 30th out of 32 teams in total yards per game. However, rookie quarterback Drake Maye has developed very well under Van Pelt. Maye is the key to the franchise’s short and long-term success. And we’ve seen plenty of quarterbacks have their development negatively affected by coaching changes early in their careers.
Does it make sense to fire Van Pelt? Patriots Insiders Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry discussed this topic in a new episode of NBC Sports Boston. Patriot Talk Podst, with reference to Curran Henry’s vote of confidence in Van Pelt on Wednesday.
“After the press conference with Hunter Henry on Wednesday, I was in the locker room talking to an offensive player, and he basically said the same things Henry was saying and added, ‘The last thing Drake Maye needs is to have to learn a language completely. new offense and a whole new offense with all the progress he’s made in this situation,'” Curran said.
“(Van Pelt) deserves to be on the bench,” Perry said. “Third down performance, red zone performance – you have a good quarterback and you can’t win games with a good quarterback. I understand the personnel everywhere else is really bad. It could be the worst in the league. But “The quarterback play has been pretty good and you still haven’t been able to figure out how to put points on the board.”
Making a trade and not hiring the right OC for Maye could have disastrous consequences for the Patriots. And it’s difficult to make that decision without knowing what potential candidates might be available. Change for the sake of change is not always a good idea.
“He deserves to be scrutinized. Does he deserve to be fired?” Perry said of Van Pelt. “I think what you’re talking about about the consistency of quarterback training itself has to be weighed heavily here, and I think you have to look at your potential options.”
“Because it’s not just a firing and an immediate upgrade with Coordinator the answer to that. “They can’t know either, which makes it difficult for them to know who is available or who is willing to take the job.”
If the Patriots decide to move on from Van Pelt, what kind of coordinator should replace him?
“If you’re going to hire someone to be an offensive mind here, they better have experience, more experience than Alex Van Pelt,” Curran said. “They better know how to develop someone, like (Brian) Daboll, like (Josh) McDaniels.”
Position coaching changes likely make more sense for the Patriots next offseason than an offensive coordinator change.
And to be fair to Van Pelt, he’s not working with much talent here, especially on the offensive line. If the Patriots can make significant improvements to their roster heading into next season and the offensive results are largely the same, then it would be a good idea to find a new offensive coordinator.
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