With the Patriots a hot mess, the echoes are getting louder and louder that the team should move on from head coach Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt after the season. While it would be a somewhat questionable move to give up on a head coach after just one season, Sunday's pathetic loss to the Cardinals in Arizona further illustrates that the Krafts need to take a long look in the mirror this offseason.
Van Pelt's play-calling has been vanilla at best, and while it's certain the Patriots want to avoid the merry-go-around of offensive coordinators that Mac Jones had to deal with (three in his three seasons in New England), cleaning house at the top may not be the worst idea.
When it comes to leading the offense, perhaps the Patriots should look no further than a man with ties to New England who has done a masterful job in Tampa Bay.
I'm talking about Buccaneers' offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
Under-the-radar candidate would be a solid choice to be the Patriots OC in 2025
Coen came to Tampa Bay this season after a year at the University of Kentucky, and has been one of the essential factors in the resurrection of Baker Mayfield's career.
Coen is also a Rhode Island native who owns multiple passing records at the University of Massachusetts. He cut his coaching teeth at Brown University as their quarterbacks coach before returning to his alma mater in the same role. After two years at UMass, Coen was the offensive coordinator at the University of Maine from 2016-2018 before the Los Angeles Rams offered him a job coaching the wide receivers.
As a Mainer and a follower of UMaine sports, I can say without hesitation that the people of Pine Tree State loved Coen when he coached at the school. The offense that Coen designed was essential in the Black Bears advancing to the FCS Semifinals in 2018, the program's deepest playoff run.
Coen is only 39 years old, and it would make a lot of sense for Drake Maye and the Patriots if the team wanted to move on from Mayo and Van Pelt, especially if the team decides to pursue Mike Vrabel for the head coaching role.
Coen is sharp and developed talented wide receivers like Cooper Kupp during his time in Los Angeles and would be the ideal fit for the young wideouts in New England.
It would certainly take a lot for the Patriots to poach Coen from Tampa Bay, but given his offensive brilliance and his ties to New England, it's a phone call the Krafts need to make this offseason should things change within the coaching staff.