Patriots Power Play: Why the Krafts, Vrabel, and McDaniels Could Be the Perfect Trio for a Post-Belichick Era
This is best case scenario for the position the franchise is in. They got the best head coaching candidate available this year. They got the most experienced and accomplished office coordinator available this year.
Yeah, it's a little murky behind the scenes with the motives because we don't totally trust the Krafts right now. But, the last time they brought McDaniels back it worked and Vrabel has wanted to be here since last season.
Is it so bad if the crafts had a hand in bringing Josh McDaniel's back?
Answer: How big of a hand? We talk in under the giant or Dr. Big Mac pudgy digits?
I just can't fathom a scenario where Robert Kraft and Johnny Kraft forced Josh McDaniels down Mike Vrabel’s throat. Vrabel is a guy who was considered the best coaching candidate on the market this year. He had options. If he did not like the idea of not being able to pick his own offensive coordinator I find it very hard to believe he would accept the position as head coach. Now, it is plausible that the Kraft's offered McDaniels as the option. It’s just how heavy handed was the offer? We know they still have close ties. We know McDaniels still lives in the area. Could there been a scenario in the interview process where it was presented to Vrabel that McDaniels is a very real option for them and ownership likes that idea, but inevitably it's your call Mike? I think that's realistic and I'd hope that it’s somewhere in the ballpark of how this went down.
Vrabel as a coach is the best we could get. But he's not Belichick from the personnel or front office side of things. He doesn't have a resume that warrants handing the entire building over to him. Belichick didn't even get that early on. A Ben Johnson hire would have come with a ton of trepidation and unknown. All we would be bitching about right now is the stupid wide receiver pass, and how he's probably gonna fuck up Drake Maye. Instead we’re mad the Patriots landed the best HC and OC available this off season.
This coaching situation is the closest thing to a Belichick succession plan the Kraft could ask for. It’s the best we could ask for. They called it a home run last year right before they handed the keys to the interim head coach Mayo. Belichick and Brady had the greatest run in the history of sports. Don’t let recency bias dismay you from idea that continuing core principles of their success is bad just because the names are familiar. This is good. But, none of it will matter with out talent. You found the right coaches Kraft, now open up the wallet.