Bill O’Brien named Patriots OC

PayrodsFirstClutchHit

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I assume organizations think they're both the same very good football minds that made them hot head coaching prospects a couple years ago and there are lots of jobs they could get--just not head coaching jobs any time soon, and likely not positions on the offensive side of the ball either. But would an Arizona or Tennessee take them as a defensive secondary coach and a special teams coach? You've got to think the answer is yes, don't you?
They have both taken another negative reputation shot this past season, but both can likely find work. Just not sure either one of them wants to keep moving back down the coaching ladder to the assistant level hoping for a new NFL opportunity.

Didn’t know what either one of them has for college level chances for redemption at coaching or coordinator levels.
 

lexrageorge

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Not surprised. Part of me was curious if Bill was going to go outside his comfort zone a bit and hire one of the younger candidates. But there is going to be a lot of scrutiny in this hire, both by the Krafts and the fanbase, so understandable why Bill would chose the more familiar option.

Now time to assemble the rest of the staff and upgrade some key positions.

Finally, with regards to Patricia's and Judge's respective futures, feel free to look around and explore Eric Mangini's and Rod Marinelli's history after they had equally disastrous (or worse) head coaching tenures than either Matt or Joe. There will be NFL opportunities for both if they end up leaving New England.
 

sodenj5

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Bill O’B is an excellent coach and a terrible GM/football czar. This is a massive upgrade over Matt Patricia.

My curiosity is if he’s returning to New England to throw his hat into the Successor of Belichick ring.
 

BigJimEd

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Not super excited but should be a nice upgrade. Safest among the candidates out there who all had question marks.

As others mentioned, will be interesting to see how O'Brien fills out his staff. I'm hoping for a separate QB coach but won't be surprised if OB does that himself.
 

streeter88

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Very exciting but incomplete news. It’s the middle of the night here so I’m thinking it’s a fever dream. There are more shoes to drop with Patricia / Judge - back to sleep.
 

BaseballJones

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If Patricia/Judge graded out as like a 3 out of 10 (they weren't a 1, but no higher than a 3 or 4 at BEST), and O'Brien grades out as a 7 out of 10, that's still a massive, massive upgrade for the offense. They don't need O'Brien to be GREAT in order for him to be a huge improvement for the organization.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Bill O’B is an excellent coach and a terrible GM/football czar. This is a massive upgrade over Matt Patricia.

My curiosity is if he’s returning to New England to throw his hat into the Successor of Belichick ring.
I think he wants to be an NFL HC again, and get back in the NFL generally, and this job is his best bet to further those goals. I don’t think shooting for the Belichick successor mantle specifically is top of mind - these guys have no idea when Bill will retire.
 

sodenj5

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I think he wants to be an NFL HC again, and get back in the NFL generally, and this job is his best bet to further those goals. I don’t think shooting for the Belichick successor mantle specifically is top of mind - these guys have no idea when Bill will retire.
I mean, probably within the next 5 years, no? It’s no guarantee, but Bill can’t be going too much further.

Would I ride out 4-5 years of OC duties to take over the Patriots? For sure.
 

Mystic Merlin

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I mean, probably within the next 5 years, no? It’s no guarantee, but Bill can’t be going too much further.

Would I ride out 4-5 years of OC duties to take over the Patriots? For sure.
He can’t count on getting the job if he stays for half a decade. If he gets a decent HC opportunity elsewhere within a few years, he’s gonna take it.
 

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Harris was long gone by the time BOB arrived at Alabama. There's no relationship there as far as I know. And Harris' situation is about $$$. Rhamondre is terrific, and I think Kevin Harris and Strong showed that they probably can be more than adequate backups. I think Damien Harris will cost too much money, when they can more than adequately fill the RB room with quality for a lot less money. Unless Damien is willing to take a very low salary, I don't see him back at all.
I expect to see D Harris wearing the Cowboys star next season.
 

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Good hire, he's a proven good OC, and he's somebody who has a decent working relationship with both the HC and the QB (likely), so that's a nice bonus. This is the decision time year for Mac likely, and while bringing in someone new and exciting might have been interesting, lot more downside there of them adjusting to being a first time coordinator (not everyone makes the jump cleanly). This way you know what you have around Mac, you have an OC who is very familiar with his strengths and weaknesses, an an OC you know has a long history of NFL success.
 

Granite Sox

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Love the hire. Breer tweeted that Klemm is coming in for a second interview, presumably for OL. Assess comfort level/fit with BOB.

Hope they also pluck Jefferson from AZ for WRs.

Get ready for a draft heavy on E-W Shriners, Senior Bowlers, and SEC players (Bama on offense, LSU, Georgia, et al on defense)...
 
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DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Not a hundred percent following. I do think it's the overwhelming consensus that the offensive coaching wasn't good last year and had to get better this year (either new people or at a minimum major improvement by the old ones) but I also I think a pretty big percentage of this board thinks that Mac Jones is basically a combination of richie rich and greg mcelroy (and sadly with mcelroy's arm talent not RR's) and that even with a good OC Mac will not be the solution. (Of course a lot of posters are in the general camp of "keep trying to get a top 5 QB because an average or above average QB signed to a real contact is death to a franchise" so some of them might think that a pretty good Mac is still not woth signing).
I wasn't entirely clear. I don't know whether Mac is or isn't the solution. Given our draft position, trade capital, other needs, etc., he may very well be the best option available.

My point about BOB was a minor one. And, unusually for me, a hopeful one. BOB seems like a solid pick of a guy with extensive experience. He seems like the kind of pick you make if you believe that the guy who had the job was not doing it well, and not doing it well in a particular way -- that is, the team has gone in a direction that suggests they believe that a steady experienced hand is the best way to go.

Which means what? Well, it could just be that BOB was the best available. But I choose to think of it like this. I might think I'm an expert from watching games on tv about how bad Patricia was and specifically how he was bad. But the team clearly knows all sorts of stuff that I don't. Making this choice leads me to believe the team thinks the players might be ok and that Patricia was broken in a fundamental way. I want to believe that Patricia was horrible, because one coach is easier to replace than players. So, I'm choosing to believe that this specific hiring might be evidence that Patricia was fundamentally broken.

I understand that this is a conclusion many others have already drawn, but we really don't know. Now maybe we know a little more.
 
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Van Everyman

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Bill O’B is an excellent coach and a terrible GM/football czar.
I have to think, at least in part, BOB was Easterby'd. BOB had been a pretty good, if not great, coach to that point:

2014: 9-7
2015: 9-7
2016: 9-7
2017: 4-12
2018: 11-5
2019: 10-6

Then, you have a whole sequence of events that never made any sense -- unsuccessfully tampering with Caserio, canning the GM, elevating BOB to GM, trading Hopkins for Johnson (wasn't the massive Tunsil overpay in there too?). My assumption has always been that Jack was in Cal's ear and forced all of that. Then, the team goes 0-4 in 2020 and he gets canned.
 

Garshaparra

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He can’t count on getting the job if he stays for half a decade. If he gets a decent HC opportunity elsewhere within a few years, he’s gonna take it.
We should be thrilled if BOB gets a HC shot elsewhere, because it naturally means he's succeeded here in NE once again. The descriptions of BOB as "Teapot" by Brady and Hoyer amuses me, but I'll take a guy who knows what he's doing and occasionally yells vs. mumbly Matty.
 

BusRaker

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There could be some nice dual tea-potting with Mac and BOB on the sidelines followed by "I love his fire" at the press conference for sure. Appreciate Bill admitting his mistakes and moving on. Now for special teams
 

DJnVa

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I have to think, at least in part, BOB was Easterby'd. BOB had been a pretty good, if not great, coach to that point:

2014: 9-7
2015: 9-7
2016: 9-7
2017: 4-12
2018: 11-5
2019: 10-6

Then, you have a whole sequence of events that never made any sense -- unsuccessfully tampering with Caserio, canning the GM, elevating BOB to GM, trading Hopkins for Johnson (wasn't the massive Tunsil overpay in there too?). My assumption has always been that Jack was in Cal's ear and forced all of that. Then, the team goes 0-4 in 2020 and he gets canned.
BoB went 9-7 in 2015 with Brian Hoyer getting more QB starts than anyone else on the team. Ryan Mallett was next.

BoB went 9-7 in 2016 with Brock Osweiler getting 14 starts.
 

Joe D Reid

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An extension to the thoughts about how Patricia and Judge will be used now is that the best part of the BOB signing might be that it improves the coaching at several spots by getting guys back in their best positions. Like how adding a true SS can improve your infield defense at multiple positions, even if the SS himself is only league average for that position.*

*No, no particular reason this analogy comes to mind, why do you ask?
 

Van Everyman

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Bedard is predictably insufferable and foot-stomp-y:

After Bill Belichick's exhaustive search that had the circumference of a pencil tied to a 4-foot string — way to get out of your comfort zone, Bill — the Patriots are right back where they started when they were a functioning NFL franchise back at the end of the 2021 season.

Before Belichick completely screwed everything up, including his first-round quarterback.

O'Brien is subbing for Josh McDaniels — which doesn't mean it will go smoothly (more on that in a minute) — the defense will likely be called by Steve Belichick again (unless Belichick is going to totally demote his son) with Jerod Mayo getting a fancy new title, and no one has said anything about Cam Achord. And if Belichick decides not to give the outside noise red meat and keeps MattPatricia (upstairs) and Joe Judge (special teams?) on staff ... how much has really changed?

Not much, of course. Because nothing ever really changes here. That used to be a great sign for the Patriots. A strength. Now? As we watch playoff games that the Patriots get further and further away from winning, it feels like One Patriot Place is an aging, out-of-touch bureaucracy built more to handle yesteryear's problems ... and offenses.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Bedard is predictably insufferable and foot-stomp-y:
If he wants to make a case for Zac Robinson or some other guy then let’s hear it. But ‘they’re new blood’ is not a compelling reason to hire someone as a coordinator, especially when part your thesis is that Bill fucked up the 2022 offensive staff and thereby stunted your young QB’s development. Yeah, definitely the time to take a chance on an inexperienced coach!

I think he’s full of shit.
 

Jnai

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Understanding that he owes us nothing, I wish someone would explain to me what the fuck BB was thinking with Patricia and Judge in the first place.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Not surprised. Part of me was curious if Bill was going to go outside his comfort zone a bit and hire one of the younger candidates. But there is going to be a lot of scrutiny in this hire, both by the Krafts and the fanbase, so understandable why Bill would chose the more familiar option.
Having Mayo in the room (if true) make me suspect that they actually were faithful in their pursuit of other OCs. I think Mayo would have a big opinion about a diversity candidate and I really appreciate that they had him at the table during the interviews. I just think at the end of the day, BOB was the best candidate for the job.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Understanding that he owes us nothing, I wish someone would explain to me what the fuck BB was thinking with Patricia and Judge in the first place.
I actually don't think it's that difficult. He had two guys that were good coaches under him in the past, whom he trusted, that he thought could handle (and grow) on the job. Seems he preferred that last year over a full on OC search. I can't say I blame him for the line of thinking and I don't think the initial decision was all that bad. He's rectified his mistake, this shit happens. It didn't work out, we move on.
 

BaseballJones

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I actually don't think it's that difficult. He had two guys that were good coaches under him in the past, whom he trusted, that he thought could handle (and grow) on the job. Seems he preferred that last year over a full on OC search. I can't say I blame him for the line of thinking and I don't think the initial decision was all that bad. He's rectified his mistake, this shit happens. It didn't work out, we move on.
At least he didn't compound the error by keeping MP/JJ in their roles. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. It's ok - not pleasant, but ok - to make a mistake. The ability to fix the mistake quickly and effectively is a really good quality to have in the leader of your organization, whether it's football or not.
 

Shelterdog

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I actually don't think it's that difficult. He had two guys that were good coaches under him in the past, whom he trusted, that he thought could handle (and grow) on the job. Seems he preferred that last year over a full on OC search. I can't say I blame him for the line of thinking and I don't think the initial decision was all that bad. He's rectified his mistake, this shit happens. It didn't work out, we move on.
Right--plus the remaining offensive staff (Brown, Yates, Sunsari, Douglas, Hughes) were all pretty new and I'll assume BB wanted to have some people who even if they didn't have offensive coaching experience had Patriots-in-system coaching experience/knew how to work with BB which I assume carries some weight with him. (Presumably BB wants a game plan just so -- he wants one that addresses X,Y,Z, and he wants it at this time and he wants to be asked this kind of question and when he says we want to attack the RDE in the run game that means he wants __ old runs, __ new runs, and is thinking about attacking the guy __ times ideally--and Zac Robinson or Adam Gase or whoever wouldn't have as much of a sense of how to scout and gameplan the Pats way as MP and JJ even if they know more offense).

I do wonder if Mac hadn't had the ankle sprain if the team might have gotten to "ok-ish" (they seemed ok-ish to me in Buffalo)a little sooner. Anyhow he did get that injury and they didn't perform so new coaches obviously in order.
 

BigJimEd

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Understanding that he owes us nothing, I wish someone would explain to me what the fuck BB was thinking with Patricia and Judge in the first place.
Belichick has said it several times. People just don't want to hear it. He believes in their football knowledge and felt they could do the job. Simple as that.



I think he’s full of shit.
Yes, Bedard has become a bitter moron whose sole focus is chasing clicks.
 

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Cellar-Door

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If he wants to make a case for Zac Robinson or some other guy then let’s hear it. But ‘they’re new blood’ is not a compelling reason to hire someone as a coordinator, especially when part your thesis is that Bill fucked up the 2022 offensive staff and thereby stunted your young QB’s development. Yeah, definitely the time to take a chance on an inexperienced coach!

I think he’s full of shit.
That would require Bedard to know even a little bit about football, which he doesn't. He's a pure surface level talk radio style hack.
 

RedOctober3829

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Bedard is predictably insufferable and foot-stomp-y:
Bedard's response to this is unbelievable. How much has really changed? What an idiot. What's changed? Oh, I don't know, they have an ACTUAL FUNCTIONING OFFENSIVE MIND at OC now instead of someone who had no idea what they were doing running an offense. They'll have an ACTUAL OL coach if they hire Klemm who only has to focus on coaching the OL instead of being OC and OL coach before that miserably failed. They will have someone who has actually coached QB's before. I usually am OK with stuff Bedard says because there is some sort of logic behind it, but this.....this is moronic.
 

DourDoerr

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Belichick has said it several times. People just don't want to hear it. He believes in their football knowledge and felt they could do the job. Simple as that.
Agreed. When you've got an HC who thinks outside the box, he's going to think outside the box. He did it again and this time it didn't work. Enormous stakes - the seasonal equivalent of not calling a TO in the waning minute of the Seattle Superbowl - but it's little surprise that Belichick once again didn't blink.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Agreed. When you've got an HC who thinks outside the box, he's going to think outside the box. He did it again and this time it didn't work. Enormous stakes - the seasonal equivalent of not calling a TO in the waning minute of the Seattle Superbowl - but it's little surprise that Belichick once again didn't blink.
This. He's not afraid to make hard calls. When you have a coach like that, you have to be prepared to take the bitter with the sweet. Given that the sweet is the sweetest in NFL history, you just have to be ok with it.
 

joe dokes

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Bedard is predictably insufferable and foot-stomp-y:
the defense will likely be called by Steve Belichick again (unless Belichick is going to totally demote his son) with Jerod Mayo getting a fancy new title, and no one has said anything about Cam Achord. And if Belichick decides not to give the outside noise red meat and keeps MattPatricia (upstairs) and Joe Judge (special teams?) on staff ... how much has really changed?

Wait....does Bedard think that young Belichick calling the D in 2022 was a bad thing? Of the "three phases," the defense was the one that was consistently pretty good. Is Bedard pissed because his own son wants to coach the Patriots defense?
 

Cellar-Door

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the defense will likely be called by Steve Belichick again (unless Belichick is going to totally demote his son) with Jerod Mayo getting a fancy new title, and no one has said anything about Cam Achord. And if Belichick decides not to give the outside noise red meat and keeps MattPatricia (upstairs) and Joe Judge (special teams?) on staff ... how much has really changed?

Wait....does Bedard think that young Belichick calling the D in 2022 was a bad thing? Of the "three phases," the defense was the one that was consistently pretty good. Is Bedard pissed because his own son wants to coach the Patriots defense?
Bedard's whole argument is... this team' coaching staff looks like it did at the end of 2021... when it went 10-7 with a rookie QB. And for some reason that is a bad thing.
 

Brand Name

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Color me unimpressed. Better than what we were but this is going from Patricia's USDA Canner beef grade to Standard. Not remotely close to Select or Choice. Forget about Prime.

We want to get Mac averse to play action? Awesome. We want to run plays that are long since antiquated and don't count on presnap motion almost ever? This is the hire. We want no double routes, just linearity in stems? You got it.

Don't get me wrong, this is still an upgrade because last year was truly that bad. And to his credit, BOB was excellent and innovative last time he was here. He just hasn't adapted to today's game and world. It's immensely different on offense in the utilization of offensive weapons than 10 years ago. You can be a dinosaur all you want but don't be shocked when the meteor hits.
 

BaseballJones

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O'Brien coached the Alabama offense to these rankings the past 2 seasons:

2021: #8 in yards gained (488.3), #6 in points scored (39.9)
2022: #11 in yards gained (477.1), #5 in points scored (41.1)

I mean, the guy has led some pretty awesome offenses the past couple of seasons. He's not a dinosaur.
 

DJnVa

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He just hasn't adapted to today's game and world. It's immensely different on offense in the utilization of offensive weapons than 10 years ago.

O'Brien coached the Alabama offense to these rankings the past 2 seasons:

2021: #8 in yards gained (488.3), #6 in points scored (39.9)
2022: #11 in yards gained (477.1), #5 in points scored (41.1)

I mean, the guy has led some pretty awesome offenses the past couple of seasons. He's not a dinosaur.
Additionally, he was a HC in the NFL 3 years ago. And he had an offense in which Deshaun Watson was rushing for 400-500 yards a season--that's what today's game is, no? Seems he was able to adapt to that.

Not disagreeing with you, just wondering what makes you say that?
 

ngruz25

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Man I miss Underwood's fade.
How is it possible that I so fondly remember Tiquan Underwood when his Patriots career amounted to 3 catches on 6 targets for 30 yards and no TDs? It really feels like he had to have done more than that. Maybe it was all the hair and the legendary TB/BoB meltdown clip.
 

Reardon's Beard

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Love that if Mac talks back BOB will rip his fucking head off. Kid needs more of that and less whining. LFG
 

FL4WL3SS

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Now that BoB is onboard, I think the chances of Mac being the starter next year drop from 95% to like 80%. There's a guarantee he'll evaluate all positions and make a recommendation at QB. There's a chance he says "no thanks" and they bring in someone else.
 

DJnVa

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Love that if Mac talks back BOB will rip his fucking head off. Kid needs more of that and less whining. LFG
It's extremely possible that all Mac needs it competency in the play-calling and someone that will yell back at him.
 

tims4wins

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Now that BoB is onboard, I think the chances of Mac being the starter next year drop from 95% to like 80%. There's a guarantee he'll evaluate all positions and make a recommendation at QB. There's a chance he says "no thanks" and they bring in someone else.
Ha, I almost feel the opposite, that they will give it a 100% chance to make it work and evaluate after 2023. This is year 3 so they have to decide on the 5th year option after this year. So I expect them to give it every chance possible.
 

Shelterdog

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Color me unimpressed. Better than what we were but this is going from Patricia's USDA Canner beef grade to Standard. Not remotely close to Select or Choice. Forget about Prime.

We want to get Mac averse to play action? Awesome. We want to run plays that are long since antiquated and don't count on presnap motion almost ever? This is the hire. We want no double routes, just linearity in stems? You got it.

Don't get me wrong, this is still an upgrade because last year was truly that bad. And to his credit, BOB was excellent and innovative last time he was here. He just hasn't adapted to today's game and world. It's immensely different on offense in the utilization of offensive weapons than 10 years ago. You can be a dinosaur all you want but don't be shocked when the meteor hits.
I'm not sure I'm familiar with this terminology, what do you mean by the bolded?
 

FL4WL3SS

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Ha, I almost feel the opposite, that they will give it a 100% chance to make it work and evaluate after 2023. This is year 3 so they have to decide on the 5th year option after this year. So I expect them to give it every chance possible.
They NEED to succeed this year on offense. This was a big deal this offseason, you got your guy. You can't then go fumble through the season again with a guy you're not dedicated to. BoB isn't going to come in blindly accepting Mac and the QB. There's a lot of film on him at this point, he'll look at that film and determine his faults are either fixable or they're not.
 

Reardon's Beard

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It's extremely possible that all Mac needs it competency in the play-calling and someone that will yell back at him.
It is absolutely the case. I've seen this with arrogant yet talented students. The Kings and Queens of Arrogance at that. They plateau early, don't improve, don't understand why, get frustrated by poor results, and act out. Tough love goes a long way. Coupled with better structure and motivation, look out Pro Bowl.