The New England Patriots have hit a milestone in their post-Belichick era with the recent appointment of Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator.
The man responsible for this game-changing move, the new Patriots’ coach, Jerod Mayo, opens up about the qualities that drew him to Van Pelt, setting the agenda for what’s to come under this new leadership.
New Patriots coach Jerod Mayo talks about the qualities that drew him to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. https://t.co/h3Ggb40vEu
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 22, 2024
Without delving into the circumstances surrounding Van Pelt’s mysterious exit from the Browns, Mayo expressed his utmost confidence in Van Pelt’s prowess.
“I don’t want to get into what happened at Cleveland,” Mayo carefully mentioned, assuring reporters that his selection process was well-informed.
Mayo’s sources, many of whom are seasoned players in the game, all touted Van Pelt highly. Drawing on these influential inputs, the coach explained, “All the people that I talk to, they speak very highly of AVP.”
Mayo pinpointed two qualities that make Van Pelt the perfect match for the Patriots right now:
his understanding of the game’s tactics and his ability to develop new talent. “Obviously, he understands the X’s and O’s with the guys on the field, they’ve got to know that you care about them. One thing about AVP, which you guys will see here shortly, he is a people person, but also has an extensive knowledge of football.”Mayo hinted.
Mayo’s aspirations for the team under Van Pelt’s leadership involve more than just strategic wins.
“I’m expecting, first and foremost, a tough team,” Mayo remarked candidly. “I think after that, it really gets into smart players.” You don’t have to be a genius, but you have to be smart enough, and really, explosive players and guys that really play for one another. We want to check our egos. Even from a coaching staff, I say it’s an ego-free zone. Once we get the coaches on that same page, we hope that the players will follow suit and go out there and play for one another.”
A particular aspect that Mayo appreciates in Van Pelt’s approach to designing NFL offenses is his creative versatility.
“The one thing I would say about AVP is that he can make the same concept look a bunch of different ways,” Mayo noted. “That’s always hard for us on the defensive side of the ball. Really, it depends on the players that we have and the flexibility that he has as far as scheme is concerned. He’s been cross-trained on multiple teams, and I think that experience and that philosophy is going to do us well in the future.”
Van Pelt, who started as an eighth-round draft pick from Pitt in 1993, has built a wide coaching portfolio spanning the Bills, Buccaneers, Packers, Bengals, and Browns.
Despite the sudden dismissal by the Browns following the 2023 playoffs, Mayo stands firm in his decision to leverage Van Pelt’s multi-layered expertise for the Patriots.
