McDaniels to Denver

This morning, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is flying high, a mile high specifically.  Last night, Josh McDaniels reached an agreement with the Denver Broncos to become their next head coach.

The loss of McDaniels will really hurt.  He may have been the best coordinator in team history.  One example was the way he brought on Matt Cassel.  He made the right calls at the right time and really helped develop him.  He also called some fantastic games.  Week 17 for example, in “the vortex,” McDaniels chose the exact right times to throw, run, etc.  The play action fullback throws and the designed quarterback runs were some of the best play calls I’ve seen in a long time.

Still, the Patriots will move on.  But the question is, with who?  My guess is that the Patriots will go in-house, and that they will go with Special Assistant/Wide Receivers coach Bill O’Brien.  At the college ranks, O’Brien has worked as an offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and receivers coach.  Another candidate looks to be Pete Mangurian.  Mangurian is currently tight ends coach, but was offensive coordinator of the Falcons in 2003 and head coach of Cornell from 1999-2001.    Two other assistants are Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Dante Scarnecchia and running backs coach Ivan Fears.  Fears has been a running backs and receivers throughout his career and has been with the Patriots for a while, so he could get a little consideration.  Scarnecchia is the longest tenured Patriots coach and has been around for all six Super Bowls.  He has coached tight ends and offensive line (and even some defense), but I think he is pretty settled in his current role.