New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien may have been one of the most important moves of the 2023 offseason. Pro Football Focus has him ranked at No. 3 on their list of top-10 offensive coordinators.
O’Brien rejoins New England after last coaching with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He has an opportunity to right the offensive ship, led by quarterback Mac Jones. He also has the luxury of running an offense with two capable tight ends in Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki.
The pieces are there for both O’Brien and the New England offense to succeed in 2023. The two tight ends could play a huge role in everything. Gesicki has a chance to carve out a key receiving role in the offense, while Henry continues to serve as a security blanket for Jones. Meanwhile, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster could provide a spark for the team as well.
All in all, O’Brien’s experience in addition to New England’s new weapons could be a recipe for success.
PFF’s Sam Monson wrote:
Bill O’Brien the coach is excellent. He was undone somewhat by Bill O’Brien the personnel man, and so his tenure in Houston is, perhaps, unfairly remembered, but the Patriots secured a major upgrade at offensive coordinator this offseason. O’Brien has had success in the NFL in multiple stops, including New England, and was coaching an outstanding Alabama offense in college before his return to the professional ranks.
While the perception about O’Brien right now may be unfairly tainted by his stint as a head coach, it’s possible that it gets overly inflated this season by virtue of how good he might look in comparison to the disastrous plan that went before him. Either way, in a league low on proven commodities, O’Brien deserves a high ranking.
O’Brien’s past success with New England as well as his time with Alabama should help him run a modern, revitalized offense. The unit will certainly be put to the test with a difficult regular season schedule ahead, along with a third-year quarterback that still needs to prove himself.
