Matt Patricia has a believer in ex-Patriot Brandon Meriweather

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Former New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher and Rich live in the studio on Monday morning to talk football. In one of the key topics of the interview, Meriweather gave his thoughts on Patriots Senior Football Adviser Matt Patricia coaching the offense in his return to New England. Patricia seems like a leading candidate to call plays on offense, a position that appears yet to be filled.

“Out of the coaches, I would pick Matt,” Meriweather said, when asked who he’d pick on the current staff to be the de facto offensive coordinator.

Meriweather was also asked about Patricia’s infamous failed head coaching stint with the Detroit Lions, and whether that could have any negative effect on him as an offensive coordinator in New England.

“[Patricia] screwed up with the players, not necessarily the game plan and the coaching,” Meriweather said. “He can’t screw up with the players in New England because of Bill [Belichick].”

Mar 16, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and senior advisor Matt Patricia watch during Georgia Pro Day at William Porter Payne and Porter Otis Payne Indoor Athletic Facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The offensive play-calling for the 2022 Patriots appears to be down to two candidates: Patricia, who has mainly been working with the offensive line in off-season workouts; and Joe Judge, who also returned to Belichick’s staff, also after a disappointing head coaching stint after helming the New York Giants.

Meriweather might be slightly biased, having actually played in the Patriots’ secondary from 2007-10. Patricia was the linebackers coach during the time, then coached safeties in 2011 before becoming defensive coordinator in 2012.

Patricia’s role is raising eyebrows because he’s known more for his defensive coaching experience. He was an offensive graduate assistant at Syracuse from 2001-03, then started in New England as an offensive assistant and an assistant offensive line coach from 2004-05, before shifting to defense. He also played offensive line in college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

Even though Meriweather said he thinks Patricia is the best choice among the current assistants, he still admitted he doesn’t know whether he’ll be a good offensive coach at the NFL level.

Patricia has more background than most think on the offensive side of the ball. But if he does end up becoming the Patriots’ de facto offensive coordinator this season, it is still a role that is completely different from anything he’s done in his NFL coaching career.

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