Bill O'Brien joined head coach Nick Saban's staff in January of 2021 to serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after six-plus years as the head coach of the NFL's Houston Texans. Key has done well for the program, but a report from The Athletic says Bill O'Brien is favored to be the 'top choice' for . ", BILL O'BRIEN FUTURE:Will Bill O'Brien return to Alabama football? However, a top candidate emerged on Tuesday, per The Athletic. The program was not allowed to play in a bowl game during that time due to NCAA sanctions. "Every season is challenging in its own way," O'Brien said. With the NFL coaching carousel still in full swing, a handful of notable names from college football continue to be tied into the hoopla at the next level. Without a crystal ball, no one will know which jobs will be open for hiring next offseason. The wreck was originally classified as a single-vehicle crash. Carter later released a statement saying he intended to return to Athens to answer the charges and to make certain that the complete and accurate truth is presented. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta provided an update on what he called a tough negotiation with franchise quarterback (and potential free agent) Lamar Jackson. Sign up for the Roll Tide Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, 2024 wide receiver Ryan Wingo received an offer from Alabama in February. So, I know a thing or two about adjusting to new coordinators. The times that hes not talking to you, or if hes not yelling at you, thats when youve got to be worried. According to a league source, the Patriots have sent four assistant coaches to work players through positional drills here at the Scouting Combine: Its been an active offseason for the Patriots staff, which coached the winning West squad at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas in February. O'Brien and . The former head coach of the Houston Texans and Penn State Nittany Lions didnt receive much interest from college head coaching jobs, though he was connected to the Jacksonville Jaguars job over the offseason. He also worked as a coach for the New England Patriots and was the head coach for the Houston Texans from 2014-2020. Sign up for the Nittany Lions Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The quarterback is now reportedly excited to get to work with New England's new offensive coordinator, Bill O'Brien, whom he worked with briefly when the two crossed paths at Alabama. Of course, it should be noted that for the vast majority of that time, the Pats scoring phase was led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. Bill OBrien is currently serving as Alabamas offensive coordinator and QB coach. 2 min read. 3 in points scored per game (32.1). Editor's Note:Matt Cassel played 14 years in the NFL as a quarterback, including four with the Patriots from 2005 to 2008. "Sorry. Billys worked with a lot of quarterbacks before, and theyve all had success, and hes impacted all of those guys in a positive way, said McDaniels, alluding to OBriens work with Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson, among others. 2 in AP Top 25, Penn State falls back, Kickoff time set for Penn State's road game at Indiana, Loss to Buckeyes drops Penn State in Week 9 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, Report Card: Grading Penn State's performance vs. Ohio State, Big Ten spring football bowl projections from 247Sports, Penn State a road underdog one last time this season at Northwestern. ". Alabama lost to SEC rival Georgia in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Follow Kevin McGuire on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. As reports continue to circulate regarding the kid gloves-approach with which Pats coaches allegedly handled Jones in 2022, OBrien will not sugar coat his style for the sake of hurt feelings. Wisely, he balked at an early August . He pointed to how the Crimson Tide (10-2) has averaged about 40 points. At times, the disconnect between Jones and the staff was so overt that he was observed hurling expletive-laden frustrations, believed to be in their direction. Hes a very emotional guy.. It should be noted that the other names listed are still in play. Bill O'Brien named Patriots' offensive coordinator (1:42) Mike Reiss reports that Bill Belichick and the Patriots will be bringing back Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator. Hell do a great job.. He's a guy who pulls no punches -- he's going to hold you accountable, and he's going to coach you to a certain standard with a certain level of expectation. Join the conversation today! When you embrace the new system and understand there are different ways to have success -- that's when you can really start to grow as a quarterback, because growth only happens when there's acceptance. O'Brien's coaching career started at Brown, where he coached tight ends in 1993 and inside linebackers in 1994. This isnt a name that will garner much positivity among some fans, Auburn Wire notes. Not a member? If you continue to fight the system and get frustrated, that becomes mentally taxing, and then you're not at your best. And it would not shock anyone the day OBrien gets a chance to be a head coach again. 3 in points scored per game (32.1). 2:32. It starts with me. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. I'd always joke with him because he would love going back and forth with me, so we had a great relationship. If the Texans can use that to help them to a second straight win, the good feelings for the team will likely grow for Johnson. The CBS Boston team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSBoston.com. As I matured, I learned that there are different offensive philosophies and different ways to teach the game. But it seems like O'Brien's coaching style potentially could mesh well with Jones and his competitive nature. Bizarre scene Wednesday morning as news broke that arrest warrants were issued for Jalen Carter right around the time the Georgia defensive tackle was about to meet with reporters. Bill O'Brien has been listed as a top candidate for the job. Upon landing at Alabama, where he worked closely with quarterback Bryce Young, O'Brien had also spent time with current Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who helped O'Brien learn the Crimson Tide offense in the months following Jones' final season with Alabama. Please check your email for a confirmation. There are a lot of issues for O'Brien to clean up, but the fact that the Patriots now have a real OC is encouraging for the franchise. He is set to take his first visit to Tuscaloosa for Junior (), Former Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith offered high praise for Alabama's newest LB, Trezmen Marshall. For every positive story there is about Jones, there seems to be a negative one ready to pop up at a moment's notice. Saban said that day in early November that everyone has things they must do better. Campbell, Leipold, and Chadwell were mentioned as the leading candidates to replace Scott Frost. The relative lack of interest last season in OBrien, 52, was strange, as hes intrigued by a return to college head coaching.. "This isn't a name that will garner much positivity among some fans," Auburn Wire notes. I had the same offensive coordinator during my first four NFL seasons with the Patriots. Hell do a great job.. According to a league source, the Patriots have sent four assistant coaches to work players through positional drills here at the Scouting Combine: Troy Brown (receivers/returners), Mike . I think hes a great coach. Its accountability. Occasionally he'd get into a "war of words" with guys, but that was part of how he did it, and he got the most out of his players. But the idea of taking over head coaching duties again may be enough for him to leave Alabama and join Nebraska football. With O'Brien headed back to the NFL, Saban will be looking for his sixth offensive coordinator in the past eight seasons. Bill Belichick coaching tree failures: Brian Flores looks to avoid a long line of NFL head-coaching flops Some reports have linked him to the New England Patriots. Therefore, when McDaniels provides a glowing endorsement of new Patriotsoffensive coordinator Bill OBrien, one can place a great deal of stock in his opinion. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Why the Packers' transition to Jordan Love, whenever it happens, will require patience, A new home for Michael Thomas? The Crimson Tide failed to reach the CFP in 2022, but they defeated Kansas State 45-20 in the Sugar Bowl. So it was apparent right away how hard he worked, how smart he was, and you could give him a lot of responsibility and he could handle it.. O'Brien also discussed the challenges of this season and if inconsistent receiver play has added to that. The previously listed top candidates included Mickey Joseph, Matt Campbell, Lance Leipold, Jamey Chadwell, and even the Carolina Panthers Matt Rhule. Patriots legend Julian Edelman, who played for both OBrien and McDaniels during his tenure in New England, recently recalled the vocal, yet effective manner which the former may take with Jones this season. He was on the offensive coaching staff from 2007 through 2011, moving up to offensive coordinator in his final season. What Patriots fans need to know about new OC Bill O'Brien originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston. A Massachusetts native, O'Brien will be charged with improving a Patriots offense that dipped notably in most key areas in 2022, including: Red zone efficiency: 11th (39 TDs in 63 trips) to 32nd (19 TDs in 45 trips), Third-down efficiency: 10th (43.5%) to 27th (34.8%), First downs: tied for ninth (362) to 28th (288), Sacks allowed: eighth (28 for 241 yards) to 19th (41 for 279 yards). Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. NBC Sports' Chris Simms reported earlier in February that Jones spent the 2022 season in Bill Belichick's dog house because the QB went outside of Foxboro for advice on how to help fix the New England offense. O'Brien's two-year contract runs through the end of February. He knows the position really well, understands the league, he understands how to get the most out of players at this level. Thats cool, though. From there we went to Charlie Weis, then Bill Muir, then Jim Zorn, then Brian Daboll. February 28, 2023 / 12:03 PM Patriots Talk: Devin McCourty goes deep on Patriots hire of Bill OBrien| Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube. O'Brien returns for a second stint at the helm of the New England offense. Patriots fans are familiar with O'Brien and his coaching style, and chances are he won't be taking it easy on Jones in Year 3 of his NFL career. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He has called plays for Tom Brady in the Super Bowl, elevated Penn State from the depths of the Sandusky conviction and won the AFC South four times in seven NFL head-coaching seasons, writes Thamel. During the offseason, wide receiver Andre Johnson had a lot of questions about the direction that the Texans were taking after a 2-14 season in 2013.Johnson stayed away from the team until . Sean Pendergast October 6, 2022 4:00AM. Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien interviewed for the Jacksonville Jaguars head-coaching vacancy last week. He lasted six full seasons in Houston, plus the first four games of the 2020 campaign before being fired. After a two-year stint as Penn State head coach in 2012 and 2013, O'Brien came back to the pros for his first NFL head coaching job. Check out Bill O'Brien's College Coaching Records, Awards and Leaderboards and more about College Football at Sports-Reference.com It isn't easy. It will also be interesting to see if he wants to try to make a return to the NFL or remain at the collegiate level. The Las Vegas Raiders head coach met with the media at the NFL . Coaching Carousel Could Be Bill O'Brien's Wheel of Fortune. O'Brien was Maryland's running backs coach in 2003 and 2004, and then joined the Terrapins' ACC rival, Duke, to be the Blue Devils' offensive coordinator/QBs coach in 2005 and 2006. He also served as the general manager of the . He has a tremendous amount of experience coaching at all levels. Last season was no different as offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien was linked to several jobs, particularly in the NFL. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. But you have to overcome yourself at times and make a point to be open-minded. Cassel: Why a Bill O'Brien-Mac Jones pairing could work well, Curran: O'Brien rejoining Patriots 'probably going to happen', he's said he wants to be "coached harder. 2 in passing yards per game (317.8), and No. He missed three games with a high ankle sprain. Mission Development has emerged as a leader in aligning individual and organizational capabilities behind a company's vision, values and goals. The two apparently have a close connection and still keep in contact. Billys worked with a lot of quarterbacks before, and theyve all had success, and hes impacted all of those guys in a positive way, said McDaniels, alluding to OBriens work with. I think its a team game. Why aren't we doing it that way?" Some have potentially linked OBrien as a candidate for a handful of other openings currently out there including Nebraska and Colorado. I was fortunate in New England: By the time I took the field as a starter in my fourth season, I had been exposed to so much in this offense. The offseason is shorter, and the new collective bargaining agreement limits the amount of time players can be in the building during that time. I like that.. Whatever happens with Patricia, Payton and the Broncos is all fine with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who continued to sing his former assistant's praises when asked about the interview with . His most recent job was Alabama offensive coordinator over the last two seasons. "Are there areas we can be better at? Carter never appeared for his media session, and his draft status hes a first-round talent is something to watch. In fact, Bolden even shared some . display: none; OBrien rapidly rose through the ranks in New England, becoming wide receivers coach (2008), quarterbacks coach (2009-10), and eventually succeeding McDaniels as offensive coordinator in 2011. P.J. https://nittanylionswire.usatoday.com/2022/10/31/former-penn-state-coach-mentioned-as-potential-candidate-for-auburn/, Joey Porter Jr. heads to NFC West in latest mock draft, Watch Micah Parsons score his first career touchdown, Vols tie Buckeyes for No. O'Brien drew interest primarily from the Jacksonville Jaguars who [] Definitely more blunt; hes gonna tell you what it is, he doesnt care who you are, and hes gonna show you what youre doing wrong, Johnson said. ESPN college football expert Pete Thamel argues that Bill OBrien should be first in line for any new job that opens up. What do Patriots fans need to know about the team's new OC? I have a lot of respect for Coach O'Brien based on what he's achieved in New England as offensive coordinator, in Houston as the Texans' head coach and now at Alabama as their OC. Such praise from a 13-year veteran -- and 12-time Patriots captain -- is nothing to scoff at. Penn State went 8-4 in O'Brien's first season, and then 7-5 in his second year. O'Brien left Penn State to become Texans head coach in 2014. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? Belichick didn't name an official offensive coordinator for the Patriots in 2022, leaning on Matt Patricia as the primary playcaller despite Patricia's mostly defensive background in his NFL career. We all try to do the best we can to be as consistent as we can. But as a head coach Bill OBrien has a pretty good resume, as a general manager not so much. Penn State womens basketball wins first Big Ten tournament game since 2018. "He has called plays for Tom Brady in the Super Bowl, elevated Penn State from the depths of the Sandusky conviction and won the AFC South four times in seven NFL head-coaching seasons," writes Thamel. McDaniels believes the relationship between Patriots quarterback, I think hes a great coach. After the loss to LSU, Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked to assess the job O'Brien has done this year. I think over the last two seasons, weve been pretty productive.". We had a great relationship when I was with the Patriots and he was the wide receivers coach in 2008. 2023 www.tuscaloosanews.com. He spent the last two seasons as Alabamas OC. The Patriots went to the Super Bowl that season but lost to the New York Giants. Could he join NFL's Patriots? Belichick also oversaw a streamlining of the offense -- changing the blocking terminology for offensive linemen -- in which one of his goals was to produce more big plays down the field. Bill O'Brien Could Land Major College Head Coach Job This Offseason. (1:42). Where could Penn State be heading? Which first-round prospects should Raiders focus on at combine? Certain times during the season, we werent as consistent as we wanted to be.". After being fired by Houston in 2020, O'Brien returned to college in 2021 as the University of Alabama's offensive coordinator under head coach Nick Saban. ESPN college football expert Pete Thamel argues that Bill O'Brien should be first in line for any new job that opens up. Billys worked with a lot of quarterbacks before, and theyve all had success, and hes impacted all of those guys in a positive way. Every coach is different in how they teach the game, and it takes time for a quarterback to develop trust with their coordinator while learning what they're trying to accomplish on each play. I have a lot of confidence that Billys going to do well wherever hes at, and obviously now thats in New England., Follow Mike DAbate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots, Follow Patriots Country on Twitter and Facebook, Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Patriots? Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator and current Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels believes Bill OBrien and Mac Jones are a great fit. That means you don't have as much time to absorb a new playbook before you hit the ground running in training camp. He quickly rose up the ranks. Come Sept. 4 in the Alabama opener with Miami, O'Brien will become the first assistant to direct offenses and call plays for both Belichick and Saban. 2024 defensive back Tevis Metcalf will visit Alabama for Junior Day. Director of player personnel Matt Groh is leading the Patriots front office contingent here. Bill O'Brien is the founder of Mission Development Corp., a consulting company specializing in talent and organizational development. I think I want to be coached harder, Jones said at the conclusion of his second year as the teams starting quarterback. There were times where O'Brien and Brady got into it on the sideline, where Brady showed his passion and O'Brien wasn't afraid to give it right back. In fact, his tough love method will be quite the contrary. Additionally, defensive line coach, His interview was very impressive. All the things that Billy has accomplished and achieved since then havent surprised me at all, said McDaniels. I learned a lot, Gannon said. Being successful as a coordinator in New England, winning at Penn State, winning in Houston, going down to Alabama and being part of their success there none of that has surprised me.". The addition of O'Brien is a welcomed one for a New England offense that struggled mightily under playcaller Matt Patricia and quarterbacks coach Joe Judge in 2022. #ada-button-frame { Upon his return to college, he helped develop Bryce Young into a Heisman Trophy winner. Alabama only makes its coordinators available to reporters on one day early in preseason practices. "I am looking forward to working with Bill again," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. Bill O'Brien may have his pick of some great college head coaching jobs this offseason . Can the Lions fix their defense? Certainly," O'Brien said. Here's how his offenses performed in Houston. In fact, McDaniels remembered O'Briens first days on the Patriots staff in 2007. Bill OBrien has been listed as a top candidate for the job. Ahead of the Sugar Bowl, O'Brien was asked Wednesday how he would respond to the criticism of the offense and play-calling. While OBriens return to New England has been met with overwhelming praise, his presence alone will not be enough to cure the teams offensive ailments especially that of current Patriots signal-caller Mac Jones, whom McDaniels coached during his rookie season of 2021.