Tag: Adrian Klemm

Report: Adrian Klemm confronted Matt Groh in ‘loud exchange’ over Patriots’ OL decisions

An explosive report details a “loud exchange” between Patriots OL coach Adrian Klemm and director of player personnel Matt Groh

New England Patriots offensive line coach Adrian Klemm was tasked with cleaning up a messy offensive line situation that had lingered ever since legendary coach Dante Scarnecchia retired and rode off into the sunset.

But honestly, it was an impossible situation considering the Patriots hadn’t really addressed the personnel issues in the offseason.

That reportedly got things off to a rocky start between Klemm and Patriots director of personnel Matt Groh. Per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed and Andrew Callahan, via NESN’s Zack Cox, Klemm confronted Groh early in the season and got into a “loud exchange” over the talent available on the roster.

The Herald wrote:

Outside the front office, a few staffers privately pointed fingers back at decision-makers about the talent available. That is, save for Klemm, who confronted director of player personnel Matt Groh early in the season in a loud exchange that reverberated through the organization. Klemm, according to sources, didn’t feel heard, while some offensive veterans didn’t want to believe their eyes.

Klemm ended up leaving the team in November due to health-related issues, and he is reportedly not expected to return in 2024.

It shouldn’t come as any surprise Klemm would be frustrated considering the lack of attention paid to the offensive side of the ball in the offseason. Instead of making a splash in free agency to help boost the offensive line, the Patriots went the bargain bin route with players like Riley Reiff, Conor McDermott and Calvin Anderson.

All three were banged up with injuries in the season, and the team attempted to make up for it with trades for Vederian Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Neither one of those two moves panned out, and the Patriots’ offensive line was among the worst in the NFL.

It’s even more frustrating considering the Patriots knew they had serious deficiencies on the offensive line and at receiver heading into the offseason last year, and they barely did anything to address those issues.

After the patchwork fliers in free agency, they used their three premium draft picks on defensive players, while waiting until the mid and later rounds to go after offensive talent.

Drafting a potential game-changer like Christian Gonzalez was understandable because few, if any, expected him to fall to No. 17 on the draft board. But the Patriots could have gone after offensive linemen in the second and third rounds. Keion White and Marte Mapu are two great young players, but did the Patriots really need to draft them?

“We didn’t invest in the offensive line until the fourth round, didn’t take a receiver until the sixth,” a separate Boston Herald source said, via Cox. “How do we spend the first three picks on defense when tackle was the biggest problem on the team last year?”

If anything, it points to dysfunction at the highest level that Klemm could be brought in and felt like his voice wasn’t being heard. Wasn’t that the reason he was hired in the first place? To help fix things?

He never got that opportunity in New England, and from the looks of things, it doesn’t seem like he ever will.

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Bill O’Brien offers positive update on health of Adrian Klemm

Bill O’Brien had some positive news to share regarding the health of OL coach Adrian Klemm.

New England Patriots offensive line coach Adrian Klemm has been out for the past couple of weeks as he battles health-related issues. On Monday, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien offered a positive update on Klemm’s health.

Per O’Brien, via the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan, the offensive line coach is “doing better,” but he didn’t comment further than that.

Assistant offensive line coach Billy Yates has been taking on a bit more responsibility in Klemm’s absence. It has been a rough year for the unit. They have allowed 23 sacks on the season, which puts them near the bottom of the NFL in pass protection.

Hopefully, Klemm’s health continues to improve, and he can get back to doing what he loves to do. Meanwhile, the Patriots will have to continue powering along without him in a year riddled with difficulties both on and off the field.

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Do Your Job: Who is x-factor Colts player Patriots must stop?

The Patriots must stop this two-time Pro Bowler to win on Sunday.

The New England Patriots have not been able to stop much this season, and this week, they’ll face an Indianapolis Colts team with some holes themselves.

Maybe, just maybe, this week will be an opportunity to add some confidence to the room. But the Patriots have seemingly given up on and off the field with some players even voicing their frustrations on social media.

The going theme this year is the Patriots trying to stop the other team’s x-factors without having any of their own to take over the game. This week, Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is the player the Patriots’ offensive line will be tasked with stopping.

The Patriots will rely heavily on offensive linemen Cole Strange, David Andrews and Sidy Sow to be a healthy and cohesive unit. Any deviations from that and Buckner will completely dominate.

Buckner has the ability to play up and down the defensive line, and he consistently delivers pressure from inside of the pocket, which happens to be the biggest weakness for Mac Jones. He’s also an above average run defender, which could be a real problem for the Patriots as well.

Buckner, 29, was originally selected No. 7 overall in the 2016 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, but with the 49ers needing to shed salary, he was traded in 2020 to the Colts for the 13th overall draft pick in 2020.

Buckner has continued his dominance on his second contract and is one of the best defensive lineman in the entire NFL. The Patriots will likely have nightmares if they do not find a way to limit his impact on the game.

Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm being out with health-related issues is also noteworthy. That means assistant coach Billy Yates will have his hands full in Germany trying to contain a beast on the line.

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Patriots OL coach expected to be out for extended timeframe

The hits keep on coming for the Patriots’ offensive line with coach Adrian Klemm now out for health-related reasons.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick indicated offensive line coach Adrian Klemm will be out for an extended timeframe, when speaking with media members on Wednesday.

Belichick confirmed that Klemm’s absence was health-related.

Klemm was hired by the Patriots organization in January, as the team looked to build stability on the line. The Patriots have allowed only 18 sacks in a season when the offensive line has had to undergo a revolving door of personnel changes on a weekly basis due to injuries.

New England still has several difficult games coming up on their schedule. It will be interesting to see how Klemm’s absence affects the play of the line. His health is on the mind of his players, including center David Andrews, who shared kind and encouraging words for his coach.

The Patriots are slated for an AFC clash with the Indianapolis Colts in Germany on Sunday. Offensive line will continue to be a major talking point with multiple players working through injuries and Klemm no longer coaching up the position group.

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The Morning After…early offensive struggles prove costly for Patriots

Here are some leftover notes from the Patriots’ 25-20 loss to the Eagles.

The New England Patriots ultimately lost at home on Sunday 25-20 against one of the best teams in the entire NFL.

However, the Patriots were in the game from the jump and managed to contain Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on defense, while the banged-up offensive line kept Mac Jones upright against one of the league’s best front-sevens.

Even in a loss, there was a lot of good things to take away from the game. The defense looks elite as ever, and the offense looks competent. The Patriots showed confidence in their players, which is something we have failed to see the last few years. With that said, sloppy play hurt the team badly with two early turnovers leading to 14 points.

Let’s delve into some leftover notes from the game, now that we’ve had a chance to fully digest the heartbreaking loss.

Mac Jones praises new offensive coaches ahead of preseason opener

Mac Jones has enjoyed seeing the pieces in place with the Patriots’ new-look offense.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has not shied away from giving praise to newly-hired coaches, Bill O’Brien and Adrian Klemm.

When asked about how far along the offense is, and what we can expect on Thursday, Jones said, via Patriots.com, “I think we have a lot of stuff in. I think we’re trying to just expand and try things, and keep the things that we like in and take the things out that we don’t like.”

Those comments are a welcoming sign of the collaboration and trust between O’Brien and Jones. Last season didn’t have much collaboration in the offense for Jones and company.

“I’ve been very happy with Coach [Bill] O’Brien and all of us have. We’re just trying to raise the standard here and just do it right every day. I feel like just trying to be consistent is our biggest thing,” said Jones.

Jones has been playing behind a banged-up offensive line missing three of the five projected starters, and he has faced pressure early and often from a stout Patriots defense led by Matthew Judon.

When asked about the communication along the line, Jones quickly gave praise to the unit.

“I think the offensive line is doing great,” said Jones. “I think right now, obviously there’s some injuries and stuff, but those guys are doing a great job trying to fight to keep the pocket clean, and it all starts with those guys.

“I feel like they have made a lot of progress. Coach Klemm and Coach Billy (Yates) have done a great job explaining everything to them. And obviously David (Andrews) does a great job leading. You never know when there is going to be an injury in a game, and you have to make it work with the five that are in there, and I feel like they’re doing a great job.”

“I feel like they’ve made a lot of progress. Coach [Adrian] Klemm and Coach Billy [Yates] have done a great job just kind of explaining everything to them. Obviously, David [Andrews] does a great job leading. …You never know when there’s going to be an injury in a game. You’ve just got to make it work; the five that are in there have to work together, and I feel like they’re doing a great job.”

Jones went on to claim David Andrews is “the ideal Patriot” and  “a team leader”.

One thing that has been clear throughout training camp is that Jones is comfortable and confident, which are two things we failed to see in the horrendous 2022 Patriots offense.

Things have been pointing up with Jones continuing to look strong in practice, despite even the tough weather conditions at times.

On Thursday, we will finally get to see the Patriots’ new-look offense against someone other than the Patriots defense when they take on the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. Even with the projected starters likely sitting out, we should have a better understanding of where the unit is at after that game.

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Dante Scarnecchia gives new OL coach Adrian Klemm ringing endorsement

Dante Scarnecchia already likes what he’s seen from Patriots new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm

Former longtime New England Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia has high praise for new Patriots offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Klemm is coming to the Patriots after serving on the Oregon coaching staff last year.

Oregon’s offensive line was one of the best in the country. They allowed only five sacks all season, and their offense flourished as a result. Klemm had a huge hand in that effort as the team’s associate head coach and offensive line coach. He took on a third role as the program’s run game coordinator as well.

“Adrian is a really good coach,” said Scarnecchia. “I was really impressed with the way he conducted his practices [in college], the demands he put him on the players. No-nonsense guy. I think he’ll do a great job here.”

New England will have several returning pieces on an offensive line headlined by Trent Brown, Mike Onwenu and David Andrews. Rookies such as Jake Andrews, Atonio Mafi and Sidy Sow will be important for the future as well.

Klemm undoubtedly has pieces to work with as he looks to get the offensive line unit back on track.

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Patriots’ 2023 coaching staff with job titles

Here’s the Patriots’ 2023 coaching staff with job titles

New England Patriots training camp starts next week, and the organization revealed the roles for the coaches in the upcoming season.

There are several familiar faces back on the coaching staff, as well as new additions. Some of the more notable roles include Joe Judge as the assistant head coach and Evan Rothstein as the assistant quarterbacks coach.

The staff shakeup comes on the heels of a difficult 2022 season for New England, who missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. They’re hopeful the new-look staff can create the necessary changes to get the Patriots back into postseason contention.

Here’s the coaching staff expected to lead the way to change in 2023:

70 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 70 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 70 jersey number.

The regular season countdown has reached 70 days until kickoff for the New England Patriots.

So today, we’re looking at every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 70 jersey in celebration of the rapidly approaching season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

There have been so many talented players that have worn No. 70 in New England, most notably Christian Barmore, Logan Mankins and Adrian Klemm in the Bill Belichick era of coaching.

Klemm, who was the first player drafted by Belichick in New England, is the Patriots’ current offensive line coach, while Barmore is a promising defensive talent potentially on the verge of a breakout year. Mankins, on the other hand, is a former six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl guard for New England.

Here’s a list of every player that has ever worn the No. 70 throughout franchise history (via Pro Football Reference):

5 things to watch for at Patriots’ first open OTAs on Wednesday

We’ll get our first look at the 2023 Patriots on the field on Wednesday.

The New England Patriots are set to open their doors to reporters for voluntary team organized activities on Wednesday.

So it’ll be the first time the team peels back the curtains on the entire 2023 team with both veterans and rookies on the field together. It will also be the team’s first practice back since they were stripped of two OTA sessions for a scheduling violation.

This isn’t training camp, but that doesn’t mean things won’t get competitive during the workouts. Even without pads, players are already vying for on-field opportunities down the line, while also looking to improve overall as a team.

After missing the playoffs last season, the Patriots have a lot of work ahead of them with little time to do it. Here are five things to watch for at Wednesday’s OTAs session: