Tag: alex van pelt

Fired Jerod Mayo staffer gets vote for NFL Honors award

Alex Van Pelt earned a lone vote for Assistant Coach of the Year

Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt received one fifth-place vote for Assistant Coach of the Year. The vote was placed by CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala.

There is a slight case to be had for Van Pelt winning the award. After all, he helped in the impressive development of rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

It was a strong NFL start for the 22-year-old signal-caller in a year where he didn’t start the whole season and played behind a struggling offensive line. The team also lacked standout talent at the wide receiver position. Yet, Maye still finished the year with 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The offense as a whole struggled in New England with the unit ranking 31st in total offense with an average of 291.9 yards per game.

Van Pelt did his best to create a cohesive offensive unit with the pieces available to him, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to turn things around or save his job with the team.

After firing Jerod Mayo, the Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as their new head coach and brought back Josh McDaniels for a third stint as the offensive coordinator.

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Latest update on former OC Alex Van Pelt’s future with Patriots

Alex Van Pelt reportedly will not return to the Patriots for the 2025 season

Alex Van Pelt is reportedly one and done in New England.

The former Patriots offensive coordinator will not be returning for the 2025 season as a member of Mike Vrabel’s staff, per Mass Live’s Chris Mason and Mark Daniels.

It isn’t a surprise considering the team announced the hiring of Josh McDaniels as the new offensive coordinator this week. The writing was already on the wall for Van Pelt.

Despite the Patriots struggling on offense, Van Pelt did a solid job in the development of rookie quarterback Drake Maye. He couldn’t help the severely lacking offensive personnel. It never seemed like he had a real chance to sink his teeth into the offense.

The team started with Jacoby Brissett under center at quarterback before making the switch to Maye, who played behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league.

It was a no-win situation for Van Pelt with an offense that finished 31st in total yards.

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Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt shares honest personal assessment of season

Alex Van Pelt takes accountability for his mistakes this season

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt had an honest assessment of his coaching job when speaking with media members.

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye had a promising rookie season, and Van Pelt deserves some credit for his development behind the scenes. However, the offense as a whole struggled this season. The team is currently ranked 30th overall in total offense with an average of 290.8 yards per game.

Van Pelt didn’t shy away from his role in the team’s struggles as the offensive play-caller.

“Some of the things I would like to take back is some of the bad calls I’ve made throughout the year,” Van Pelt admitted, as transcribed by MassLive’s Mark Daniels.

The Patriots might have to make some tough decisions on the coaching staff in the offseason. Van Pelt being instrumental in the development of Maye will be something for the team to consider when ultimately deciding on his future.

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Patriots OC shares late-season hopes for rookie receivers

Alex Van Pelt isn’t down on Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, despite their rookie struggles

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is still optimistic about rookie receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, despite their first-year struggles at the NFL level.

It’s clear the year hasn’t gone the way anyone expected for either rookie receiver. Polk has 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns on the season, while Baker has been targeted twice with no recorded statistics.

The microscope has been on Polk in particular due to him being outplayed by several other rookie wideouts.

“It’s tough. Like I’ve said before with [Polk], coming in as a rookie you don’t always light it up in your first year,” Van Pelt told media members. “It takes some time to adjust to the pro game. Tons of confidence in Polk. Baker as well.

“Excited to get those guys going. If we can get them going this year, great. If not, then an offseason again to help them learn in this system. Things don’t go your way, you just have to pull yourself out of it, and that’s what we’ll continue to encourage with Polk. But I’m not down on him at all.”

Production from both Polk and Baker would go a long way in the Patriots feeling more comfortable about the offensive development for the future.

More struggles could mean an even steeper climb for the young wideouts with the Patriots likely eyeing wide receiver help in the offseason.

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Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt makes feelings known on Jerod Mayo remarks

Alex Van Pelt believes Jerod Mayo’s comments were taken out of context

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was asked about coach Jerod Mayo’s post-game comments after the Week 15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Mayo clarified his comments about the offensive coordinator earlier in the week. The comments in question had to do with why the team was not using quarterback Drake Maye as a runner more in short-yardage situations.

When asked about the usage of Maye, Mayo responded, “You said it, I didn’t.” Many took that as the Patriots coach throwing Van Pelt under the bus. However, Van Pelt explained why he viewed it differently.

“I didn’t see it. I had no idea. Then I was watching tape early in the morning and he came in and said what we had said,” said Van Pelt, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “I have Jerod’s back at all costs. We have a great relationship. We’re very communicative. I took no offense to that whatsoever. I think it was taken out of context, as he said. And we have a great relationship.”

The Patriots have three more games left on their schedule to make a strong impression. One has to wonder if upcoming performances could potentially impact some of the coaching jobs.

Could Van Pelt or maybe even Mayo be on the hot seat if the team continues to go off the rails?

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Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt’s simple reason for less Drake Maye run plays

Alex Van Pelt has lessened the designed run calls for Drake Maye on purpose

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt admitted he is lessening designed quarterback run plays for Drake Maye because of the team’s 3-11 record.

When speaking with media members, via Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar, Van Pelt claimed his goal is to get Maye through the final three games of the season healthy.

The rookie quarterback has proven to be a major threat on the ground this season with 359 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 42 attempts.

Many have wondered why he isn’t being used more in short-yardage situations. Even coach Jerod Mayo seemed to be baffled by the lack of designed runs for Maye when asked about it after the game.

“You said it, I didn’t,” said Maye.

Those comments initially seemed like Maye was throwing Van Pelt under the bus, but the Patriots coach later clarified his words and explained he didn’t mean anything by them.

With the playoffs out of reach, it would seem as if Van Pelt is going the conservative path to keep Maye safe. That doesn’t bode well for the Patriots’ chances in the tough three-game slate left on their regular season schedule.

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Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt reacts to viral video of frustrated Jonathan Kraft

Alex Van Pelt reacts to video of Jonathan Kraft looking frustrated by the offense

Alex Van Pelt has had better weeks.

The New England Patriots offensive coordinator has been raked through the coals with criticism following the Week 15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

One of the lasting images from the game was the viral video of owner Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft watching Van Pelt’s offense implode. Jonathan looked especially frustrated at the team, and at one point, it looked like he mouthed, “The play-calling is terrible.”

When asked about the video clip, Van Pelt noted that his door is always open to the Krafts.

“My door is always open,” said Van Pelt, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Obviously, the Krafts, I answer to those guys. So if they ever want to come and talk, my door is open. I’ve had great conversations with Robert over the course of the season, Mr. Kraft, and it’s been positive. Always willing and always available.”

Van Pelt has done a tremendous job of developing rookie quarterback Drake Maye behind the scenes, but one has to wonder about his job security if the offense doesn’t improve.

More importantly, how does coach Jerod Mayo feel about his involvement? After the game, he was asked why the team didn’t run Maye in short-yardage situations and responded, “You said it. I didn’t.”

He has since clarified those comments, but the initial response had many believing he was attempting to throw Van Pelt under the bus. So far, the Patriots have been a sinking ship with people grabbing life vests while they still can.

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Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte apologizes to Alex Van Pelt for post-game comments

Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte says he apologized to Alex Van Pelt

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte told reporters he apologized to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt for his post-game comments after Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

The offense looked dead in the water against the Cardinals’ defense until they upped the tempo in the fourth quarter. After the game, Boutte said he would have liked for the team to commit to that same tempo throughout the entire game.

“Nobody likes losing. It was frustration I had lingering from the game into the post-game interview,” Boutte said, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “I feel like I was wrong for what I said. It wasn’t the right way to handle it.”

It was a rough day for Van Pelt, who was also caught up in coach Jerod Mayo’s controversial post-game comments.

Mayo was asked why the team didn’t run rookie quarterback Drake Maye in short-yard situations.

“You said it, I didn’t,” Mayo responded.

The first-year coach has since clarified those comments after coming off like he was throwing his offensive coordinator under the bus. If anything, this is proof that the issues for New England extend beyond the football field.

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Jerod Mayo clarifies controversial post-game playcalling comments

Jerod Mayo clarifies his controversial post-game comments on the offensive playcalling

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo clarified his “you said it, I didn’t” comment from Sunday’s press conference, following the loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

The question was raised about whether or not the Patriots should have used quarterback Drake Maye as a runner more in the failed red zone runs in the third quarter.

New England tried back-to-back run attempts using running backs Antonio Gibson and Rhamondre Stevenson on a third-and-one and fourth-and-one situation. Both attempts made by the team failed and squandered a potential scoring drive.

Maye has shown an ability to run with the football this season, recording 359 rushing yards and two touchdowns. When Mayo was asked if the Patriots should have used Maye as a runner, the head coach responded, “You said it, I didn’t.”

Initially, some took that as him placing the blame on offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

“The remark that I made last night, you said it, I didn’t—I didn’t mean anything by it,” Mayo said Monday on “The Greg Hill Show.” “It may have been a flippant response, and I tried to clarify that with the next question saying, ultimately, it’s my decision. Ultimately, all of those decisions, offensively, defensively and special teams fall on me. I just wanted to get that out there.”

Some have wondered if there’s a disconnect within the coaching staff that would cause Mayo to even make those comments in the first place. It’s hard to know for sure, but one thing is certain: The product on the field isn’t helping their case.

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Patriots OC points out reasons for rookie WR Ja’Lynn Polk’s struggles

OC Alex Van Pelt weighs in on WR Ja’Lynn Polk’s rookie struggles

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt still believes that rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk can be a good player in the NFL despite his struggles.

The rookie has recorded 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns on the year. He received only one target against the Indianapolis Colts the last time the Patriots played.

Things looked promising to start his career, as he recorded a touchdown in the Patriots’ season-opening win over the Cincinnati Bengals back in September. However, inconsistent play has been a theme for him throughout the season.

When speaking with media members, via Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, Van Pelt said he believed Polk’s struggles are mostly due to a tough transition from the collegiate level to playing in the NFL, along with a mental setback due to dropped passes.

More importantly, he believes Polk will still be a “very good player” in the league.

These final four games of the season will be important for the Washington product. New England is working on developing the wide receiver room, and Polk was thought to be a player who could play a key role in the Patriots’ future.

Now, he has to go out and prove it.

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