Tag: alex van pelt

Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt used one-word to describe All-Pro Nick Bosa

Alex Van Pelt only needed one word to describe Nick Bosa

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt didn’t need many descriptive words to share his opinion of 49ers All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa.

“Nightmare,” Van Pelt said on Thursday, when speaking with media members about the matchup on Sunday.

It’ll be Van Pelt’s struggling offense against the Bosa-led 49ers defense. So far, the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year has two sacks and five quarterback hits.

He’ll be looking to feast on a shaky Patriots offensive line that gave up seven sacks and 15 quarterback hits to the New York Jets last week.

This will be one of those games where the Patriots will need to lean on their running game and the quarterback to get the ball out quicker.

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Even incompletions can be considered positive plays against the 49ers defense. The primary goal for the Patriots should be to avoid going backward and setting up too many third-and-long situations.

If they can keep Bosa from wrecking the game, they’ll have a fighting chance against the 49ers. Of course, that’s easier said than done for a road team with one of the worst offensive lines in the league.

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Patriots OC admits opponents will target star offensive player

Alex Van Pelt expects teams to target the Patriots’ star offensive player

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt addressed concerns about running back Rhamondre Stevenson’s ball security on Monday.

The problem reared its ugly head again in last Thursday night’s 24-3 loss to the New York Jets. Stevenson fumbled for a third time in three consecutive games. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the opposing defense came up with the takeaway this time around.

Stevenson has been a focal point of the Patriots offense this season. He has tallied 52 carries for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The organization has made more of an effort to run the football, and the former Oklahoma star is a big part of that.

“Job security is ball security and now he has a target on his back, said Van Pelt, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Teams are going to see that and they’re going to come after the football. I know he’ll address it. I know he’s proud about [being secure with the ball] and he’ll be better because of it.”

Stevenson will be going up against a tough San Francisco 49ers defense in Week 4 on Sunday.

The 49ers currently lead the league in forced fumbles created three weeks into the season. The entire Patriots offense will be challenged in the matchup, and Stevenson’s ball security will be paramount.

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Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt regrets game plan in loss to Jets

Alex Van Pelt got real honest with the Patriots’ failed offensive game plan

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is looking back on his game plan in the team’s 24-3 loss to the New York Jets on Thursday with regret.

When speaking with media members on Monday, Van Pelt admitted the team should have run the ball more earlier in the game.

The Patriots seemingly went away from the rushing attack for the majority of the game. They only had 15 total carries for 78 yards. There was some efficiency there, as they averaged 5.2 yards per carry. Antonio Gibson led the team with only five carries for 28 yards on the evening.

The Jets have struggled against the run this season, giving up 129.3 yards per game over the first three games of the season. They were also playing without All-Pro linebacker C.J. Mosley on Thursday.

“In hindsight, should’ve flipped that and ran the ball more early,” said Van Pelt, via Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar.

Things won’t get any easier with the Patriots set to take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4. They’ll have to deal with another tough defensive front led by former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa.

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Patriots QB Joe Milton and Alex Van Pelt show off secret handshake

AVP wins serious style points for this

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt have been learning on the fly.

Milton is entering his rookie season in the NFL, and Van Pelt is entering his first season as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator. They have already developed something in common. The two have formed a handshake, and it was captured on video Friday.

Milton has had a solid week. He was most recently named one of the eight practice team players of the week and had an opportunity to wear the custom black jersey as a result.

Now, he is continuing to develop that connection with Van Pelt, as the Patriots quarterback room continues to develop and grow.

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Time will tell how Milton does on the field. Nevertheless, it’s encouraging that he’s building a strong rapport with the coaches as the team starts from scratch in the quarterback room.

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Patriots OC’s comments made WR Tyquan Thornton seem like a roster lock

AVP called Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton “special”

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt gave a positive update on wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, as the latter looks to put together a strong third season.

Thornton has been bogged down by injuries over the past couple of years. He has totaled 35 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons with the Patriots. Many have been waiting for him to have a breakout season. He might need one this season with new depth options available at the receiver position.

“His ability to separate is special. His speed down the field…he’s been competitive at the catch point this year,” Van Pelt said on Thursday, per 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Alex Barth.

Time will tell what Thornton does on the football field.

Once again, his biggest hurdle will be his health. If he stays healthy, he could be a valuable piece in the Patriots offense as a legitimate outside receiving target.

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Former Browns draft pick gets workout with Alex Van Pelt and the Patriots

Familiar faces could be aligning in New England

Familiar faces could be set for a reunion with the New England Patriots, as former Cleveland Browns hybrid offensive player Demetric Felton got a workout in with his former offensive coordinator and current New England offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

One of five players the Patriots brought in for a workout, the former sixth round pick in the 2021 NFL draft may get another chance in the NFL. He joined offensive guard Jack Anderson, running back Gary Brightwell, defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson, and guard Mike Panasuik as players looking to impress the Patriots’ brass.

Felton would be one of a variety of former Browns to land in New England this offseason if he were to put pen to paper. Van Pelt, offensive line coach Scott Peters, former tight ends coach TC McCartney, vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, and former quarterback Jacoby Brissett are another handful who have aligned with the Patriots.

Cut from the Browns after two seasons with the team, Felton landed on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad a year ago. He is looking for another shot to make an NFL 53-man roster.

Could he get that shot with Van Pelt and the Patriots?

WATCH: Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt mic’d up on practice field

Patriots release mic’d up video of Alex Van Pelt on the practice field

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is busy at work coaching up an offense that struggled last season. On Monday, fans got an inside look at Van Pelt’s coaching in a mic’d up video released by the Patriots’ social media team.

Van Pelt can be seen working on drop-step patterns with the quarterbacks and proper screening techniques with wide receivers.

It was an eye-opening video that showcased all of the things he has his hands on behind the scenes as he works to install the new offense. One of the best parts of the video came at the end, when Van Pelt delivered a quote that perfectly captured his mindset for the team.

“As long as this group will always understand that we play for each other, first and foremost. The most important guy on the field is to your left and to your right. If we can get that going, we’re gonna do some good things,” said Van Pelt.

The concept of team unity and playing for each other is going to be important with all of the changes in place for the Patriots heading into the 2024 season.

Van Pelt has his work cut out for him.

With that said, he could be the perfect guy for the job, as his quarterback experience and utilization of the running game might be exactly what’s needed to finally get the team headed in the right direction.

Why adding another RB could prove beneficial for Patriots

Should the Patriots add another veteran running back?

It’s no secret that running back Rhamondre Stevenson is going to be the bell cow for the New England Patriots. The organization also added to the position in free agency by signing third-down back Antonio Gibson.

But even with all of that talent in the offensive backfield, an argument could be made that the Patriots still have work to do in rounding out their depth in the running backs room.

Stevenson is undoubtedly productive, but injuries caught up to him last year. His season ended in Week 13 with a high ankle sprain. He also had a concussion and knee injuries in 2021. He is not necessarily an injury-prone player, but his injuries are worth monitoring.

Stevenson played a total of 486 snaps in 2023. That number was considerably down from the 699 snaps he played the year before, when he had a career-high 1,040 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Stevenson did admit to feeling worn down by the end of the 2022 season, and there was likely carryover into last season as well.

This is where Patriots backup running back Kevin Harris could play a large role in things. He only played 34 snaps at the running back position last season. This could be an opportunity for him to step up. Nevertheless, the uncertainty over whether he can provide consistent production is something to consider.

It’s not as if Gibson can’t take over the role as the No. 2 running back considering he played that role in Washington with the Commanders. He had 473 total snaps to Brian Robinson’s 496. His highest snap count came in Week 3 when he played in 61 percent of the team’s snaps, totaling 33 plays in all.

He had 65 carries for 260 yards and a touchdown last year.

It’s not as if Harris and Gibson aren’t capable of solidifying the running back room. The potential for Harris is certainly there, and Gibson has shown he can be a dependable contributor over multiple years. This is more about the health of Stevenson. An injury to him would be a massive blow to the room.

A back like Kareem Hunt could be a potential option, for example. He is currently a free agent and has ties with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt from their time in Cleveland together. Hunt was able to serve as a strong No. 2 option behind Nick Chubb during that time. Just last year, he recorded 411 yards and nine touchdowns on 135 carries.

It’s no secret that Van Pelt wants to run the football. It was his calling card during his run in Cleveland. Hunt is used to being a rotational piece, and he could be a viable option for a Patriots offense trying to find its footing.

Adding another veteran running back to the room would be a good move for the team. The Patriots have talent at the position, but health and experience are two of their biggest question marks in 2024.

Boosting that position with some additional help could mitigate risks if catastrophe strikes.

OC Alex Van Pelt is key ingredient for success in New England

Why Alex Van Pelt’s role is so vital for a potential turnaround in New England

The New England Patriots are entering familiar territory for the second time in four seasons.

They’ll have the task of developing a rookie quarterback, as they continue their search for a sustainable franchise option in the post-Tom Brady era.

They tried with Mac Jones in 2021. Now, they’ll try again with Drake Maye.

The Patriots failed to develop Jones, despite him having a strong rookie season under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. And then disaster struck after McDaniels left for a head coaching job in Las Vegas.

Things spiraled out of control with Matt Patricia and Bill O’Brien taking over the offensive play-calling duties in 2022 in 2023. Jones may not have been the most talented quarterback, but New England failed him in the developmental process.

Three offensive coordinators in three years is not a recipe for success for a young quarterback. It was a recipe for disaster.

The new Patriots regime could learn something from the Jones experiment, as they continue working with Maye. His development will largely rely on the skill set of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

The former Cleveland Browns offensive coach has done extensive work with quarterbacks throughout his coaching career, dating back to his time with the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2005.

Van Pelt will reportedly be the guy overseeing Maye’s development. The two have been working together since the 2024 NFL draft.

This offense might be more friendly to a rookie quarterback than McDaniels’ was. Van Pelt has stated that he wants to run the football, and his track record proves that. 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Alex Barth pointed out that the Browns had the second-most rushing attempts in the league with 30.3 per game during Van Pelt’s tenure with the team.

The Patriots have a relatively strong backfield, headlined by Rhamondre Stevenson and a new weapon in Antonio Gibson. If Van Pelt wants to run the football, he has the weapons to do so.

New England also does not seem like they are in a rush to start Maye. Van Pelt has stated that Jacoby Brissett would be the Week 1 starter if the season started today. Not starting Maye right out of the gates will allow more time for the rookie to learn under Van Pelt and the other coaches.

Again, the key word here is development. Learning from Van Pelt as much as possible before his first start could only help him.

Are things going to be completely perfect in Van Pelt’s first year? No. However, the blueprint is set in place. Running the football is a good place to start while the offense gets settled. Having a bona fide quarterbacks coach who has been there and done it before is also a plus.

Several measures are being taken to make sure Maye gets the development he needs, and Van Pelt is a massive part of that. How he does in his first season as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator could set the tone for the team’s future.

Drew Bledsoe thinks Drake Maye is in good hands with Alex Van Pelt

Drew Bledsoe had high praise for Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt

Former New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe weighed in on what he believes offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt can bring to the Patriots organization.

Not only did he give Van Pelt high praise, but he also explained why he thinks rookie quarterback Drake Maye is in good hands.

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said Van Pelt would take the lead in developing the rookie signal-caller. Van Pelt has a history of quarterback development, and this will be important as New England tries to ensure their future success at the position.

For reference, Van Pelt’s experience coaching the quarterback position can be traced all the way back to 2005. Bledsoe stopped by the “Up & Adams” show on Monday and talked about Van Pelt leading the offense in New England.

“One thing that (Maye) has that’s very, very significant going for him is Alex Van Pelt,” said Bledsoe. “We were together in Buffalo for a few years. No disrespect to Zo (Scott Zolak), Alex was, from a backup standpoint, he was the one that had the best football mind, and he also has just this incredibly calm demeanor. He played quarterback in the league for a decade. …I really think that Alex is one of those special quarterback whisperer kind of dudes that’s really going to help (Maye).”

These are certainly encouraging words to hear from a player who has a great football mind in his own right. With Van Pelt in his ear, there’s hope that Maye will get the best possible chance to succeed