Tag: alex van pelt

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.

https://twitter.com/NBCSPatriots/status/1834641808720093358

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

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo reveals who will lead in developing QB Drake Maye

Here’s who will take the lead in developing rookie QB Drake Maye

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo has a plan in place for quarterback Drake Maye’s development. He indicated to media members on Saturday that offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will be the one primarily working with the rookie quarterback.

This move makes sense given Van Pelt’s experience working with quarterbacks. His experience dates as far back as 2005, when he served as the quarterbacks coach for the Frankfurt Galaxy.

He worked as a quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2008 and then with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He also served in the role with the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

Now, he will be tasked as the “lead guy” working with a promising rookie in Maye.

The development of Maye will be important for both the future of the Patriots’ franchise and for the quarterback himself. The former North Carolina star has all of the tools to succeed, and now, it’s up to him to refine them.

Patriots TE Austin Hooper looking forward to reuniting with Alex Van Pelt

Austin Hooper is excited for reunion with Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper had positive reviews of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, as the two are set to unite once again.

Hooper played under Van Pelt from 2020-2022 in Cleveland. He recorded 84 catches for 780 yards and seven touchdowns during his time with the Browns.

Now, he will be looking to help add depth to a Patriots’ tight end room that is headlined by Hunter Henry.

“Really smart guy. Good energy in the building. That’s a huge part of it,” said Hooper, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Most people just think of the three hours you see on Sunday, but there’s many more hours throughout the week where you’re spending a lot of time together, and it makes work so much better when you enjoy the people you work with. His style, his approach, his offense, his understanding of his personnel, and who he is as a man and coach, it’s going to make it really fun to be in the building every day.”

Cooper signed a one-year contract with New England after the departure of Mike Gesicki.

It will be interesting to see how the tight end fits in the offense. Familiarity with the way Van Pelt runs things will be important, especially if New England drafts a rookie quarterback.

Having veteran familiarity could go a long way in the quarterback’s development process.

Deep dive into Patriots’ 2024 offensive coaching staff

Here’s what the new offensive coaching staff looks like for the Patriots

The New England Patriots are in preparation mode for the 2024 NFL off-season, after naming their full coaching staff under rookie head coach Jerod Mayo.

Mayo’s new staff includes 17 new coaches, all with different connection points and experiences that should make this a fun staff. The Patriots decided to completely clean house on offense and allow newly-hired offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt to have a say in his offensive staff. They are even employing quality control coaches and assistants, which is something that was atypical during Bill Belichick’s reign.

What I also like is that the Patriots have quite a few former players on staff, which is key to building a new culture and connecting earlier with young players.

Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf are surely trying to rebuild a winning culture and create a desire for others to come to New England. Relatability, connectivity and passion come to mind with this new-look coaching staff and front office.

We’re going to take a look at the offensive coaching staff for 2024 and dive deeper into each hire and what it means for the Patriots.