Things are pointing to Caley getting the OC job. Reportedly, Belichick thought highly enough of him to give him the duties of the OC after McDaniels left in 2023, but Caley turned him because the offer didn’t come with the title. A year residency with Rams could only gave helped round out his experience.
I also believe Josh McDaniels will be on staff to help Caley settle into the position. The question to me is whether McDaniels position will be as a boss with an Asst. HC title or just an advisory title and role. McDaniels is owed $60 million over the next 4 seasons from the Raiders. In those shoes, who would want to work too hard, take on too much responsibility and put themselves in position to be blamed if things go bad. Thus, I believe he’ll end up only be in an advisory role. Though his impact will be greater than it appears.
The expectation from there is Caley and the Pats will round out much of the offensive staff by bringing back the offensive coaches McDaniels took with him to the Raiders.
Carmen Briscillo did a good job dealing with injuries and overall underwhelming talent with the Pats Offensive lines in 2020 and 2021. He did a good job with the Raiders over the last couple of seasons as well and would be a big improvement over Matt Patricia and Adrian Klemm. Maybe, he gets a running game coordinator title and a real good assistant or two to help round the Pats OLine back to a winning form.
I’m not a big Mick Lombardi fan possibly because I think his dad, Mike, is insufferable. But, his work with the Pats WRs in 2020 and 2021 was much better than we’ve seen from Troy Brown and Ross Douglas over the last couple of seasons. He was Josh’s OC with the Raiders. They can do better at WR coach, but, maybe, a passing game coordinator role would be good for him.
Bo Hardigree might have other offers, but the Raiders thought highly enough of him to make him interim OC after McDaniels and Lombardi were fired. Jerrry Shuplinski is another coach with Patriots ties on the staff with the Raiders. He was an asst QB coach with the Patriots at one time.
I know it’s wouldn’t be the wholesale changes many want to see. But, I think the cohesion of coaches who’ve worked together in the past with the last good offensive season the Pats had plus keeping the defensive staff in place with some notable role chances is the best strategy, along with acquiring LOTs of good players, is the fastest and surest way back to contention.