Robert Kraft Deserves Credit For Josh McDaniels

By Steve Atkinson 

There’s no doubt Josh McDaniels has been a quarterback whisperer for years as an offensive coordinator. From Tom Brady to Matt Cassel, and more recently Cam Newton and Mac Jones, McDaniels is by far one of the best offensive coordinators in NFL history. This year, with Drake Maye, it’s no different as the Patriots are rolling at 9-2, and Maye looks like he’s on the rise. However, credit must be given to Robert Kraft for bringing in McDaniels as offensive coordinator, with Mike Vrabel working alongside him.

Josh McDaniels is a Godsend for Drake Maye

Vrabel has brought in all of his guys to work under McDaniels, from the quarterbacks coach to likely the offensive line coach. But the play calling is handled by McDaniels, and despite a slip-up in week one, his collaborative approach—learning the West Coast offense and trusting what Maye does well—has worked wonders for the Patriots.

McDaniels is in Drake Maye’s ear constantly during games and on the sideline, far more than Alex Van Pelt was last year. Last year, Van Pelt didn’t communicate with the quarterback at all through the headset during games. The Krafts could have hired McDaniels last season while the Raiders were paying him, but instead, they let Jerod Mayo stumble, and now they have hired the head coach and the guy they truly wanted as offensive coordinator.

“I have to give a lot of credit to Josh McDaniels,” Kraft told hosts Marc Bertrand and Chris Gasper. “Josh has learning curve experience in this area, having worked with Tommy, watching how he evolved. Josh also has unique knowledge of many different offenses. “I think he understands Drake and how he operates, and adapting him into the culture of whoever we’re playing the next week and looking at their weaknesses where we hopefully can exploit them. They’ve developed a great chemistry.”

Josh McDaniels really has had great chemistry with all the quarterbacks he’s worked with. He adapts to the quarterback really well. Now, Drake is fast and can throw a deep ball. He’s probably one of the best third-down quarterbacks in the game. Third and long doesn’t faze him at all.

Now, Vrabel doesn’t really give McDaniels credit alone and says the collaborative approach of the offense with Drake Maye and the offensive coaches led by McDaniels. I think Vrabel does think McDaniels is good and probably one of the best play callers in the game, but would Vrabel have hired McDaniels or been his first choice? Probably not, but the arranged marriage is working.