Patriots’ offense still trying to make puzzle pieces fit with Alex Van Pelt

FOXBORO — No one knows what the Patriots’ offense will look like when they take the field for a game that matters in September, and that includes the coaches on staff.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

New offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt plans to put a system together that plays to his players’ strengths. So, until the Patriots are done adding much-needed talent through free agency, the draft and potential trades, it’s too early to determine what the 2024 offense will look like.

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“There’s definitely some pieces of the puzzle that aren’t put in place yet,” Van Pelt said Wednesday when he was introduced to the media by new head coach Jerod Mayo. “That’s our job. At the end of the day when we get everything established, see who we are, see who we have available to us, and then we’ll put that puzzle together with the pieces we have.

“I think you always have to play to the strengths of your players regardless of the position. So, we’ll put those guys, whoever they are, in the best position to be successful. At the same time understanding where they’re deficient in some areas and guard against those deficiencies.”

Van Pelt would say that the offense he plans to run will be “similar” to the Browns’ system, which Van Pelt came from, under head coach Kevin Stefanski, but not the “same.”

That could mean a balanced approach that relies heavily on play action.

“I’ve taken pieces of a lot of different offense in my time and kind of melded those together for what’s best for us in that time,” Van Pelt said.

The biggest puzzle piece the Patriots still need to find is at quarterback. Van Pelt said he’s met with Mac Jones at Gillette Stadium and didn’t write off the possibility that the 2021 first-round pick could start next season despite his struggles over the past two years.

“Really, right now, everything is on the table. As we go through this process, these last couple weeks, 10 days have just been diving into who are. Trying to evaluate our guys,” Van Pelt said. “We’re trying to understand who we have here as well as looking at other players out there.”

The Patriots own the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and there seems to be a clear line between the top three QB prospects — USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and UNC’s Drake Maye — and all of the rest.

Van Pelt described what he looks for in a QB prospect.

“Decision-making, accuracy, the fundamentals, mechanics, if the guy’s sound,” Van Pelt said. “Big one is leadership. Was he a three-year captain? Why wasn’t he a captain? All of that really plays in together. The big piece for me is the leadership, the toughness, the accuracy and the decision making. You can switch them around. All four are super important.”

The options are more limited in free agency, but Baker Mayfield is currently slated to be available next month. Patriots de-facto GM Eliot Wolf and front-office executive Alonzo Highsmith were in Cleveland when Mayfield was drafted. Van Pelt served as Mayfield’s offensive coordinator for two seasons, and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney was on the Browns’ offensive staff at the time.

Jones and Bailey Zappe are still under contract with the Patriots. Nathan Rourke is an exclusive-rights free agent.

How the Patriots’ offense plays will likely be determined by who’s playing quarterback.

“The good news is I’ve done it a ton of different ways. I’ve been under center at times. I’ve been in shotgun a ton. I’ve had issues with personnel in certain areas and been able to adjust and adapt to that. … There’s a lot of different schemes out there. The best ones put the players in position to be successful.”

Van Pelt will be calling plays in a full-time basis for the first time since 2009.

He was the Bills’ offensive play-caller that season and filled in for Stefanski for two games with the Browns in 2020. He got his first chance as a play-caller for the Frankfurt Galaxy way back in 2005.

It’s definitely different,” Van Pelt said. “Obviously the more responsibility you have for calling the plays. I’m excited about doing it. I’ve had opportunities to do it in the past at different levels. I got to call a whole season in NFL Europe, which was a blast. Cut my teeth there and got to learn how to do it. Made a ton of mistakes and no one cared. Really, they just wanted to see you kick the ball, which is awesome. A lot of cheering.

“That was a great experience for me and then I got thrown into it in Buffalo in 2009 and our opening game was here unfortunately against the Patriots on a Monday night. Felt like we had them on the ropes until the very end. Gained a lot of experience in that season, as well, and then had a chance to call a few games during the COVID season. I think I’ve just gotten more experience and feel way more comfortable than I did in that Monday night here. Excited about the opportunity. It’s a collaborative effort. It’s not just going to be me.”

Patriots senior offensive assistant Ben McAdoo has called plays in the past and will help Mayo with his head coaching experience.

The NFL season starts in just over six months, but the Patriots’ staff is working overtime with the scouting combine and free agency on the horizon to determine what the offense will actually resemble in 2024.

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