The New England Patriots lost two defensive play callers this offseason, with Brian Flores leaving for the Miami Dolphins and Greg Schiano stepping down after a very brief stint as defensive coordinator.
That has left a void of responsibility. And while Bill Belichick has hired a handful of assistant coaches to help with the turnover, the coach may also take on the play calling duties, according to The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin.
Safety Duron Harmon doesn’t seem worried about Belichick being rusty as a defensive play-caller.
“I mean, coach Belichick, he’s coach Belichick,” Harrmon told reporters last week at Gillette Stadium. “If he’s calling the plays, we’re going to be all right.”
Harmon wouldn’t officially confirm that Belichick is calling plays, however. But if he is, Harmon seems supremely confident.
“This man was calling the defense for the Giants and they won two Super Bowls and coached Lawrence Taylor and stuff. I think if he’s calling the plays, I think he’ll be all right,” Harmon said.
Belichick may have had great success in New York during the 1980s, as Hamon mentioned, but he also called defensive plays for the Patriots in 2010. At that point, New England was transitioning between Dean Pees and Matt Patricia at defensive coordinator.
