Report: Bill O'Brien's 'Impact is Already Being Felt in Foxboro.' And Failure is No Longer an Option

Jerry Thornton5/10/2023 8:50 PM

Jim Rogash. Getty Images.

Every conversation I've had about the Patriots this offseason, which I'm estimating is around 98.7% of all conversations I've had (and a confirmed 100% of the little talks I like to have with myself), have begun with a mention of Bill O'Brien. Everything else, all the personnel moves, roster additions, draft picks, combined, don't hold a flickering candle to the impact Pats fans are expecting his return to have.

Not that we're asking too much. All we're turning our lonely eyes to him for is to, in no particular order:

Revamp the offense.
Fix Mac Jones to get him back to his 2021 showroom new condition.
Sort out the shambolic O-line, despite no tackles being added in the draft.
Get production out of the two tight ends in a way that bears some resemblance to what he had in 2011.
Take a receiver group that lost the only guy on the roster to have more than 540 yards and make them great.
Bleach all memories of last year's debacle that put the "offensive" into "offense."
Restore balance to The Force.

It's that third-to-last one that we're addressing today. Because word out of Gillette is that the new sheriff in town has already laid down the law. He has implemented a zero tolerance policy on mistakes, failure, and "bad plays" of any kind:

O'Brien has barely started working with this group, has only met his rookies, and already he's giving them all the full Glengarry Glen Ross.

"You can't catch the leads you're thrown, then you can't catch shit! You ARE shit! Hit the bricks, pal, and beat it 'cause you are going OUT! You can't play in the man's game, you can't get open, then go home and tell your wife your troubles. You're a nice guy? I don't give a shit. Good father? Fuck you! Go home and play with your kids. You wanna work here? Catch! You think I'm too hard on you? You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you cocksucker? If you can't take this, how can you take the abuse you get on a route? You don't like it, leave!"

The thing is, I like this receiver group. As much as I have any in years. Despite losing Jakobi Meyers. We know Juju Smith-Schuster has a higher ceiling than Meyers, because he's shown it. Devante Parker was a nice addition when he was healthy, with 17.4 yards per catch. Tyquan Thornton has all the speed and skill to make the all-important Year 2 jump. I've already mentioned my interest in Kayshon Boutte. Demario Douglas is an intriguing long term project from a small school who can benefit from Troy Brown's coaching:

And Lord willing, that guy standing next to O'Brien won't be Kendrick Bourne like it was last year, when he served preposterously long stretches in Matt Patricia's time out chair.

But all of them have been put on notice. The circus has left town. They're going to be held to a high standard, bruised egos and hurt feelings be damned. Just the way any professional should want it.

Again, we've all been hoping for O'Brien to take over and bring this program back to respectability. But I don't think any of us were demanding it be right away. I would've gladly settled for some time right after Memorial Day. But if he wants to start demanding greatness before Mother's Day? He'll get no argument from me.