Alabama OC Bill O'Brien heading back to the NFL, will join Patriots
Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is heading back to the NFL after two seasons in Tuscaloosa. Early on Tuesday morning, news broke that O’Brien would be returning to the New England Patriots as the team’s new offensive coordinator. Adam Schefter with ESPN was the first to break that news.
O’Brien was hired as Alabama’s new play-caller back in Jan. of 2021 following the decision from Steve Sarkisian to become the next head coach at Texas. The Crimson Tide had seen a tremendous amount of offensive success in the two years under Sark, and fans were hoping for more of the season under his replacement.
During Alabama’s national title season in 2020, Sark led the way in Alabama ranking No. 2 in scoring offense (48.5 points per game) and No. 4 in total offense (541.6 yards per game). The previous season was also outstanding, as the Tide ranked No. 2 scoring offense (47.2) and No. 6 total offense (510.8).
There was back-to-back first-round quarterbacks taken in the 2020 and 2021 NFL Draft in Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones, too. In fact, Alabama saw a total of nine of its former offensive players selected on Day 1 during Sarkisian’s two-year stint as offensive coordinator. That’s an absurd number.
- QB Tua Tagovailoa (No. 5 overall)
- WR Jaylen Waddle (No. 6)
- WR DeVonta Smith (No. 10)
- OL Jedrick Wills Jr. (No. 10)
- WR Henry Ruggs III (No. 12)
- QB Mac Jones (No. 15)
- WR Jerry Jeudy (No. 15)
- OL Alex Leatherwood (No. 17)
- RB Najee Harris (No. 22)
O’Brien’s offenses have produced some NFL talent, but not nearly at the same rate.
Offensive tackle Evan Neal went No. 7 overall last April. Then, receivers Jameson Williams (No. 12) and John Metchie (second round, No. 44) and running back Brian Robinson Jr. (third round, No. 98) all went either on Day 1 or 2. You’re also likely to see quarterback Bryce Young get taken first or second in this upcoming draft.
Still, some felt there wasn’t enough creativity and variance in the offense, especially this season.
Last year, the limitations with the offensive line really capped what O’Brien could do offensively. Yet, Alabama still found a way to get its first ever Heisman-winning quarterback in Young while also ranking No. 4 in scoring offense (41.1 points) and No. 11 in total offense (477.2 yards).
Under O’Brien in 2021, the Crimson Tide ranked No. 6 in scoring offense (39.9) and No. 7 in total offense (488.2). We should note that was with Young suffering a shoulder injury in Week 5 that forced him to miss almost two games and hindered him for a majority of the season.
Some would argue the success was a product of Alabama’s talent. Others would say the talent level on offense wasn’t where we’ve seen it in recent years, and that what O’Brien squeezed out of this group was more than impressive. I’d argue that it actually lies somewhere between those two thoughts.
With that said, I also believe O’Brien’s play-calling was too simplistic and predictable at times. The time to get creative is when there are any talent deficiencies to mask, and Alabama fans just didn’t see enough of it over the past two seasons. Jones and the Patriots could sure use O’Brien in the NFL though.
He was with the organization from 2007-11, which included one year as Tom Brady’s play-caller in 2011. During that season, Brady put up his second-highest passing yardage of his career (5,235) while also throwing 39 touchdowns an 12 interceptions. That success helped O’Brien land the head coaching job at Penn State.
Meanwhile, Jones take a statistical step back in Year 2 in the NFL.
During his rookie season, the former No. 15 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft completed 67.6% of his 352 pass attempts for 3,801 yards (7.3-yard average), 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. This season, his completion percentage took a slight dip to 65.2% while he throw for 2,997 yards (6.8-yard average), 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
As Chris Low of ESPN points out, Alabama’s next offensive coordinator will be its sixth in the last eight seasons.
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