Dante Scarnecchia Explains if Nick Caley Could Call Plays For Patriots

The New England Patriots have entered a really long offseason. Head coach Bill Belichick has to find new assistants because, yes, Josh McDaniels is out. The offensive coordinator left the Patriots to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. How will the Patriots handle his departure? They may not go after an offensive coordinator after all. Dante Scarnecchia says that Nick Caley may call plays for the Patriots in 2022. Does this make sense?

In his interview with Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Scarnecchia talked about Caley’s role with the Patriots in 2022.

“Josh (McDaniels) was title-less but in that role (in 2005),” Scarnecchia said. “So he threw his life into it and was one of the best in the game. It can be done. It has been done. I would suspect if it’s not Billy (O’Brien), it would probably be somebody on the existing staff. And I would suspect like (Bill Belichick) has done the last couple years with the defense, it will be a title-less role. But really, if you’re calling the plays, you’re coordinating the offense.”

Nick Caley may be the best person to call plays for the Patriots in 2022

Caley has been working with tight ends, but he may soon get a different role in New England. Will the Patriots give him the keys to the offense?

“When you coach the tight ends, you’re coaching a position that transcends the entire offense,” Scarnecchia detailed. “He’s involved in the passing game, so Nick has been in every passing-game meeting. And the run game, so he’s been in every run-game meeting. Nick has been in a lot of meetings, as has (offensive assistant) Joe Judge. They’ve got to get somebody who can mentor the quarterback. Somebody has to oversee the offense.”

This makes sense on so many levels. Caley has all the talent and skills to see a bigger role in the upcoming season. He may be the best person to replace McDaniels at this point. Belichick would gladly use someone like Caley. The Patriots lost the chance to make the Super Bowl in 2021.