The New England Patriots coaching turnover is underway, with running backs coach Vinny Sunseri the latest to leave the program. The 32-year-old, who is the team’s 2021 running back, will be at the University of Washington. Sunseri will coach the defensive backs under new Huskies defensive coordinator and former Patriots assistant Steve Belichick.
Let’s take a look at what New England’s departure means.The Patriots need a new running backs coachThat’s great. Vinny Sunseri joined the Patriots as a defensive assistant in 2020, then moved to the offense the following year. He has been doing this ever since. Now that he’s gone to college, New England needs to find someone else. Who can it be? There are several candidates worth considering, all of whom are outside the current organizational structure. .
At the top of that list might be veteran coach Stump Mitchell. The 64-year-old worked with new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt at the Cleveland Browns before being fired earlier this year. It wouldn’t be surprising if two New Englanders got together. If the Patriots want to rejuvenate, they could also look to current Browns quality control coach Aston Grant. The former college wide receiver has worked closely with Mitchell in Cleveland for the past four years. Another name to consider is Tyler Tattleton, currently an assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also spent time in Cleveland under Mitchell and even crossed paths with current Patriots executive scout Eliot Wolf with the Browns.
Former Patriots LeGarrette Blount and James White, who joined the team last summer on a Bill Walsh scholarship, are also names to keep an eye on.New England lost a promising young coachA former defensive back and special teams player, Sunseri transitioned to coaching in 2019 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Alabama. The following year, he moved to the Patriots.
Sunseri’s transfer could influence the FA’s decisions
Clearly, in the open markets, money is everything. On the coaching side, New England has a clean slate when it comes to veteran Ezekiel Elliott, their only current free agent.
He looked solid in his first year under Sunseri, but will now have to get used to a different coaching staff if he wants to. Resign with the Patriots.Sunseri’s presence may not be the deciding factor for Elliott, but what it means could have a huge impact on the mix. That means the offense will be completely rebuilt under new coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
