Foxboro Farewell: New England Patriots' Bill Belichick Still a 'Super Bowl' Coach?
A surreal New England Patriots year that began by honoring Tom Brady in the season opener might end Jan. 7 at Gillette Stadium with Bill Belichick's final curtain call.
Belichick is about to be the former coach of the New England Patriots. Despite his dented reputation and stubbornness toward the offensive side of football, will he remain a current coach capable of winning a Super Bowl?
While the Pats play out the string of a disastrous season, it's become more evident that owner Robert Kraft has decided to part ways - likely via trade - with the future Hall of Famer. Under contract in Foxboro for next season, Belichick remains an asset and will bring New England assets (draft picks?) from his next team.
Given the Pats' feisty performance this year - even without leading pass-rusher Matthew Judon and best cornerback Christian Gonzalez - most experts still consider him to be a defensive mastermind. But with his revolving-door coordinators, antiquated plays, inconsistent handling of quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, and atrocious record without Brady, the consensus is also that Belichick needs help on the offensive side of modern football.
Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick in happier times with the Patriots.
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes the 71-year-old Belichick still has enough of his fastball left to lead his next team to a championship.
“I think coach-wise, he’s a coach you can win a Super Bowl with still,” Orlovsky said this week on WEEI's Jones and Mego. “Just watch the defense play. I thought the defense was going to fall off this year after the injuries to Gonzalez and Judon. They’re still playing at a pretty darn high level.”
Indeed, while the offense has floundered to historically horrible production - including two shutouts at home - Belichick's defense has mostly kept the Patriots competitive. New England hasn't allowed more than 20 points in five games and has lost three times surrendering only 10, 10 and six.
“How much of that is lack of talent and how much of that is a poor plan?," Orlovsky asked about New England's putrid offense. "I still sit here and say that he is one of these handful of coaches that you, without a doubt, can win a Super Bowl with as your leader.”
After a drastic decline on offense and several whiffs in personnel evaluation, Kraft is apparently convinced Belichick is no longer that "leader" in Foxboro.
