Bill Belichick's Coaching Tree Sprouts New Limbs

It's a tradition as certain as the changing of leaves in autumn: Every season, coaching talent springs anew in Foxborough.

Over the last four seasons, the New England Patriots have lost several key assistants. This past offseason was no different, with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, special teams coach Brad Seely, and defensive backs coach Dom Capers taking new jobs.

The last time New England experienced this much turnover in the coaching ranks was after the 2004 season, when coordinators Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis left for Cleveland and Notre Dame respectively.

That transition period should be a good barometer of how the team will handle this season. In 2005, the team chose not to hire a de facto offensive coordinator, instead splitting the duties among several staffers. Quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels carried the bulk of the load, and he was promoted to offensive coordinator after the 2005 season.

In 2009, it appears that the Patriots will again not have an offensive coordinator.

At rookie minicamps, quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien took on most of the offensive coordinator's duties, under the watchful eye of head coach Bill Belichick. O'Brien will likely perform most of the playcalling duties, despite his lack of official coordinator status.

2009 will be O'Brien's third year with New England. He began his coaching career at Georgia Tech in 1995, where he rose from graduate assistant to running backs coach to offensive coordinator. In 2002, he was the team's assistant head coach.

Following that season, O'Brien spent two years as Maryland's running backs coach and two as Duke's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

O'Brien got his start in New England as McDaniels' assistant in 2007. Last season, he served as wide receivers coach. In February, he was promoted to replace McDaniels as the team's primary playcaller.

O'Brien appears primed to follow McDaniels' one-year apprenticeship route, and he looks to be the Patriots' future offensive coordinator.

If his offense can replicate the numbers it put up under McDaniels, the Patriots should enjoy another strong season.

Another newcomer to keep an eye on is defensive backs coach Josh Boyer.

Boyer worked as a graduate assistant in 2002 and 2003 under defensive coordinator Dean Pees when Pees was the head coach at Kent State. He joined the Patriots in 2006 as a defensive coaching assistant, and was recently promoted to replace Dom Capers as defensive backs coach.

Boyer will be tasked with improving one of the team's biggest weaknesses in 2008. New England ranked 21st in average gain allowed per pass play and 26th in third down efficiency, numbers which must improve if the team hopes to make a deep postseason run. Boyer's unit will feature three new starters in 2009, and he'll have to incorporate those players successfully into New England's scheme.

Despite all the recent coaching changes, there will be some familiar faces on the Patriots sideline. The team returns nearly all of its defensive coaches, including coordinator Dean Pees, defensive line coach Pepper Johnson, and linebackers coach Matt Patricia.

On the offensive side, the most familiar face is assistant head coach and offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. "Scar," as he is affectionately called by players and fans alike, will celebrate his 25th year with New England in 2009. The last decade he's spent coaching the offensive line.

He joined the team in 1982, and spent his first seven years as a special teams and tight ends coach. In 1989, Scarnecchia left New England for a two-year stint with Indianapolis, before returning to the same position in 1991. Since then, he has been a fixture on the Patriots' sideline

In recent years, Scarnecchia's unit has anchored an offense that set franchise records for fewest sacks allowed, most rushing yards, most passing touchdowns, and highest passer rating.

However, the team allowed 48 sacks last year, after only giving up 21 in 2007. With Tom Brady's mobility limited after knee surgery, Scarnecchia's unit must perform better than they did in 2008. The offensive line's ability to protect Brady will be one of the biggest keys to New England's success this season.

With so many new faces in key coaching positions, Patriots fans may have reason for pause. But recent history has shown that New England's coaching tree has strong roots, and the team's assistants are more than capable of taking on new responsibilities.

It looks like 2009 will be another opportunity for Belichick's tree to blossom and grow, extending its ever-widening reach.