New England Patriots: Ranking the Five Best Assistants of the Past Decade

Everyone knows that Bill Belichick has been the mastermind behind the success of the New England Patriots over the past decade, leading the team to three Super Bowl wins in a four-year time span.

It's easy to wonder, though, whether Belichick would have been able to get by without a little help from his friends.

In terms of their head coaching abilities, the apples fell far from the Belichick tree. But these coordinators and assistants all have contributed in big ways to the Patriots being considered the team of the decade.

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5. Eric Mangini

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 09: New York Jets coach Eric Mangini watches on from the sideline against the New England Patriots on September 9, 2007 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Patriots defeated the Jets 38-14. (Photo by Nic

Eric Mangini may have only spent one unimpressive year as defensive coordinator for the Patriots, but many forget that before that, he had five solid years as defensive backs coach.

In 2001, the defense gave up just 15 passing touchdowns all season and nabbed 22 interceptions. They ranked first in both categories in 2003 by surrendering just 11 passing touchdowns and intercepting 29 passes.

"Inconsistent" would be a very polite way to describe him as a head coach with the Jets and the Browns, but Mangini had New England's secondary playing solid football for his duration as defensive backs coach.

4. Dante Scarnecchia

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FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 24: Offensive Line and Assistant Head Coach Dante Scarnecchia of the New England Patriots looks on from the sideline during the game against the New York Jets on October 24, 2004 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The

Keeping Tom Brady has been and remains the No. 1 priority for the Patriots offense. For the past decade, the Patriots have done that incredibly well, and largely have Dante Scarnecchia to thank.

Since joining the Patriots in 1999, Scarnecchia has only ever had one first-round pick to work with on the offensive line. Still, he has coached up several unknown prospects, from low-round draft picks to undrafted free agents, into one of the best offensive lines in football.

They did, after all, win John Madden's Most Valuable Protectors award for the 2010 season.

3. Romeo Crennel

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 06: Linebackers Tedy Bruschi #54 and Roman Phifer #95 of the New England Patriots congratulate defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on Febru

It is because of the work of Romeo Crennel that Tom Brady's detractors have a good argument as to why Brady may not have led the Patriots to a Super Bowl. Were it not for the Patriots' top-ranked defense, who knows whether the Patriots would have won any Super Bowls, let alone three in four years.

Among various top-five rankings across the board, they ranked in the top 10 scoring defenses three times and in the top five twice in Crennel's four years, including ranking first in points scored in '03.

Sure, Crennel had some exceptional personnel, including one of the best defensive-minded head coaches of our generation. But we saw what Crennel is capable of this year in Kansas City, where he helped the Chiefs rank 11th in points scored after finishing 29th in that category in 2009.

2. Charlie Weis

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 20: Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis of the New England Patriots stands on the sidelines during the game against the Miami Dolphins on December 20, 2004 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. Weis was hired as the head coach at Notre

Who knows where the Patriots offense would be today without Charlie Weis. Not only did he help mold Tom Brady into the quarterback he is today, but he helped the Patriots find their offensive identity, which they still largely run today.

Players make plays, but Weis drew up some beauties. Although they were rarely dominant but mainly efficient, the Patriots had a top-10 scoring offense three times from '01-'04.

He may not have cut it as a college head coach, but we saw exactly the positive impact he can have on an offense this past year in Kansas City. He mentored Matt Cassel to a Pro Bowl season.

1. Josh McDaniels

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New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick (right) and Josh McDaniels (center) with quarterback Tom Brady against the New York Jets in an NFL wild card playoff game Jan. 7, 2007 in Foxborough. The Pats won 37 - 16. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Imag

He was criticized early on much like Bill O'Brien is now, despite helping put together the sixth-ranked scoring offense in the league. That criticism didn't last long, as McDaniels helped engineer the historic 2007 Patriots offense that broke every record in the books, including total points scored and total touchdowns.

Yes, the performances of Tom Brady and Randy Moss are largely to thank for that success, but McDaniels certainly tailored the offense to them.

He wasn't done there, though. In 2008, when Tom Brady went down for the season, he mentored Matt Cassel into a fine quarterback after not starting a single game since high school.

After a brief and unsuccessful stint as Broncos head coach, he's once again coordinating an offense, this time working under the man who stopped his '07 Patriots, Steve Spagnuolo.