The return of Josh McDaniels in Foxboro garnered a lot of reactions from analysts and reporters after Mike Vrabel was hired. From being excited that he was back after leaving in 2022 to questioning whether he was the right fit for Drake Maye and the rest of the offense, a variety of takes flooded the airwaves and the internet in the days that followed.
That remains true with training camp right around the corner, despite the number of players who have spoken out about how impactful McDaniels has already been. On top of that, reports and McDaniels himself have shared the work he’s put into revamping his playbook and learn from college campuses around the country, something that should benefit Maye in his second season.
It was already on display during spring practices, as some plays that were run were not made by the OC but were created by another offensive coach. That seems like proof enough that McDaniels is a changed man, but the latest reveal from Hunter Henry further shows that is what fans should expect this fall.
Hunter Henry confirms the Josh McDaniels rumors are true
While speaking to Patriots All Access before the team took their summer break ahead of training camp in a few weeks, Henry was asked about McDaniels’ offense, as he was on the 2021 team that he last coached in New England and put together the best season of his career.
The tight end spoke about the similarities between the offense from four years ago and now, but also emphasized that different elements have been added for the 2025 season, especially since Drake Maye is now under center.
#Patriots TE Hunter Henry on OC Josh McDaniels’ offense:
“It’s a lot of similar things… getting a feel for things… Working through it with Drake [Maye]. Obviously it’s different in how he sees things. We’ve added a few new flavors to the offense…”
(🎥 Patriots All Access) pic.twitter.com/60YHcFeDWe
https://twitter.com/LosTalksPats/status/1936461970791911866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This is a crucial update that many doubters needed to hear, even though it will likely be something we’d all notice once the preseason begins. Regardless, the debate over whether McDaniels has truly worked on his playbook can now be put to rest, as Henry further confirmed this to be true.
The interesting part of all this will be how much it has changed and how different the offense will be from what we have grown accustomed to with the current offensive coordinator. That makes it especially curious, considering the difference in quarterback style between Tom Brady and Maye.
Therefore, seeing how McDaniels can adapt and improve upon the kind of plays he called with Cam Newton will be a point of emphasis this fall.
