New OC Chad O'Shea discusses his offensive philosophy

O’Shea, during a nearly 15-minute interview with the Miami Herald Wednesday, was more than happy to discuss his philosophy and New England’s scheme and what he wants in a quarterback. And there’s nothing stopping the rest of us from taking that context and projecting it forward.

Will he bring the Patriots’ consistently successful Erhardt-Perkins system with him to Miami? We’ll find out next week, but based on the way he praised it Wednesday, it’s a safe bet.

“I think we’ve been able to put players on the field that share some common traits that are very important in offensive players,” said O’Shea, 46. “Dependability, consistency, ability to adjust, whether it be a different game plan for a different opponent. Whether it be a position that they might not have played previously that we feel is the best role for them to be successful in winning the game. I think that’s something we’ve always asked our players. We’re going to ask you to be in a role that’s to try to win the game.

“It might not be a role that you’ve been best suited for in the past, but it’s a role in which we’re going to put you in because we think it’s the best thing for the team.”

But he won’t squeeze a round hole into a square peg. There’s no better example of this than Julian Edelman, who arrived in Massachusetts as a converted quarterback the same year O’Shea joined Bill Belichick’s staff. Edelman has a rare ability to get open and catch the football, but he did not necessarily fit the Patriots’ system. So New England changed its system to suit his ability.

Ten years, 499 catches and 30 touchdowns later, Edelman’s place in Patriots history is secure. But his story might have been different with a different position coach.

“Coach O’Shea’s had a huge impact on my career,” Edelman said. “We both came in 10 years ago. He’s not only coached me a lot but he’s been kind of like a figure that keeps me intact mentally. He knows how to deal with people in a real way. We have a special relationship because we came here at the same time. I love having him as a coach.”

Added Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett: “I don’t want to be biased, but he’s one of the best receivers coaches I’ve had. He’s helped me a lot.”

In Miami, O’Shea won’t be responsible for five or six players. More like 25.

And he all but acknowledged Wednesday that, if he doesn’t get the right quarterback, nothing else really matters.

The Dolphins are expected to move on from Ryan Tannehill this offseason, and will surely draft his replacement high, either this year or next.

And the traits most important to O’Shea in that position? Accuracy and leadership.

“I think in the end, the decisions the quarterback makes are very important,” O’Shea said, “but the accuracy has as much to do with the success of a quarterback as any other trait he would physically have.”

So keep that in mind as we evaluate the draft class in the next three months. Arm strength is important, but it’s useless without accuracy.

“I truly still believe in the player,” he added. “I think that you can have a system in place, but if you don’t have the right players to fit within that system, the system isn’t going to work. I think it’s important to identify what your players that you have available to you do best and to try to build the system around what those players do.

scotgif wrote:

Personally, I like Haskins. I think he has the body and arm of the modern NFL QB of today.