[the Talking Can]

i'm sure this is a repost, but is's a good read...wish we had this kind of coverage in KC

Reiss answers a bunch of reader questions in depth, and makes clear that he believes Pioli will end up in KC..several pages

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal...eiss/01_13_09/

This week's mailbag is focused on the coaching staff, and how the Patriots will fill the void left by offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' departure to become Denver Broncos head coach.
Ask Reiss: Patriots Mailbag

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With the Patriots also not expected to have special teams coach Brad Seely and special assistant/secondary coach Dom Capers returning in 2009 - and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli possibly being hired to run the Kansas City Chiefs' football operation - the Patriots are looking at some significant holes.

Thus, the complexion of the team's offseason has changed a bit, putting some added pressure on head coach Bill Belichick to make important off-field decisions.

On to the questions. …

Mike, any idea about who are potential replacements for McDaniels at offensive coordinator?
Matt

A: I can only hypothesize, Matt, as I don't have any concrete answers about potential replacements. The first thing I'd say is that I don't think the Patriots' system will change, so the new coordinator is going to have to adjust to what is in place. That's why a notable name like a Mike Martz wouldn't likely be on the radar and also why I think an internal hire - or someone with a background in the team's system - is most likely. I'd think that receivers coach Bill O'Brien might be a possibility, and I wouldn't rule out Bill Belichick taking a more active role on offense. In addition to losing McDaniels as a coordinator, the Patriots must also replace his work with quarterbacks, which is a consideration here as well. Scot Loeffler, a former Michigan assistant who was with the Lions and was just hired as a quarterbacks coach at Florida, was someone the Patriots had expressed interest in the past. This is purely speculation on my part, but I wonder if he might still be a consideration for that type of QB role.

I was curious about the process by which Josh McDaniels was hired in Denver. Judging from Belichick's comments, it seems like he's been given the blessing of the organization on the way out. This seems to be more along the lines of the Crennel departure and opposite to the Mangini departure. I vaguely remember Belichick not wanting Mangini to take the Jets job because better opportunities would come up. Was Belichick just sour on the Jets organization (understandably, considering how he left them), because the Jets are in the same division or because he felt that Mangini wasn't ready and was trying to look out for him? In the same breath, does that mean that 32-year-old McDaniels is more ready than Mangini was at 35? Or is it because Belichick respects the Broncos organization that much more?
Walter, WorcesterContinued...