Josh McDaniels settling back in at Patriots training camp

McDaniels is excited about all the potential of the New England offense.

APNew England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and center Dan Koppen, center, work on their technique as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, right, looks on during practice on the first day of training camp at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Thursday, July 26, 2012.

FOXBOROUGH – New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels already feels right back at home, but that doesn’t mean the scenery is the same as he left it.
And that is a good thing.

“The tight ends are different, the backs are a lot younger,” McDaniels said. “Things have changed.”

When McDaniels left to coach the Denver Broncos, the Patriots were coming off their historic 2007 season and the offense centered on a wide receiver corps headlined by Randy Moss. Now, things are more about the tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who are complemented by a talented group of receivers that includes Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd.

At times, looking around at all of the talent at his disposal, McDaniels has felt like a kid who doesn’t know which toy to play with. Some have wondered, with so many talented players, if there will be enough balls to go around to keep everyone happy, but McDaniels doesn’t think that it will be an issue.

“It’s not a challenge because to me, it’s what you’re hoping for,” McDaniels said. “You hope you have a lot of great people that can do great things.”

Wes Welker says that he’s noticed a more mature McDaniels and that the coach has already added some wrinkles to the offense that he picked up while coaching in Denver and St. Louis.

Others voiced an appreciation for the hands-on approach that McDaniels has taken with the offense during training camp and minicamp.

“I think he really loves being around the game, loves coaching these guys, always instructing guys on certain things,” Branch said. “I always feel he could play, if he had a little bit more talent. If he was a little bit more stronger he’d probably have a chance. He loves the game.”