Zak Kuhr has turned more than a few heads since stepping in as interim defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, but his impressive game-plans haven’t stopped one senior reporter from naming an out-of-work assistant who’s a favorite of head coach Mike Vrabel as a realistic candidate to replace Kuhr.
The scenario is spelled out by Chad Graff of The Athletic, but he correctly noted the Pats will only have a new DC if Terrell Williams is unable to coach next season. Williams is getting treatment for a serious illness, but “if he’s able to coach next season, it’s presumably still his job,” according to Graff.
Yet, if the Patriots need to make a permanent move, and Kuhr doesn’t do enough during the remaining portion of this season, Graff has a prime candidate in mind. It’s former New York Giants play-caller Shane Bowen, who was also Vrabel’s defensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans.
Graff believes it’s “likely Vrabel would turn to Shane Bowen. Bowen and Kuhr have a good relationship, and Bowen was part of the reason Kuhr worked for the Giants last season, so maybe there is an avenue for them to work together running the defense.”
The idea of Kuhr sticking around will appeal to many after the inside linebackers coach has risen to the occasion at pivotal times in relief of Williams. Keeping Kuhr would appear a stronger move than hiring Bowen, who was never popular among many Giants fans and lost his job this season amid a series late-game collapses.
Zak Kuhr Has Exceeded Expectations for Patriots
Kuhr taking the headset was a key moment in the Patriots’ season. He was tasked with getting a defense bolstered by major dollars in free agency to meet expectations.
Those expectations were already high once Vrabel had hired Williams, considered among the best in class for defensive coaching. Kuhr has cleared those expectations more than once since taking over.
He notably outwitted the Buffalo Bills and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen on the road in Week 5. As Patriots.com Staff Writer Evan Lazar detailed, Kuhr’s unit “played a 41 percent man coverage rate, while they also had several well-timed zone blitzes to keep the Bills off-balance.”
Mixing pressure with disguised coverage in timely moments has become a pattern for Kuhr. The subtle combination worked to flummox veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12.
Kuhr has the Patriots playing a creative, opponent-specific brand of defense that’s serving them well each week. In the process, he’s building a pedigree as a credible coordinator, but Kuhr still lacks the track record of Bowen.
Shane Bowen Needs Career Revival
This isn’t the first time Bowen has been tipped for a reunion with Vrabel in New England. The idea was also mooted by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer after Bowen was let go by the Giants.
Working with Vrabel again could be the ideal way for Bowen to revive his career. His reputation took a hit when Bowen’s play-calling was blasted in public by prominent Giants starters.
Seemingly passive and vanilla schemes and apparent communication issues blighted Bowen’s time with Big Blue. Fortunately, his methods are already well known to Vrabel, so he would face a seamless transition with the Patriots.
Kuhr has done enough to earn the job permanently if the Pats are still without Williams next season, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see Bowen still find a place somewhere on Vrabel’s staff.
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