PATRIOTS Time away has Scarnecchia rejuvenated Team hopes return of veteran assistant can provide boost

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It was February and Dante Scarnecchia was in Stockton, Calif., enjoying retirement with his wife, Susan. Life was good for the coach since stepping away from the Patriots at the end of the 2013 season.

But it was during that trip, at the University of the Pacific, when his cell phone rang. Things were about to change.

When he hung up he told his wife everything — Dave DeGuglielmo was out as the Patriots offensive line coach and Bill Belichick wanted him back in the position he held from 1999 to 2013.

Over the next week and a half, Scarnecchia and his wife talked it over. The two were embracing retirement. They traveled and spent more time with their grandchildren. But after two years removed from coaching, Scarnecchia felt rejuvenated.

"It is a tough decision because you become very used to a very nice lifestyle," Scarnecchia said. "We talked about it, my wife and I, and we decided this would be a good thing on a lot of different levels and as far as the grandkids being able to come to the games for free and just be a part of it all. And I like coaching football. I love coaching football. I didn't retire because I didn't like coaching football. I retired because I got tired of the lifestyle. Two years off, I'm OK."

His return is arguably one of the Patriots' best moves this offseason.

The team’s offensive-line woes came to a boiling point in the AFC Championship Game as Tom Brady was hit 20 times — the most in a game since 2006. Brady was sacked 38 times in 2015 after being sacked 21 times the season before. It was clear that the team needed a change and there was no one better than this 68-year-old former sergeant in the U.S.Marine Corps Reserve.

Scarnecchia is loved, but feared. He’s small in stature, but more than makes up for it on the practice field. He’s a screamer. He’ll push players to the limit. For this group of offensive linemen, it’s exactly what the doctor ordered.

On Monday, Scarnecchia said he’s not changing anything. For him, it’s all about giving his players a chance to be successful.

When asked if the time off taught him anything, Scarnecchia said, no.

“The game's pretty much the same,” Scarnecchia said. "Get off the ball. Hit him. Do a great job of setting, put yourself between the launch point and them with inside-out leverage … We ain't building rockets."

From 1999 to 2013, the Patriots didn’t have to worry about their offensive line coach. With Scarnecchia in the mix, the Pats routinely developed rookies — both drafted and undrafted — into starters. From high-profile prospects such as Logan Mankins, Matt Light, Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer to lesser-knowns, such as Stephen Neal, Joe Andruzzi, Ryan Wendell and Dan Connolly, Scarnecchia's track record of developing starters is top notch.

That’s going to be key for the Patriots, who have a laundry list of young interior linemen including Bryan Stork, David Andrews, Tre’ Jackson, Shaq Mason, Jonathan Cooper, Josh Kline and most recently, Joe Thuney and Ted Karras.

"I really like teaching the game," Scarnecchia said. "I like the relationship with the players. I think the games are a lot of fun. They're agonizing, and they're tough. They're tough, man. When things aren't going well it's really hard. But I think all those things are the things I like the most."

Last month, Mankins and Light told The Providence Journal that the young offensive linemen on the Patriots are in for a rude awakening. Life is about to change for those who have never been coached by Scarnecchia.

In the end, it’ll be sink or swim, but the Patriots should reap the benefits.

"There's no right way or wrong way to do this, but what's important is our way of doing it," Scarnecchia said. "That's what you have to hang your hat on. We're gonna do it this way. It's our way. Everybody lock arms and embrace it. If we do that, we’ll be OK. We’ll have a chance to be successful."