The Patriots reportedly have made a signing as NFL free agency approaches.
No, not THAT one.
New England will add Alabama assistant Joe Houston as an assistant special teams coordinator, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and FOX Sports.
The Patriots lost special teams coach Joe Judge -- who also doubled as wide receivers coach this past season -- to the New York Giants, where he became head coach. With Houston added as a special teams assistant, it could mean the Patriots could promote Cam Achord, a special teams assistant the past two seasons, to oversee special teams. Achord took on a larger role last season with Judge adding receivers to his responsibilities.
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Houston spent last season on the staff of Bill Belichick pal Nick Saban at Alabama, a familiar breeding ground for Patriots players and coaches. He's a former kicker at USC (2009-10) who gained a reputation as a "kicking whisperer." during his tenure as special teams coach at Iowa State.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell told the Des Moines Register: “He’s maybe the best kicking coach in the country.”