Patriots special teams coach Scott O'Brien watches his players stretch before Monday's practice.

Journal photo / Bob Thayer

FOXBORO — Scott O'Brien didn't have to do it — he's far from a rookie coach.

But on Sunday morning, as the New England Patriots' rookie players had to slip and slide through a fresh mud puddle before training camp practice, O'Brien, who has 19 NFL coaching seasons under his belt, dove right in.

Watch a Patriots practice these days, and it's easy to see that jumping in is just O'Brien's way. The special-teams coach is running up and down the field, directing players to go here and there, showing them how to block and who to block and which holes to run through.

His passion is obvious, and infectious.

"My standpoint, and I'm sure a lot of guys feel this way — when you have a coach like that, you don't want to let him down," second-year player Matthew Slater said. "You know he'll put his stuff on (the line) for you, so you have to go out there and put it on the line for him each and every day.

"He gets me excited about special teams in general, not just kick returns, but whether it's covering a kick or covering down on a punt or blocking for somebody on punt return, he just has a passion for it and I think it is rubbing off on the guys."

As a former special-teams coach himself, Bill Belichick has a great appreciation for the men who tutor that phase of the game. They work with nearly every player on the roster at some point, and therefore have to be able to deal with different personalities, skill sets, and attention spans.

And Belichick believes O'Brien is among the very best.

"He's probably as good a coach as I've ever been around. He's so thorough with his knowledge and understanding of the subjects that he's teaching that you gain an instant respect for him. I don't think anybody else knows the kicking game and the different components of it better than Scott does, but at the same time he's a flexible guy. He's creative," Belichick said. "He's just an outstanding coach in every aspect: personnel evaluation, game-planning, strategy, fundamental teaching at every position."

"Oh, man, he is detailed," core special-teamer Le Kevin Smith said of O'Brien's methods. "He wants everybody to know everything they're doing to the fullest. Every aspect, he goes through it every day."

Asked if the 52-year old Wisconsin native makes playing for him fun, Smith barely paused.

"You know what? Special teams doesn't seem like a burden with him. He's so upbeat and so ‘come on!' and he lets you know why you're doing what you're doing. For me, that makes it easy. Any time I know the rhyme or reason behind something, it makes it easier."

O'Brien got his NFL start with Belichick in Cleveland in 1991. Before that, he had bounced from his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Superior to UNLV, Rice and the University of Pittsburgh.

In the pro ranks, his units have been among the league's best. During his five seasons with the Browns, Cleveland tied for the NFL lead with eight special-teams touchdowns, and punt returner Eric Metcalf earned two Pro Bowl berths. He remained with the Browns for three years when they moved to Baltimore, and six more touchdowns were posted.

O'Brien has also coached with the Panthers, Dolphins and Broncos, where he was for the last two years.

New England is just a few days into training camp and the start of a long season, and in recent years its special-teams units have consistently been among the better ones in the NFL. But Ray Ventrone, for one, feels special teams has gotten a little better each day under O'Brien's watchful eye.

He's helped with individual improvements as well — right now, Slater is best remembered for fumbling a kickoff against the Steelers last year. With top returner Ellis Hobbs now in Philadelphia, Slater may be one of those asked to handle those duties.

O'Brien has given him a great deal of confidence that he'll be just fine when another kick comes his way.

"All the great ones were young at one time. They made mistakes too," O'Brien explained about helping Slater. "It happens. It's how you learn to deal with it mentally. If you understand what's happened, you can deal with it. If you never understand a situation, not matter what it is and why things went wrong, you can't let it go. You have to learn from it, good or back, and move on.

"There have been great returners in this league — great returners — that have dropped balls."

With a coach who wears his passion as obviously as a wet and muddy shirt, it seems unlikely Slater or the Patriots special teams will make many mistakes.

smanza@projo.com