FOXBOROUGH — There is no one Bill Belichick would rather have in charge of his special teams than Scott O’Brien.

“I’ve coached with Scott going all the way back to 1991,” Belichick said on Sunday. “He is very passionate. He really probably as good a coach as I’ve ever been around. He’s very thorough, great knowledge, work ethic and good ability to communicate with the players and motivate the players.”

And as it turns out, O’Brien, a very young 52 years of age, knows how to get down and dirty with the players he wants to go to battle with.

To show them, during rookie initiation on Sunday morning, O’Brien got down and dirty and wet by laying on the ground and yelling as the players were soaked before the first practice of the day. He, after all, is a rookie, too, beginning his first year with the Pats after the last two with Denver.

So, Sunday morning, O’Brien figured was a great time to show his players he has their back. In turn, there’s no better way to show your boss that you’re committed to your job in EVERY way.

“He’s so thorough in his knowledge in understanding of the subjects he’s teaching that you gain an instant respect for him,” Belichick said. “I don’t think anybody knows any more about the kicking game and the different components of it than Scott does. But at the same time, he is a flexible guy, creative. He understands that players are different and games are different.

“You have to be able to adapt and adjust and he’s had a lot of experience doing that. I do think he brings a good passion to the game. He’s just an outstanding in every aspect, personnel evaluation, game-planning strategy, fundamental teaching at every position in the kicking, including the specialists. He’s probably as good a coach as I’ve ever had the privilege to work with,” Belichick added.

O'Brien is starting his first season as special teams coach of the Patriots. (AP)

Belichick usually reserves such praise for those who provide epic production to his teams. O’Brien’s speciality units have certainly done that. In 16 seasons, O’Brien’s teams have produced 29 touchdowns, including 17 punt returns for scores. He has coached six different players to a combined 10 Pro Bowl berths.

O’Brien, like many Patriots fans, will be turning his focus to the kicking game this camp as everyone wants to know how kicker Stephen Gostkowski will handle life without long-snapper Lonie Paxton, who left after last season to go make snow angels for the Broncos.

Eight-year veteran Nathan Hodel would appear to have the edge over rookie Jake Ingram on paper. But as Belichick reminded everyone on Sunday, what happens on paper doesn’t always translate to the field.

“I’m getting used to both of them and taking it patient,” Gostkowski said Sunday. “I don’t expect as high as success as I would if I had Lonie back again. But I expect to be where I was in a couple of days or towards at the end of training camp. I just can’t overreact to one or two misses here or there because they happen anyway but I can’t have a built-in excuse in my head because of a new snapper.

“They’re working hard and doing good,” the kicker added. “The more they work on it, the better we’re going to get.”

One thing we learned on Sunday is that Scott O’Brien is committed to doing everything in his power to make that so.