So who exactly did the BB regime ever develop slowly and successfully? - Page 3 - New England Patriots Forums

efin98 · 04-28-2009, 06:20 AM

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Originally Posted by JackBauer

I don't know; since you seem privy to this information, why don't you tell us?

Burned on about two big plays per game, I believe at least three TDs with one being a major one that took the team out of the game.

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You know this, how?

I believe it Mike Reiss's Pieces blog, I believe he was surprised he made the cut last year...

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Completely and utterly preposterous. First, Chung has shown he can play safety... in college. In case you hadn't noticed, NFL football is an entirely different echelon. Second, everything BB has ever said about Sanders has been both positive and effusive (by BB standards). Third, even if Chung pans out, which I believe he will, Sanders will never be cut because there's simply not that much behind him in terms of depth.

They cut guys last year with a thin depth at CB and LB. If he isn't playing up to their standards then he won't be there depth problems or not.

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Oh, and lest I forget. Do you really, really think they would have inked him to a three year deal, at a respectable salary no less, if there were any chance at all they were considering cutting him later on before/during the season? I mean, use your head.

Actually, yes I do think they would have signed him to that much of a deal if they were possibly going to cut him in the future if he didn't work out for them. If it works out that he isn't performing to their standards they will pay whatever guaranteed to him and he will be gone, and even then it's probably not much at all.

I'll eat my hat if I'm wrong about him.

RayClay · 04-28-2009, 06:20 AM

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Originally Posted by Fencer

That's a different point.

My point in starting this thread is that there's an impression the Pats spend years spinning straw into gold, especially in Professor Dante's O-Line Academy.

I suspect that, while there's some truth to it, it's overstated.

It's overstated. Playing time usually has more to do with need than anything. Because we don't rush players who aren't ready, we don't need to do it in the future. We certainly do it sometimes, but we are aware and give them support.

Mayo was thrown in due to need, don't kid yourself. I'm sure he was mentored and advised to the max, but there was a hole. They threw Eugene Wilson in at a position he'd never played.

When possible, they try to delay starting rookies and let the vets mentor and rookies learn. Seymour didn't start right away, Merriweather hardly played except on teams for a while. Ellis Hobbs was held out because of immaturity, I believe, while Duane Starks did his imitation of a peg leg pirate playing defensive back with major leg and shoulder injuries.

The difference is, many teams feel they have to have that 1st rounder playing because the fans demand it. They get bad habits and big egos, and they start over next year replacing the same guy.

RayClay · 04-28-2009, 06:26 AM

I think the low round picks excelling happens on all teams. It's more about the player than the team IMO.

Dante took a bunch of FA, low rounders and made them decent, but we had a quick, short passing offense. Brady was codled, bur he was so efficient we snuck up on some people in 2001.

Just shows what you can do with great play calling, execution and balance (3 yards and a cloud Antowain smith)

JackBauer · 04-28-2009, 06:26 AM

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Originally Posted by efin98

I'll eat my hat if I'm wrong about him.

Well, I'd get prepared to eat your hat if I were you. The Patriots could have easily signed someone like Sean Jones for equal money, but chose not to do so.

BB has also been very high on Sanders. I'd say there's a 5 percent chance he doesn't make the roster.

RayClay · 04-28-2009, 06:28 AM

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Originally Posted by efin98

That's the point, until he came to New England he was essentially just a special teams guy who made some difference on defense but was mostly unnoticed.

He had more tackles his first year here than he had in four years in Pittsburgh combined, to go along with his anemic six sacks and three forced fumbles...the system here made his career.

Pittsburgh also spends more on high rounders and expensive free agents at the LB position in a given year than we do in ten. We took advantage of a logjam at the position.

TheGodInAGreyHoodie · 04-28-2009, 06:29 AM

We can add a UDFA WR who didn't do much down in Mia and went to the prowbowl this year. Wes Welker.

efin98 · 04-28-2009, 06:32 AM

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Originally Posted by JackBauer

So, despite the fact they didn't draft an OLB this year, you think they're going to cut their best OLB after Adalius Thomas?

Tully Banta-Cain, Vince Redd, Shawn Crable would argue that sentiment about him being the best behind Thomas...

JackBauer · 04-28-2009, 06:38 AM

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Originally Posted by efin98

Tully Banta-Cain, Vince Redd, Shawn Crable would argue that sentiment about him being the best behind Thomas...

At this point, Woods looks like the best player of that group.

They've been grooming Woods for a few a years now. Redd and Crable are pretty young and inexperienced to be full-time starters, and Banta-Cain is what he is... a situational player.

Unless the Patriots bring someone else in, expect Woods to be the starter.

***fgssand*** · 04-28-2009, 06:40 AM

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Originally Posted by Fencer

BB has a reputation for bringing players along slowly and making eventual stars of them. When I look for examples of that, however, the list I come up with is basically:

Tom Brady
Matt Cassel
Asante Samuel
David Givens (not a big star, but clearly a great value)
Stephen Neal (ditto)

Who else, if anybody, am I missing? Seymour, Warren, Wilfork, Mayo, Light, Mankins, Koppen, and others all played significant roles their first seasons. Others -- especially lots of OL and LBs -- did well on STs or as reserves, but hardly became stars.

Is this story perhaps a bit exaggerated?

There cannot be a team of stars......NE development is not only for star starters - but must include all developed starters, back ups and special teamers. Add to that practice squad development and hell, might as well throw in the shadow roster as well.

There are very few teams that have the consistent complete approach to everything they do. I am glad NE is one of the few.

PushnPencils · 04-28-2009, 07:17 AM

As strange as this may sound. I'd add Bruschi.

He was a fan favorite and scrappy player prior to BB's tenure as HC, but didn't achieve greatness until BB came along.