marcus

The more you see what they are doing and more importantly NOT doing...the clearer it becomes.
The patriots are making many spots available for younger players acquired through the draft in 4 weeks or the up and coming unrecognized free agent talent that they will sign between now and June.
There still are enough top quality character veterans on both sides of the ball to help transition in the new talent.
This will help the Patriots VERY quickly go from one of the oldest teams in the league to one of the youngest.
This will allow the Patriots over the next year to make a big transition in terms of youth and speed, while still remaining competitive.
The huge payoff will be in 2007-2009, when all of this infusion of youth and speed becomes seasoned and they will be able to make another extended run.

They will still focus on doing everything they can to keep the few true core players (Brady, Seymour, Branch, Watson, Wilfork). But other than those few guys they are prepared to let any other player walk if the price is not right.


The big difference for the Patriots' darft in 4 weeks relative to many other teams (whoa re locked in at many postions with high priced free agents) is that it is likely that 4-5 of teh Pats draftees will have major chances at starting or becominfg key backups right away.


Yes, the past month has been hard to sit by and watch all tehse big names go off teh board. But Belicheck and Piolo know better than John clayton, Michael Felger or Borges...what system they want to
play and what type of player will fit in and can play it.


Lastly, because Mangini, Crennell and others are now on other teams within the AFC...The Patriots have to make major changes in personnel and philosophy to stay a step ahead of the other teams with ex patriots players.

The best way to do that is big time changes on offense and Defense both with Philosophy and personnel. Scouts will not have a great read on capabilities of palyers taken through teh darft or these lower tier free agents.


I think Pioli and BB's plan is brillliant and NECESSARY. They ahve to chnage into a comletely new team. THe old ways will likely not work as well as teams are very prepared for the old ways.

2006 will be a good year...But look for 2007-2009 to be MORE GREAT YEARS.
BB and Pioli are brilliant and are light years ahead of the rest of teh predictable GM's and coaches in the league.

NE PATS fans are so lucky to have BB and Pioli!

JDSal45

This is a good post. My take on what the Pats are doing is taking into consideration this is somewhat of a unique offseason and the ground rules have changed.

With the new CBA, the cap is way up and will be even further up next year. What the Pats aren't doing is repeating the mistakes other teams are repeating when the cap first came into existence, i.e. rushing up to the new high level as quickly as possible, all in one year, with long term deals.

There will be other offseasons. There are the Pats own players to sign. The Pats are maintaining flexibility not just for this year, but for future years. I don't think every team can say that. They have a competitive team now, but want to in the future too. By avoiding long-term deals with the current crop of free agents, which to be honest really wasn't that impressive, they'll have less dead money in the future and more room to add true difference makers, as well as keep their own core. Meanwhile, some of the guys who were "big signings" this year will be unproductive, cut in 2 years and leave teams cashed strapped like the old days. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Its just at a new cap level now and teams have room to screw up again. Its history repeating.

We'll be thankful in a few years the Pats were smart and thought it all out while other teams are against the cap and cutting guys. We can compete this year and we will sign more guys. But it will be to smart deals. And we'll be well-positioned next year to re-sign our many free agents and add some guys as well.

J D Sal

BradyisGod

This is a great point that NO ONE is talking about. With the Belichick coaching tree branching out, you have to change, or everyone knows your secrets...

pats1

Right on. And the players that will comprise this year's team when camp breaks will be set to overachieve, Ã* la 2001.

Which is completely evident even outside of his tree. Marvin Lewis' "just do your job" philosophy can be heard 10,000 times in 3 GTG. Or, take as an example the influx of teams using the 3-4 now.

Feep_FLA

I liked the post and the follow-up as well. I think there is much food for thought here. I get the distinct feeling Scott and Bill know EXACTLY what they are doing this off-season. I agree that they are, in fact, positioning the team to get "younger" very quickly. By 2007 TC will be as much younger team. Talent and youth is a longterm winning combination.......

Krugman

I like your reasoning,its right on,IMO.

__________________
In Belichick we trust....
"Crush your enemies,see them driven before you,hear the lamentation of the women." Arnold Schwartzenegger doing his BB impression.

RayClay

Also, the Pats are quietly signing a core of useful, affordable players.

Hawkins, Gus Scott, 5 of their OLine signed long term.

A good special teams guy and backup DB in Mel Mitchell.

Brown and Caldwell.

I know these aren't exciting signings, but they allow us to play ball if our dream free agent/draft pick doesn't come through.

That's how we get so "lucky" with late cuts etc.

We find players like Phifer for cheap that are better than the LBs signed for big money in the early phase.

It's not just about depth, it's about having players that can do the job available, allowing us to be patient and get great value.

By contrast, some teams that signed big names will scramble to fill holes at the last minute.

They will overpay and under analyze leaving big gaps especially when injuries strike.

__________________

holyredeemer

I hope BB and PIOLI always know what they r doing.....

PATRIOTS-80

I absolutely agree. Hopefully, this draft will make the team younger and contribute to many good years down the road. BB cannot afford to "stand pat" and let the team all go old at the same time and crash. We have to constantly get younger and find the replacements to Drew Bledsoe, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Damien Woody, David Patten, David Givens, Ted Washington, Keith Traylor, Bobby Hamilton, Phifer, Ted Johnson, McGinest, Tebucky Jones, Otis Smith, Terrell Buckley and of course, Adam, while in the meantime, locking up the key cornerstone players, like Brady and Seymour, and maybe Branch and Watson and Bruschi.

Newtonian

While the players may change significantly (but coaching strategy less so IMHO), I think the one major constant is an unwavering commitment to quality depth across-the-board as the best way to stay consistently competitive through the rigors of an entire season (and post-season). Their use of this depth to compensate for injuries over the long haul has been remarkable. They have been gradually becoming younger for the last couple of seasons, starting with the defensive line, then to the secondary which will continue but with the next emphasis being at LB.