Armchair Quarterback
In the Starting Line-Up
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Re: Taylor Price Waived
A 1st, 2nd or third round pick who gets released (or traded for garbage like B. Johnson was) before their rookie contract is up is a bad pick, call it a bust if you want.
BB the talent evaluator is handicapping BB the head coach, the fact he consistently wins with middling talent is a testament to his coaching skills but the talent level is exposed come playoff time. This is especially true on defense.
That 20/20 hindsight argument needs to be put away forever. It means nothing.
That's an interesting question. There is no question about Wallace's physical talent, but the question remains, would he have as much success if he were in THIS precise kind of system. The Steeler system is a lot simpler, with fewer option routes because of his QB. Also Rothlessberger probably extends more plays after dropping back than any other QB in the league. Wallace seems to be good at freelancing after the initial route.
The point being, just because a player has success in one system,. doesn't mean they'll have it in another. Ochocinco was a VERY productive WR for the better part of a decade, he didn't suddenly forget how to play. This system for one reason or another, doesn't seem to suit him.....at least for now.
I've read only assorted pages. I wasn't going to read all 26, but there seem to be 2 other topics under discussion TPrice, and BB's drafting prowess. I'd like to add my 2 cents on each.
Price is a disappointment. I am surprised that he was released. Personally, I would have thought that if he was making any progress at all they would have kept him, because he did seem to have the physical tools, and his college background could explain his slow progress.
I think he's gone for 3 reasons. 1. We needed a roster spot to get a back up C for this game. 2. Price doesn't play special teams. This was a big problem for him. 3. I'm willing to speculate that they had some problems with his "coachability"/attitude.
BB has an affinity with try hard players. Try hard players are the ones who make their bones on special teams. A guy with Price's physical skills SHOULD have been on every special team, instead he was on none. That's not a good try hard indicator for Price.
As to BB's drafting successes and failures, I don't have too much to add except the following
1. When you have a lot of draft picks, you will have a commensurate number of failures
2. The Pats got enough production from Bethel Johnson that he shouldn't be considered a bust. Chad Jackson is a bust. Taylor Price is a Bust. Johnson is more in the category with Maroney and Ben Watson. Guys who the Pats got decent production from, but were disappointments when compared with expectations.
3. Using 20-20 hindsight to criticize draft picks is lame. Its easy to look smart after the fact. If we were being even remotely honest here, can you imagine the cries for BB's head if we had ever actually drafted Clay Matthews. "How can we pick a guy so high who wasn't even the best pass rusher on his college team".
The fact of the matter is you look brilliant when you hit on a guy, and you look like an idiot when the guy you picked flops and a guy you COULD have gotten turns out to be a star. DI had it right a couple of pages ago. Which brings me to my final point.
4. measuring a team's success by draft success, is like measuring a team's on field success with their rankings in total offense and defensive stats. The fact is that as frustrating as some of these choices have been, you can't question BB's success in the ONE stat that really matters, wins and losses.
He GOT to be doing something right, or wouldn't see all these double digit winning seasons.
5. Well. I guess that wasn't my final point I just thought of 2 more. First is I would like to see fans include how the team does with UDFA when considering how to value a draft. The Pats have had more than their fair share of success in that area.
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6. 2nd would every one had felt better if Deadrick had been drafted in the 3rd round and Price in the 7th. So if BB is an idiot to draft Price in the 3rd, is he a genius to draft Deadrick in the 7th. Perhaps no other team in the league truly lives by the mantra that once you get on the field, it doesn't matter how you came to be on the team, its how you produce.
7. And this really is my final point. One of the things I admire most about Bill is that he isn't afraid to admit a mistake. If a guy isn't working out, he's gone. He doesn't care how it makes him looks. Its like point 6. If the UDFA is outplaying the high draft pick, BB isn't going to keep the pick just to make himself look good. that can't be said of a lot of teams.
A 1st, 2nd or third round pick who gets released (or traded for garbage like B. Johnson was) before their rookie contract is up is a bad pick, call it a bust if you want.
BB the talent evaluator is handicapping BB the head coach, the fact he consistently wins with middling talent is a testament to his coaching skills but the talent level is exposed come playoff time. This is especially true on defense.
That 20/20 hindsight argument needs to be put away forever. It means nothing.
