Defense Proposal Question: hire Romeo Crenel as DC

[Kid~Brady]

Sooooo, I honestly think this defense needs a revamp, a fresh set of eyes to get these guys going and maybe pick up some better talent in the draft. Not taking anything from Bill or Scar, but I really think we need to go in a new direction as far as defensive coordinator goes. We've been stuck in this funk for some years now and its very frustrating.

Examples:

1. Greenbay: terrible defense... Dopm Capers comes in and they win a Superbowl.

2. Houston: Their defense set all types of records for being bad a few years ago. Wade Phillips comes in and they have a top 5 defense.

3. St. Louis: Terrible defense, bottom of the league. Jeff Fisher comes in and they are now a top 10 defense.

Proposal: What if the Kansas City Chiefs fire Romeo after this season, which actually should happen, what do you think about picking him up for the Patriots defensive coordinator? I know its a stretch but maybe the potential ROI (sorry, my accounting background taking over ) could be worth it.

Thoughts?

 

[resdubwhite]

Romeo has been out of work before and the D sucked.

bill never called him.

I don't think he ever will.

 

[Kontradiction]

Examples:

1. Greenbay: terrible defense... Dopm Capers comes in and they win a Superbowl.

Defense made the jump when a handful of young guys, Sam Shields for example, stepped up big time in that season. They regressed the next year and the defense took a dump even with Capers at the helm.

2. Houston: Their defense set all types of records for being bad a few years ago. Wade Phillips comes in and they have a top 5 defense.

Worst secondary in the NFL in 2010. Phillips shifts it to a 3-4, which was actually more conducive to the talent they had available, and they totally revamp the talent in their secondary. The turnaround happens then.

3. St. Louis: Terrible defense, bottom of the league. Jeff Fisher comes in and they are now a top 10 defense.

Again, Jeff Fisher totally revamped that secondary by bringing in Cortland Finnegan and drafting a handful of talent on that side of the ball. The results are baring themselves out now.

Proposal: What if the Kansas City Chiefs fire Romeo after this season, which actually should happen, what do you think about picking him up for the Patriots defensive coordinator? I know its a stretch but maybe the potential ROI (sorry, my accounting background taking over ) could be worth it.

You could bring Vince Lombardi in as the DC and this defense wouldn't improve. It's a TALENT issue.

 

[cardiak]

Here's a proposal, we should be demoting the NFL's worst playing cornerback and move him to the bench or unemployment line. QBs throwing at Arrington this year have a 155.8 QB rating and a 80% completion percentage. He was just as bad last year except he got lucky and found a ton of passes that were thrown or tipped right at him for interceptions.

How this front office has managed to collect and keep such a worthless handful of players to play back there is beyond me. This next draft should be #1 CB, and get a top CB or safety from free agency.

 

[Marqui]

You could bring Vince Lombardi in as the DC and this defense wouldn't improve.

I'm not sure if that's true. Do teams like Oakland and Miami really have that much more defensive talent than the Pats do?

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm not sure if that's true. Do teams like Oakland and Miami really have that much more defensive talent than the Pats do?

In the secondary, yes. I would take Sean Smith, for example, over the vast majority of players currently in our secondary.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Defense made the jump when a handful of young guys, Sam Shields for example, stepped up big time in that season. They regressed the next year and the defense took a dump even with Capers at the helm.



Worst secondary in the NFL in 2010. Phillips shifts it to a 3-4, which was actually more conducive to the talent they had available, and they totally revamp the talent in their secondary. The turnaround happens then.



Again, Jeff Fisher totally revamped that secondary by bringing in Cortland Finnegan and drafting a handful of talent on that side of the ball. The results are baring themselves out now.



You could bring Vince Lombardi in as the DC and this defense wouldn't improve. It's a TALENT issue.

I was actually going to incorporate this information into my post. I thought we should've made a spalsh at this guy since we obviously don't know how to draft cornerbacks. He could've made a great veteran for the young defensive backs here and instantly made the secondary that much better.

 

[RodThePat]

Sooooo, I honestly think this defense needs a revamp, a fresh set of eyes to get these guys going and maybe pick up some better talent in the draft. Not taking anything from Bill or Scar, but I really think we need to go in a new direction as far as defensive coordinator goes. We've been stuck in this funk for some years now and its very frustrating.

Examples:

1. Greenbay: terrible defense... Dopm Capers comes in and they win a Superbowl.

2. Houston: Their defense set all types of records for being bad a few years ago. Wade Phillips comes in and they have a top 5 defense.

3. St. Louis: Terrible defense, bottom of the league. Jeff Fisher comes in and they are now a top 10 defense.

Proposal: What if the Kansas City Chiefs fire Romeo after this season, which actually should happen, what do you think about picking him up for the Patriots defensive coordinator? I know its a stretch but maybe the potential ROI (sorry, my accounting background taking over ) could be worth it.

Thoughts?

Look at those team's personnel. They all started turning it around when they got better pass rushers and better cornerbacks. The Packers defense started improving with the emergence of B.J Raji, Clay Matthews, Sam Shields and Tramon Williams. The Texans had several good drafts in a row, acquiring guys like Brian Cushing, JJ Watt, Brooks Reed, Connor Barwin, Kareem Jackson and going after Jonathan Joseph in free agency. The Rams' defensive improvement coincided with the arrival of Corland Finnegan, Janorris Jenkins, coupled with the development of Chris Long and Robert Quinn at DE. Obviously, coaching played an important part in that turnaround, but those teams also had some pretty good young talent coming in.

 

[Kontradiction]

I was actually going to incorporate this information into my post. I thought we should've made a spalsh at this guy since we obviously don't know how to draft cornerbacks. He could've made a great veteran for the young defensive backs here and instantly made the secondary that much better.

Can't say I disagree with that. They should have paid more attention to LaRon Landry as well. Both guys would have been better than the guys we currently have at their respective positions and would have brought an added nastiness to our secondary to go along with the nasty disposition of our front seven.

 

[mayoclinic]

You could bring Vince Lombardi in as the DC and this defense wouldn't improve. It's a TALENT issue.

I don't really agree with that.

There's nothing wrong with the front 7. We could use a bit more at LDE - which we would have had if Jonathan Fanene had worked out, or if Red Bryant had signed, so it's not like the FO didn't try - but there's a lot of "talent": Vince Wilfork, Chandler Jones, Jerod Mayo, Dont'a Hightower, Brandon Spikes, Kyle Love, Rob Jinkovich, Jermaine Cunningham. Hightower has missed some time which has hurt, particularly in the Seattle game. But there's more than enough "talent" there to be a successful defense. We're one LDE away and one coverage LB (which we would have had if Dane Fletcher hadn't gotten hurt) away form having a dominant front 7.

The secondary is a mess, but still, there's some talent. But it's being misused like crazy. Devin McCourty excels in zone coverage and sucks in man coverage while Ras-I Dowling sucks at zone coverage and is suited to press man coverage. Kyle Arrington shouldn't be starting at outside CB. Move McCourty to FS with Tavon Wilson and let Dowling and Dennard start outside. Use Pat Chung as a "coverage LB" or hybrid safety/LB role since we're lacking a coverage LB, and let Steve Gregory be the 3rd safety/jack of all trades DB that he excelled at being in San Diego. Gregory, Arrington and Sterling Moore can fight for the nickel/dime role. Better yet, trade for a CB in the next week or so. I've suggested Aqib Talib, who has 2 weeks left to serve on his Adderall suspension. Talib/Dowling/Dennard would be a pretty solid CB group with McCourty/Wilson/Gregory.

The defense isn't that far off being fixable. Hightower and Gregory have been out, and the secondary has been mismanaged big time. It could be decent this season, and we're 1-2 players from being a really good defense.

 

[ralmat55]

You could bring Vince Lombardi in as the DC and this defense wouldn't improve. It's a TALENT issue.

The Patriots defensive line has 2 1st round draft picks and 2 2nd rounders. The linebacking corp contains 2 1st rounders and a 2nd rounder, and the secondary has a 1st rounder and 3 2nd rounders including the 33rd and 36th picks overall in their respective drafts plus a 7th round player who was going to be a 2nd rounder if he hadn't had a run-in with the law days before the draft.

The Patriots could field a base defense consisting of 5 1st rounders and 6 2nd rounders. Players don't get drafted that high if they don't have the physical skills to play in the NFL. The idea the Patriots' defense lacks physical talent is a fallacy. This is a coaching problem plain and simple. Belichick, Patricia, Boyer and Flores are not developing this talent with sound techniques and effective schemes or just plain good coaching.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Look at those team's personnel. They all started turning it around when they got better pass rushers and better cornerbacks. The Packers defense started improving with the emergence of B.J Raji, Clay Matthews, Sam Shields and Tramon Williams. The Texans had several good drafts in a row, acquiring guys like Brian Cushing, JJ Watt, Brooks Reed, Connor Barwin, Kareem Jackson and going after Jonathan Joseph in free agency. The Rams' defensive improvement coincided with the arrival of Corland Finnegan, Janorris Jenkins, coupled with the development of Chris Long and Robert Quinn at DE. Obviously, coaching played an important part in that turnaround, but those teams also had some pretty good young talent coming in.

Yet another player that could've been in a Patriots uniform.

I know, I know... I'm being a nitpicky jerk. I'm just fed up with this defense.

 

[ralmat55]

With that said, Romeo Crennel is not the solution.

 

[Marqui]

With that said, Romeo Crennel is not the solution.

Why not? Not saying he is but just asking.

 

[Kid~Brady]

With that said, Romeo Crennel is not the solution.

Not certain.

I just gave some examples of other organizations that were brushed over with a new face and I just think changes like this helps sometimes. Of course, you're right, theres no guarantee that it does but I think there's a chance it might.

If not Crennel, who then? Something has to give with this current situation. I'm sick and tired of seeing this secondary play the way it does. I just mentioned Crennel because he might be available, he already has rapport with BB and he's a good defensive mind.

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't really agree with that.

There's nothing wrong with the front 7. We could use a bit more at LDE - which we would have had if Jonathan Fanene had worked out, or if Red Bryant had signed, so it's not like the FO didn't try - but there's a lot of "talent": Vince Wilfork, Chandler Jones, Jerod Mayo, Dont'a Hightower, Brandon Spikes, Kyle Love, Rob Jinkovich, Jermaine Cunningham. Hightower has missed some time which has hurt, particularly in the Seattle game. But there's more than enough "talent" there to be a successful defense. We're one LDE away and one coverage LB (which we would have had if Dane Fletcher hadn't gotten hurt) away form having a dominant front 7.

The secondary is a mess, but still, there's some talent. But it's being misused like crazy. Devin McCourty excels in zone coverage and sucks in man coverage while Ras-I Dowling sucks at zone coverage and is suited to press man coverage. Kyle Arrington shouldn't be starting at outside CB. Move McCourty to FS with Tavon Wilson and let Dowling and Dennard start outside. Use Pat Chung as a "coverage LB" or hybrid safety/LB role since we're lacking a coverage LB, and let Steve Gregory be the 3rd safety/jack of all trades DB that he excelled at being in San Diego. Gregory, Arrington and Sterling Moore can fight for the nickel/dime role. Better yet, trade for a CB in the next week or so. I've suggested Aqib Talib, who has 2 weeks left to serve on his Adderall suspension. Talib/Dowling/Dennard would be a pretty solid CB group with McCourty/Wilson/Gregory.

The defense isn't that far off being fixable. Hightower and Gregory have been out, and the secondary has been mismanaged big time. It could be decent this season, and we're 1-2 players from being a really good defense.

Aside from maybe an improvement at DT next to Wilfork (and I'm not that low on Kyle Love either), the front seven is fine. I would like to eventually see a move back to the 3-4, but the front seven itself is stout. As you say, the secondary is a mess...

1. McCourty is awfully inconsistent and struggles in man coverage.

2. Arrington is one of the worst corners in the league.

3. Dowling is injury prone.

4. Dennard is a promising rookie.

5. Sterling Moore gets burned a lot and struggles with receivers he can't physically impose his will on.

6. Patrick Chung is bad against coverage and solid against the run. His skills don't exactly scream Pro Bowler in today's NFL.

7. Steve Gregory is just north of a JAG, has had injury issues throughout his time in the NFL, and was usually caught out of position with the Chargers.

That's six out of seven guys that regularly see playing time in the starting units that can either be replaced or improved upon. To expand on my position, many of the same compaints were made about Pees a few years back. One of the greatest defensive minds in the history of the game took over for him the next season. The results were largely the same. That same mind was the DC last year... he oversaw the second worst pass defense of all time. Again, it's not a coaching issue. It's a talent issue.

 

[mayoclinic]

Not certain.

I just gave some examples of other organizations that were brushed over with a new face and I just think changes like this helps sometimes. Of course, you're right, theres no guarantee that it does but I think there's a chance it might.

If not Crennel, who then? Something has to give with this current situation. I'm sick and tired of seeing this secondary play the way it does. I just mentioned Crennel because he might be available, he already has rapport with BB and he's a good defensive mind.

There are good defensive minds out there. Look at what Vic Fangio has done with San Francisco. The key is rapport with BB. That makes it much, much tricker. I don't know the answer to your question.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Adding Joseph to the Texans secondary was a HUGE upgrade over what they had,It upgraded immediately

 

[ralmat55]

Why not? Not saying he is but just asking.

I'm a conservative old man so it hurts to say this. But, the biggest problem with the Patriots pass defense is old and conservative thinking. Romeo isn't showing any fresh ideas on how to slow a modern pass defense in Kansas City, and I doubt he would bring any back with him to NE.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I was actually going to incorporate this information into my post. I thought we should've made a spalsh at this guy since we obviously don't know how to draft cornerbacks. He could've made a great veteran for the young defensive backs here and instantly made the secondary that much better.

There were roughly $50M reasons Bill opted not to. Not to mention $26.5M additional reasons not to, the most guaranteed money at the position in the history of the league. For a player who hadn't earned that level of contract. St. Louis was desperate and Jeff was the coach who drafted him so we'd have had to top that. Tennessee was only willing to pay him 4/$28M tops. Not sure we'd have even bested that. He's also kind of a jackhole as far as leadership goes. He's been fined and threatened with future suspension for some of his on field performances.