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I am torn between 2 things about BB, that are the characteristic, IMO, that separate him from most coaches.
1) The 'one game at a time' approach. Everyone says it, everyone says they do not look past opponents. But, I do not think there has been a team in NFL history that has a better record of NOT losing games they should win. I don't have the numbers, but I'd be willing to bet that the Pats from 01-now have the smallest % of their losses to sub-500 teams. I used to keep track of this, and at one point, I believe up to 2005, Tom Brady had never lost a game to a team that finished under .500. That is just remarkable when you look at all of the great teams that lose games on the road to sub-500 teams. (The only time I can remember us losing to a sub500 team is Miami)
2) TEACHING. I do not believe the Patriots are miles ahead of other teams in evaluating draft talent. I do believe they have had nmore success with the players they drafted in the BB era than anyone has. The record with 1st rounders is tremendous. The record in the mid rounds good, and we have hit quite a feew late day2 picks as well. IMO, this isn't because we know more than other teams on draft day, but because we teach and coach them better. The shining example, is that we have the smartest, best decision making QB in the NFL (in years, by the way) and in his first year as a starter we had no QB coach, and BB himself met with Brady on a daily basis teaching him what defenses are trying to do. Our first round picks become TECHNICALLY SOUND (almost no one is drafted that way) and numerous FAs come here, and get better. I have always thought that the #1 skill a coach needs is to be able to teach players techniques, the philosophy of their position, and the proper mental approach to the game. 99% of the players drafted in the NFL will bust if they never advance beyond where they are the day they are drafted. Success in the draft isn't about drafting a guy who is 'ready to be a star' but to draft a guy and teach him how to be a star.
Of course, a 3rd area is gameplanning, and I think he is the best at that, but I think these 2 areas are more important. The greatest schemes in the world don't work if you dont have players ready and able to execute them.
1) The 'one game at a time' approach. Everyone says it, everyone says they do not look past opponents. But, I do not think there has been a team in NFL history that has a better record of NOT losing games they should win. I don't have the numbers, but I'd be willing to bet that the Pats from 01-now have the smallest % of their losses to sub-500 teams. I used to keep track of this, and at one point, I believe up to 2005, Tom Brady had never lost a game to a team that finished under .500. That is just remarkable when you look at all of the great teams that lose games on the road to sub-500 teams. (The only time I can remember us losing to a sub500 team is Miami)
2) TEACHING. I do not believe the Patriots are miles ahead of other teams in evaluating draft talent. I do believe they have had nmore success with the players they drafted in the BB era than anyone has. The record with 1st rounders is tremendous. The record in the mid rounds good, and we have hit quite a feew late day2 picks as well. IMO, this isn't because we know more than other teams on draft day, but because we teach and coach them better. The shining example, is that we have the smartest, best decision making QB in the NFL (in years, by the way) and in his first year as a starter we had no QB coach, and BB himself met with Brady on a daily basis teaching him what defenses are trying to do. Our first round picks become TECHNICALLY SOUND (almost no one is drafted that way) and numerous FAs come here, and get better. I have always thought that the #1 skill a coach needs is to be able to teach players techniques, the philosophy of their position, and the proper mental approach to the game. 99% of the players drafted in the NFL will bust if they never advance beyond where they are the day they are drafted. Success in the draft isn't about drafting a guy who is 'ready to be a star' but to draft a guy and teach him how to be a star.
Of course, a 3rd area is gameplanning, and I think he is the best at that, but I think these 2 areas are more important. The greatest schemes in the world don't work if you dont have players ready and able to execute them.