No one still understands what BB is doing....

[BlitzFritz]

As I am reading Chris Price's book (great job my man!), it occurred to me how flaming ignorant the media is about BB and Pioli. I would even bet the rest of the league is still in the dark.

Couple quick thoughts:

1. Why do people still keep advocating or expecting him to draft an LB in the first round? Doesnt this speak to a complete lack of understanding of what this team is all about?

In my mind, it is about Versatility, and LineBacker based Defense. Your LBs need to be able to do loads of different stuff to give them different looks. Ergo, smart, VETERAN players.

2. Why are people surprised when the Pats go out and sign a bunch of free agents to Incentive Laden contracts, that are cheap? "The Pats went crazy in FA this year". Look it over, they only really spent on AD, just like they spent on Colvin. So again, LBs. Everyone else (so far) has been a bargain for what they do, WITHIN the NEW values by position given a rising cap structure.

I swear, has no one in the media been paying any attention?

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Not true.

On top of Belichick and Pioli's board they had rated Vilma one of their highest prospects if he was still available when they picked. They also had Stewart Bradley ranked pretty high as well last year.

Its all about what that player can bring to the table for this team in year one or latest year two.

Most LB's in college are too raw to play LB for us in most cases.

James Laurinaitis is a player that fits in almost every BB/Pioli category. Height, weight, coverage ability, run stuffing, shedding blocks, plays to his advantages, is considered one of the smartest LB's in the country and has been considered for college player of the year every year he has played.

That is the mold for a BB player.

 

[fair catch fryar]

As I am reading Chris Price's book (great job my man!), it occurred to me how flaming ignorant the media is about BB and Pioli. I would even bet the rest of the league is still in the dark.

Couple quick thoughts:

1. Why do people still keep advocating or expecting him to draft an LB in the first round? Doesnt this speak to a complete lack of understanding of what this team is all about?

In my mind, it is about Versatility, and LineBacker based Defense. Your LBs need to be able to do loads of different stuff to give them different looks. Ergo, smart, VETERAN players.

2. Why are people surprised when the Pats go out and sign a bunch of free agents to Incentive Laden contracts, that are cheap? "The Pats went crazy in FA this year". Look it over, they only really spent on AD, just like they spent on Colvin. So again, LBs. Everyone else (so far) has been a bargain for what they do, WITHIN the NEW values by position given a rising cap structure.

I swear, has no one in the media been paying any attention?

From your post, it sounds like you know what BB is going to do. If so, this puts you in the same category as the media. At this point, I know better than try to guess what BB/Pioli will try to do. Some posters swear he would never take McFadden; some say he'll never take a LB; and so on. I don't believe there is a person alive that knows what he will do except BB himself.

 

[ironwasp]

As I am reading Chris Price's book (great job my man!), it occurred to me how flaming ignorant the media is about BB and Pioli. I would even bet the rest of the league is still in the dark.

Couple quick thoughts:

1. Why do people still keep advocating or expecting him to draft an LB in the first round? Doesnt this speak to a complete lack of understanding of what this team is all about?


I swear, has no one in the media been paying any attention?

I think that the circumstances are different every year, and that the draft class is different every year.

By April 2008 we may be confronted with a LB corps severely depleted by the loss to retirement of Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau. From what I have seen so far, the LB list of free agents for 2008 is pretty slim pickings.

At that point, we face a situation where we can either trade for a veteran, which might be difficult given a dearth of LBs suited to playing inside in 3-4, or we can draft one or two.

So we may get to April with little choice but to go the rookie route.

It's a little like those who argue that there is no way, based on historical draft choices, that the Pats draft highly and splash out major guaranteed cash on a rookie - on say Darren McFadden. In the past few years we haven't had a draft pick in the top 20, and OK so we haven't moved up into the top 10 for a player but that requires an active choice to do so, and we know because Bob Kraft has said so, that the Pats like the value at the bottom of the first round.

But this year, even if SF wins a game or two, we are right up there and requiring an active decision to move down (and a willing partner, which may not be easy as previous drafts have shown teams are generally unwilling to pay the price to move up).

So while I'm certainly not saying that we are going to go out and draft a McFadden or a Laurinaitis, we are facing a hugely different situation in the 2008 draft than has been the case in previous years. And it is one that may provoke a change in behaviour.

 

[solman]

By April 2008 we may be confronted with a LB corps severely depleted by the loss to retirement of Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau. From what I have seen so far, the LB list of free agents for 2008 is pretty slim pickings.

At that point, we face a situation where we can either trade for a veteran, which might be difficult given a dearth of LBs suited to playing inside in 3-4, or we can draft one or two.

Its too bad we won't have anything valuable, like a high draft pick, that we can trade for a veteran LB (plus additional draft picks).

 

[Pathin]

Except that trading -out- of the top 5 is extraordinarily difficult these days. If we end up with the #2 or #3, we might not have any choice but to take it.

 

[ironwasp]

Except that trading -out- of the top 5 is extraordinarily difficult these days. If we end up with the #2 or #3, we might not have any choice but to take it.

Exactly. And quite honestly, if I was GM of another team, I'd think twice about trading with the Pats because every time it happens (Welker, Moss etc) you end up looking dumb. That said, there's a lot of cap space out there this year and so someone might want to take a look at McFadden. He to me looks like the clincher for us in a potential trade. Someone may just be desperate enough for a game breaker to go for it, and so we should enjoy those Adrian Peterson comparisons, because they'll be getting someone's juices flowing somewhere.

 

[patsox23]

As I am reading Chris Price's book (great job my man!), it occurred to me how flaming ignorant the media is about BB and Pioli. I would even bet the rest of the league is still in the dark.

Couple quick thoughts:

1. Why do people still keep advocating or expecting him to draft an LB in the first round? Doesnt this speak to a complete lack of understanding of what this team is all about?

In my mind, it is about Versatility, and LineBacker based Defense. Your LBs need to be able to do loads of different stuff to give them different looks. Ergo, smart, VETERAN players.

2. Why are people surprised when the Pats go out and sign a bunch of free agents to Incentive Laden contracts, that are cheap? "The Pats went crazy in FA this year". Look it over, they only really spent on AD, just like they spent on Colvin. So again, LBs. Everyone else (so far) has been a bargain for what they do, WITHIN the NEW values by position given a rising cap structure.

I swear, has no one in the media been paying any attention?

The general premise is right. Point #2 is right. Point #1 is a coincidence that you're reading into.

 

[scout]

Except that trading -out- of the top 5 is extraordinarily difficult these days. If we end up with the #2 or #3, we might not have any choice but to take it.

The season hasn't even ended yet, either pro or college (more or less). The hysteria over top picks will not start for awhile. I guarantee (chuckle) that someone (Chris Long) is going to grab a lot of attention as a possible #2. Everything is aligning itself, we wait for the Sr. Bowl, the combine, and whatever else is out there. So what if we trade down to say #5 and grab an additional 6th rounder. Then, maybe we make another deal. We will have plenty of teams drooling over the second pick.
There was also a very good article in today's Herald on BB. Talked about BB's collection of books concerning the NFL history and what might be in store for the Jets.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1050066

 

[upstater1]

When Katzenmoyer played under BB one year, Belichick actually used him sell, and I think he appreciated Katz's game.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

When Katzenmoyer played under BB one year, Belichick actually used him sell, and I think he appreciated Katz's game.

Oh, Katz was a magnificent natural athlete, along the lines of Fred Lynn.

Too bad it went down the way it did for the kid....

 

[bishbash]

Its all about what that player can bring to the table for this team in year one or latest year two.

Who do folks think BB and Pioli would pick this year if they had the #1 choice (and, in this hypothetical question, $ was not an issue, in other words not a trade down for extra picks)?

 

[Ring 6]

Not true.

On top of Belichick and Pioli's board they had rated Vilma one of their highest prospects if he was still available when they picked. They also had Stewart Bradley ranked pretty high as well last year.

Its all about what that player can bring to the table for this team in year one or latest year two.

Most LB's in college are too raw to play LB for us in most cases.

James Laurinaitis is a player that fits in almost every BB/Pioli category. Height, weight, coverage ability, run stuffing, shedding blocks, plays to his advantages, is considered one of the smartest LB's in the country and has been considered for college player of the year every year he has played.

That is the mold for a BB player.

I dont think the idea is that BB would never find a LB he would draft high, but that it is very rare that it could happen.
His standards for LBs are much higher than anyone elses, and that also means that almost every LB is higher on other boards than his.

 

[RodThePat]

This is the most commom misconception about Belichick's drafts.

Say we had a shot at Willis at 24 last year. You really think Bill would've passed on him?

 

[Fencer]

I don't believe there is a person alive that knows what he will do except BB himself.

I think Pioli has a very good idea.

Indeed, he probably has a BETTER idea of what BB will do in the draft at this moment than BB does, because BB's attentions are focused elsewhere and Pioli's aren't.

 

[Oswlek]

Except that trading -out- of the top 5 is extraordinarily difficult these days. If we end up with the #2 or #3, we might not have any choice but to take it.

Trading out of the top 5 is difficult if you want to get "fair value" for it.

Most teams sitting at #2 are looking at the option of grabbing a guy like Reggie Bush or Calvin Johnson; guys who seem to be franchise changers. Since they sucked the year before they need chips to build on and it will take a serious offer to force their hand away.

NE, by comparison may drool over certain players like any other franchise, but they may also look at the financials of that investment and decide against it. If that happens they will have their pick of the litter. Why? Because they don't care about getting enough value to dissuade them from taking Reggie or Calvin, they just want to move back.

I can assure you that if Detroit wanted to move back last season, they probably could have taken any one of 5-10 trades. They just decided not to because they stunk. If NE calls up Baltimore after this year and says give me your #1 and your #2 and you can have the second pick they would take it in a heartbeat. NE can most certainly choose to "lose" if they want to and plenty of teams will help them out.

Moving back isn't the hard part, it is getting fair value for it that is hard.

 

[PatsDparty]

Not true.

On top of Belichick and Pioli's board they had rated Vilma one of their highest prospects if he was still available when they picked. They also had Stewart Bradley ranked pretty high as well last year.

Its all about what that player can bring to the table for this team in year one or latest year two.

Most LB's in college are too raw to play LB for us in most cases.

James Laurinaitis is a player that fits in almost every BB/Pioli category. Height, weight, coverage ability, run stuffing, shedding blocks, plays to his advantages, is considered one of the smartest LB's in the country and has been considered for college player of the year every year he has played.

That is the mold for a BB player.

My guess is that they wanted Vilma as a strong safety. I think he would have been too small to be LB in our D.

 

[mac]

The season hasn't even ended yet, either pro or college (more or less). The hysteria over top picks will not start for awhile. I guarantee (chuckle) that someone (Chris Long) is going to grab a lot of attention as a possible #2. Everything is aligning itself, we wait for the Sr. Bowl, the combine, and whatever else is out there. So what if we trade down to say #5 and grab an additional 6th rounder. Then, maybe we make another deal. We will have plenty of teams drooling over the second pick.
There was also a very good article in today's Herald on BB. Talked about BB's collection of books concerning the NFL history and what might be in store for the Jets.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1050066

I wonder how many GM's will want to deal with the Pats.