This SB loss exposes an obvious decline in the quality of our coaching staff since Weis/Crennel departed. Of course, there is some dropoff expected because those guys were great coordinators - but if an undefeated team can be outcoached in a SB, that worries me for future seasons, most of which NE won't have the best team out there.
Our coaching staff has been outcoached in our last 3 playoff losses. Belichick has not had the same effectiveness that he had in our 3 SB runs.
In the playoffs from 2005-2007, he defeated the following coaches: Del Rio (twice), Mangini, Schottenheimer and Norv Turner - none of these coaches has even taken a team to a Super Bowl. Fitting that his losses were to Shanahan, Dungy and Coughlin - all coaches who have taken their teams to a SB.
Compare that to his run from 2001-2004: he defeated SEVEN different coaches that have taken a team to a SB - Dungy (twice), Cowher (twice), Gruden, Martz, Fisher, Fox and Reid.
Just think about all the close games NE had this year - they were against coaches that had taken a team to a SB, even coaches with average/mediocre teams (Philly, Baltimore). Belichick pulled these out in the end but he was outcoached or evenly matched for a majority of the game.
And when he was matched up against one of those coaches again, he ultimately failed.
I think this puts 2001-2004 and 2005-present in perspective - the Patriots were a different team with Weis/Crennel and the current version is going through a series of disappointing losses, not unlike the Colts of a few years back. I don't feel that simply having Belichick will guarantee another SB title, we need improvement from our coordinators.
Our coaching staff has been outcoached in our last 3 playoff losses. Belichick has not had the same effectiveness that he had in our 3 SB runs.
In the playoffs from 2005-2007, he defeated the following coaches: Del Rio (twice), Mangini, Schottenheimer and Norv Turner - none of these coaches has even taken a team to a Super Bowl. Fitting that his losses were to Shanahan, Dungy and Coughlin - all coaches who have taken their teams to a SB.
Compare that to his run from 2001-2004: he defeated SEVEN different coaches that have taken a team to a SB - Dungy (twice), Cowher (twice), Gruden, Martz, Fisher, Fox and Reid.
Just think about all the close games NE had this year - they were against coaches that had taken a team to a SB, even coaches with average/mediocre teams (Philly, Baltimore). Belichick pulled these out in the end but he was outcoached or evenly matched for a majority of the game.
And when he was matched up against one of those coaches again, he ultimately failed.
I think this puts 2001-2004 and 2005-present in perspective - the Patriots were a different team with Weis/Crennel and the current version is going through a series of disappointing losses, not unlike the Colts of a few years back. I don't feel that simply having Belichick will guarantee another SB title, we need improvement from our coordinators.