Pepper Johnson gone from coaching staff

Not surprised that he left. After Patricia got the DC job, there wasn't any real advancement potential in the organization for him. If he has an offer somewhere else, even for a lateral move, it makes sense for him to take it.

If it turns out that Belichick let him go, that'll be interesting, and not totally shocking. Sometimes it still seems like we're using 3-4 LBs in a 4-3, and maybe Belichick is acknowledging that it's time for a deeper philosophical change.

Froob said:

Why do people keep forgetting that we had one of the best defenses in their league until 4 key starters went down (Wilfork, Mayo, Kelly, and Talib for like half the season as well as Dennard hurt most of the year)?

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Because it's not true. You don't become "one of the best defenses in the league" by say so. The defense looked very promising prior to the start of injuries. That's a far cry from "one of the best defenses in the league". "One of the best defenses in the league" occurs over the long hall (like Seattle, 49ers and the Ravens of old), after sustained success - not after two or three games.

Clearly with Pepper Johnson's departure, this coaching staff needs seasoning

Danger Zone said:

Time to bring in Bruschi!!

Though I wonder a little how much of Bruschi was just heart, grit and instinct and how much was smarts.

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No thanks; good players don't automatically make good coaches. Bruschi already chose his post-football career, and he didn't choose coaching. Can't blame him, either; coaching isn't exactly a family friendly line of work.

For those making excuses for Patricia (which I think he SUCKS) including the year Peas was here and got let go after the season this is where the Patriots defense ranked. Since 2010 the Patriots have fielded the 8th, 2nd, 8th and 7th worst defense in the NFL. I did yards because the Pats O has been strong skewing the statistics for points against.

Why does Bill stick with this guy? No more Joe Blow is out and if John Doe was playing it would have been different. Every team has injuries including the Broncos who were missing plenty of starters even on the defensive side at DL, LB and CB. They still managed to completely shut down the Patriots minus the prevent D Denver played that gave up the two TD's.

The schemes don't fool anyone, the playcalling is very vanilla and the defense just plays soft. Gone are the days when Bill can grab any walmart shelf stocker and plug him in to play. The Patriots need MORE talent and better coaching. I just think Bill is too arrogant and a control freak to ever bring in experienced help. It's his way or leave.

BradyFTW! said:

No thanks; good players don't automatically make good coaches. Bruschi already chose his post-football career, and he didn't choose coaching. Can't blame him, either; coaching isn't exactly a family friendly line of work.

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I do agree with you. I think I hinted at the reservations Id have as well. And I also agree that on ESPN he comes across as a little.. well maybe not the best coaching material.

But let me be clear that Bruschi had as much instinct and heart as anyone Ive ever seen play.

Still I also thought at the time that maybe a reason Bruschi didnt join the coaching staff as a LB coach was that the Patriots didnt have the opening and probably wouldnt for some time due to Pepper Johnson being such a fixture here.

Heard from a guy who works at Chilis near Foxboro that Pepper got really hot after the last loss because BB roasted him - said Pepper had gotten a little too stuffed from being at the Pats too long. That really shook Pepper. He felt kinda like he had been through the mill. He said it was hard to stay fresh, getting ground down like that.




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MrTibbs said:

For those making excuses for Patricia (which I think he SUCKS) including the year Peas was here and got let go after the season this is where the Patriots defense ranked. Since 2010 the Patriots have fielded the 8th, 2nd, 8th and 7th worst defense in the NFL. I did yards because the Pats O has been strong skewing the statistics for points against.

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When you start from a highly biased perspective, you usually get highly biased results.

Deus Irae said:

When you start from a highly biased perspective, you usually get highly biased results.

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Ok, let's look at it this way then, be honest as well. How many games have we watched when rookie or mediocre QB's and offenses have gone up and down the field at will? Look back at those games (Bills, Jets, Texans, Dolphins, Browns and others). Then you watch those same teams play OTHER mediocre teams only to see those offenses get completely shut down the following week.

You don't find that disturbing?

This sucks. The players seem to love him and the fact that he was the one (or only) person on the coaching staff not far removed from his playing days in the NFL. I was almost certain that after Pees moved on that Pepper would get his shot to move up the ladder. Color me someone who isn't a fan of Patrica's work or overall defensive Philosophy. Our defensive system is too cerebral and it takes away players ability to go out and win their battles with a measure of violence and aggression but that's Bill's approach as well. It's a shame that he never got his chance here. I hope he gets his shot to show his worth in this league as a D coordinator. Thanks Pepper.

MrTibbs said:

Ok, let's look at it this way then, be honest as well. How many games have we watched when rookie or mediocre QB's and offenses have gone up and down the field at will? Look back at those games (Bills, Jets, Texans, Dolphins, Browns and others). Then you watch those same teams play OTHER mediocre teams only to see those offenses get completely shut down the following week.

You don't find that disturbing?

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No, because I understand what the Patriots are doing. You take away the best player(s) and make the opponent have to beat you without him/them. The team's record speaks to the success they've had with that approach. I may think that they carry it too far on occasion, but that's not the same as being willing to blame Patricia for something this team's been doing since at least as far back as the 2001 Super Bowl.

Deus Irae said:

No, because I understand what the Patriots are doing. You take away the best player(s) and make the worst players have to beat you. The team's record speaks to the success they've had with that approach.

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While I agree both with that approach and your overall assessment, it was frustrating to watch Denver's better WR's open by a full zip code most of the game.

The Patriots could of easily have been 9-7 (losses to Cleveland, New Orleans and Denver. The offense showed up those games but the defense bent like a mutha. I'm just not sold on Patricia sorry. The Patriots have become the early 2000 Colts. They depend on Brady's arm to win them games. When they didn't depend on Brady the Pats were winning Super Bowls.

By comparison when Manning had a great defense that's when he finally got his Super Bowl Ring. Defense still wins championships even in the era of offensive fireworks.

MrTibbs said:

The Patriots could of easily have been 9-7 (losses to Cleveland, New Orleans and Denver. The offense showed up those games but the defense bent like a mutha. I'm just not sold on Patricia sorry. The Patriots have become the early 2000 Colts. They depend on Brady's arm to win them games. When they didn't depend on Brady the Pats were winning Super Bowls.

By comparison when Manning had a great defense that's when he finally got his Super Bowl Ring. Defense still wins championships even in the era of offensive fireworks.

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Defensive coordinators people have not been sold on in the BB era:

Romeo Crennel
Eric Mangini
Dean Pees
Matt Patricia


Offensive coordinators people have not been sold on in the BB era:

Charlie Weis
Josh McDaniels
Bill O'Brien


I see a pattern here......

Deus Irae said:

Defensive coordinators people have not been sold on in the BB era:

Romeo Crennel
Eric Mangini
Dean Pees
Matt Patricia


Offensive coordinators people have not been sold on in the BB era:

Charlie Weis
Josh McDaniels
Bill O'Brien


I see a pattern here......

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Everyone will have an opinion I guess so mine is Patricia won't ever get it done with what the Patriots have on defense. It remains to be seen so we'll see.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Clearly with Pepper Johnson's departure, this coaching staff needs seasoning

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I believe this leaves the Patriots without a Johnson for the first time in 20 years.

I wish Romeo Crennel would have come back after his Brown gig.

PATSNUTme said:

I believe this leaves the Patriots without a Johnson for the first time in 20 years.

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Let's just be thankful that these guys weren't in the FO to sever ties with Johnson.

MrTibbs said:

Everyone will have an opinion I guess so mine is Patricia won't ever get it done with what the Patriots have on defense. It remains to be seen so we'll see.

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This is Bill Belichick's defense. This is not Matt Patricia's defense.


People said Dean Pees was a terrible D.C.. That terrible D.C. just won the Super Bowl last season.

Deus Irae said:

This is Bill Belichick's defense. This is not Matt Patricia's defense.


People said Dean Pees was a terrible D.C.. That terrible D.C. just won the Super Bowl last season.

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This would have been a top 10 defense if it had remained even semi-healthy.

And next year hopefully (with Talibs return) it will only get better.