Everybody keeps throwing this winning percentage up when discussing Bill. Doesn't anybody think having the best QB ever was a huge part of those wins. At this point Brady can take a good team to the Superbowl just like Rodgers,Manning,Roethlisberger,Brees and Russell Wilson. But doesn't seem able to carry a bad team. As a matter of fact his OLine is worse than ever at 37. When everybody was discussing Bills terrible draft picks and how he needs to draft better, His fans counter with how the team makes the playoffs every year. And won championships 10 yrs ago. Nobody was trying to insult Bill because the discipline he coaches was a part of those wins. Everybody was just saying that making the playoffs every year doesn't excuse burning more draft picks than what's considered acceptable. And how it will catch up to your football team eventually. Just like the American economy. Excessive borrowing is OK as long as the economy is acceptable. Never mind now the current borrowing system is flawed and will eventually show it. Bust after bust was OK as long as Brady takes them to the playoffs every year. Not having very good outside playmaking WRs or a dominant pass rusher every year was OK " as long as they made the playoffs" . Offensive lineman that you know are barely serviceable and should be replaced ASAP are brought back "as long as they make the playoffs" The gov't burns $$ every year as long as they can borrow more.
Now when Cinderella players are looking bad, rookies are being rushed to play because a deficiency in developing new talent in the last 7-8 drafts. And rookies did some nice things for a change. Fleming got beat by speed and moves by Houston but that's OK because he won't have to block him often as a guard. The positive is the way Fleming rocked Dontari Poe a couple times. Stork also held up OK. Those guys need reps but who at DT can challenge them in practice.
All the analyst's are saying this is who patriots are now and need a rebuild. I don't see that. They just need to be more conventional and decide who are the building blocks and be a longterm starter at a particular position. Anybody else could be traded or cut. Players like Amendola,Arrington,Wendell,Connolly,Ninkovich, and even Wilfork. Unless Wilfork realizes he isn't an impact player and takes a big pay cut to come back as part time player and leader to coach up young talent. Revis also can't come back at elite salary unless he improves a lot. Then they need to decide if they are a 3-4 or 4-3 team. And trade players for draft picks or other players accordingly. Collins is a building block. He is not an inside backer however. He is an OLB in a 4-3 and maybe a 3-4. They need to find out if his explosiveness can translate to a 3-4 edge rushing OLB. Mayo looked fast against vikings and raiders but slow in KC. They need to get faster at LB. They need an explosive type that can run hit cover as well as get low and slip blocks to stop the run.
Clearing out the slow role players will make cap room to be aggressive in free agency. Then switch the draft strategy from smart players already coached up to talents who will be impact players once coached up. And put a bigger premium on physical talent. A physical talent can often outplay a lesser talent who is already partially coached up. Russell Bodine who didn't make the intelligent line calls like Stork but is physically stronger has already won a job on the Bengals talented OLine. They need to find out about the young WRs as well. Who can be a go to playmaker.
