Analysts have said the Pats could be in trouble because of the talent drain on their coaching staff. In the last few years the Pats lost:
DC Romeo Crennel – Now HC of Cleveland
OC Charlie Weis – Now HC of Notre Dame
DC Eric Mangini – Now HC of the NY Jets
Line Coach Jeff Davidson – Now the Assistant HC of Cleveland
Linebacker Coach Rob Ryan – Now DC of the Raiders
I think the bigger issue is the league is getting full of Belichick disciples. The Buffalo Bills have apparently offered their DC position to former GB DC Jim Bates. If he takes the position that means every team in the AFC East will have a Bill Belichick disciple
Buffalo – DC Jim Bates – Bates was a Secondary Coach under BB in Cleveland
Miami – HC Nick Saban – Saban was the DC under BB in Cleveland
NY Jets – HC Eric Mangini – Mangini was a coached assistant in Cleveland and a Secondary Coach / DC in NE under BB
While Bates has run a 4-3 defense the rest of the coaches run systems similar to BB. Ryan had tried a 3-4 but appears to have gone back to the 4-3 because his LBs stink. It was hard enough in the past to find ILBs to fit the system because colleges don’t produce them. Now the Pats will need to fight with Cleveland, NYJ, Miami and Dallas (the Tuna loves big defenders) for the same players. It will be much harder for the Pats to get a Mike Vrabel if 4 other teams are looking for one.
Do I think the dynasty’s over? No. Just think BB and Pioli have their work cut out for them.
DC Romeo Crennel – Now HC of Cleveland
OC Charlie Weis – Now HC of Notre Dame
DC Eric Mangini – Now HC of the NY Jets
Line Coach Jeff Davidson – Now the Assistant HC of Cleveland
Linebacker Coach Rob Ryan – Now DC of the Raiders
I think the bigger issue is the league is getting full of Belichick disciples. The Buffalo Bills have apparently offered their DC position to former GB DC Jim Bates. If he takes the position that means every team in the AFC East will have a Bill Belichick disciple
Buffalo – DC Jim Bates – Bates was a Secondary Coach under BB in Cleveland
Miami – HC Nick Saban – Saban was the DC under BB in Cleveland
NY Jets – HC Eric Mangini – Mangini was a coached assistant in Cleveland and a Secondary Coach / DC in NE under BB
While Bates has run a 4-3 defense the rest of the coaches run systems similar to BB. Ryan had tried a 3-4 but appears to have gone back to the 4-3 because his LBs stink. It was hard enough in the past to find ILBs to fit the system because colleges don’t produce them. Now the Pats will need to fight with Cleveland, NYJ, Miami and Dallas (the Tuna loves big defenders) for the same players. It will be much harder for the Pats to get a Mike Vrabel if 4 other teams are looking for one.
Do I think the dynasty’s over? No. Just think BB and Pioli have their work cut out for them.