Sad to see BB's legacy ripped apart like this

[SVN]

The following are BB’s own doing:

• Drafting woes
• As more teams construct top heavy rosters with cheaper players surrounding stars, the pats employ the most “middle class” players in the NFL
• As the league becomes more about offense & explosive plays (20+ yards) either refuse or fail to add explosiveness on offense
• As more teams use analytic-based decisions to go for it on 4th down, the Pats are 32nd in the NFL in aggressiveness
• The pats remain one of the few teams starting 250+ lb LBers on defense
• Some coaches with questionable qualifications on the coaching staff

My biggest gripes are BB the GM & BB the coach refusing to adapt to the modern game. The pats offense & defense still lacks speed & the playing not to lose mindset doesn’t work with the quality of offenses across the NFL.

Wont argue with the points but i disagree that BB refusing to adapt to the modern game part. Just have to see how they did with brady. they switched to the spread offense in 2007. Went to two TE offense. Bought in the sugar huddle offense . Went back to 3WRs offense . Switched to power running offense in 2018 . Sure, he had the QB to do it but i dont think he averse or poor at adapting to the modern game. They have started the trend of drafting hybride LB/Safeties to handle modern offenses - havent been successful but tried.They dont have the players right now . Bottom line is that. No way this team is built the same as in say the early 2000s.

 

[TheRainMaker]

You can’t get over 6-7 years of mediocre to bad drafts overnight.

Saints are the closest thing to turning it around overnight from one draft. Their drafts were pretty bad for a while and hit it big in 2017 which made them relevant again.

 

[Ian]

This is what people are not getting. The media can write these glowing stories of Bill, and can call him the goat, but when things go bad, they have to just shut up? Thats not how they work. If the pats are losing or if odd decisions are made, he can be questioned. Just like everyone else is.

I'm fine with people questioning him and I've got my own questions. But the goal - for the sake of keeping things from melting down in here - is to try and do it constructively so we can have discussions/debates as opposed to "he sucks", etc. I'm assuming it's going to get worse before it gets better given how things have gone so far. Needless to say, I'm sure it's probably going to be a long season and would like to try and keep things from getting out of hand.

 

[SVN]

I listen/read Curran religiously but he is reaching on that correlation IMO.

Used to like curran, now he starts to reach a bit too much frequently. Its not like we have fast LBs or a very stout DL.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Switched to power running offense in 2018

That’s not a modern offense. McD said they switched back to the running game after realizing their passing game was weak. They had the parts to run which gave them the best chance to move the ball.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

You can’t get over 6-7 years of mediocre to bad drafts overnight. I’m optimistic about this year’s draft, though, and think we may have found our QBOTF if we can protect him. But anyone who thought this was going to be a championship season just because of the offseason spending was ignoring the reality that most of our homegrown talent was drafted between 2010 to 2013.

Exactly…and all the more reason why letting veterans walk and trading away assets for draft capital was so critical in 2020 when they parted with Brady. I‘d be thrilled with close losses if this were a team of ascending young players. Besides the QB and a few other good/not great young guys, it’s mainly win-now mercenaries and twighlight-of-career veterans. I wish they had actually done a rebuild…this wasn’t one.

 

[Pape]

Why is Bill allowing this?

BB is loyal to his guys. Maybe to a fault.

He might be a hardass at the table, but he has done a lot of little beneficial things for players and coaches that often go unnoticed or unmentioned.

Breeds loyalty. And that street runs both ways.

 

[SVN]

The media is completely in their right to ask why he didn't go for it on 4th & 3; why the kneel downs at the half; why abandon heavy personnel that was working.

His answers left a lot more questions than answers. They were quite baffling.

Dont disagree with those questions and are pretty valid. But if there was some issue with protection or not trusting josh or jones or oline he is never going to say it publicly. its his way of not singling out any player or coach. Yes he gets beat down for responding to the question but he takes it.

 

[SVN]

That’s not a modern offense.

Sure, still its adapting .And it won a SB. Shows he isnt stuck to one way of doing it as implied.

 

[Pape]

That’s not a modern offense.

wait what? The Power I formation isnt new and innovative? Yeesh... whats next the wishbone isn't either?

 

[JayNM]

If he continues to chicken out like he has been...

Maybe, if next year he has another losing season

 

[TheRainMaker]

wait what? The Power I formation isnt new and innovative? Yeesh... whats next the wishbone isn't either?

I want to see an NFL team have the balls to run the Wing T offense. I ran that in High School and it’s the worst offense of all time.

 

[Hyped]

Comments:

a.) What a piece of garbage. I should get into journalism....does it pay well?

b.) Belichick would be the FIRST to tell you that PLAYERS win games, not coaches.

c.) And...let things play out this season....and the next. If we are below .500 in 2022...then maybe I'll start questioning things.

 

[JayNM]

Why is Bill allowing this?

My opinion (which is speculation) is that there is nobody to challenge BB on the Defense... 2 members of the 6 people he has on Defense (offense has 10) are his sons. The other guy who has experience? Jerod Mayo... "BB jr" as they would call him back then, IIRC

Then we have Patricia, who actually might have input. But it's **** input, if any (Who would hire Patricia, in the NFL?)

So in the end, BB has full control of the Defense, most likely. Thankfully he is REALLY good at it, but when you arent being challenged, you arent growing.

 

[VectorPrime]

Being an aloof and smug as.shole to the media works when you win. When you constantly make the right calls. Especially when it’s unorthodox and out of the box thinking. And he was able to do that for the better part of 20 years. But it’s a double edged sword because it’s entirely reliant on you continuing to win. If you’re winning then the reporters might not like you, they might enjoy getting their digs at you, but they respect you. And very importantly you maintain this mystique of a football Buddha, someone who is just above the petty concerns of these dumb press conferences and phone interviews multiple times a week because your time is better spent doing what you are the best at, getting ready to win.

But when the winning stops. When you start making bad decisions. And you still act the same, well it’s open season. Sorry. You CAN then change how you approach public relations. It is allowed and would maybe help. But Bill is likely too stubborn now.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

It is weird how the “one play away from a win” group has argued for years that Malcom Butler wouldn’t have made a difference because the difference between winning and losing doesn’t come down to one player making a few plays that the other guy didn’t.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Used to like curran, now he starts to reach a bit too much frequently. Its not like we have fast LBs or a very stout DL.

I agree. I'll just say there is "TV/NBC Tom E. Curran" who puts on a show and sometimes falls into the trap to the hawt take and the "ProJo Tom Curran" who I think does take the time to think through his points.

I've chatted with him personally a couple of times and hes a good dude. My wife met him once and she always says, "Hey your buddy is on TV". I just like the guy so I watch him.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Wont argue with the points but i disagree that BB refusing to adapt to the modern game part. Just have to see how they did with brady. they switched to the spread offense in 2007. Went to two TE offense. Bought in the sugar huddle offense . Went back to 3WRs offense . Switched to power running offense in 2018 . Sure, he had the QB to do it but i dont think he averse or poor at adapting to the modern game. They have started the trend of drafting hybride LB/Safeties to handle modern offenses - havent been successful but tried.They dont have the players right now . Bottom line is that. No way this team is built the same as in say the early 2000s.

I should’ve been more specific. Offense has changed alot since a few years ago. Here are the stat differences:

NFL Season By Season Passing | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Check out the NFL Season By Season Passing Stats including league totals and averages and more on Pro-football-reference.com

www.pro-football-reference.com

2017 average passer rating 86.9, comp pct. 62.1%, 7.0 ypa
present average passer rating 95.2, comp pct. 66%, 7.5 ypa

The average QB is performing like a great QB a few years ago & an elite QB in the early 2000s. It’s never been easier to play offense. Route running has been devalued in place of athleticism at the receiver position (Hill & Metcalf dominating). There is basically no elite defense in the NFL.

The pats won it all in 2018 going against the grain. It required an elite running game along with the GOAT going perfect on third down in OT on the road.

The top 10 offenses in the NFL are basically the SB favorites. You don’t have much of a chance without an explosive unit on that side of the ball. Bill gets credit for adapting the offense previously. Not disputing that. Questioning the personnel recently.

 

[TheRainMaker]

It is weird how the “one play away from a win” group has argued for years that Malcom Butler wouldn’t have made a difference because the difference between winning and losing doesn’t come down to one player making a few plays that the other guy didn’t.

You just put them into a check mate.

 

[Kontradiction]

Saints are the closest thing to turning it around overnight from one draft. Their drafts were pretty bad for a while and hit it big in 2017 which made them relevant again.

That was one of the best drafts of all time, though.