If you were Kraft and this season doesn’t improve, do you move on from Bill after this season?

[RodThePat]

Disagree on Dugger. You have a ton of money to spend, letting talent go makes you weaker.

It all depends on how they use him. Sign/draft a coverage safety and play Dugger closer to the line of scrimmage? I'm down for giving him money, he's a playmaker at that spot. If he's going to play as much deep safety as he has this year I'm only bringing him back if the money is right, he's not a difference maker at all in that role. Pedestrian at best this year. And that to me is yet another roster building failure, they have about 4 safeties who perform at their best playing the star or in the box/roaming the underneath passing lanes and you're basically guaranteeing at least one of them won't be in their preferred spot in every snap. And to add insult to injury, they draft Mapu and instead of giving him Tavai's snaps, they're playing him at safety a ton as well. Why have Peppers, Dugger, Mapu and Phillips on the same team, then? What sense does it make?

 

[Dedhampatsfan]

You mean the guy who coached a couple of college games?

He'd sell more tickets than Mayo.

 

[upstater1]

It all depends on how they use him. Sign/draft a coverage safety and play Dugger closer to the line of scrimmage? I'm down for giving him money, he's a playmaker at that spot. If he's going to play as much deep safety as he has this year I'm only bringing him back if the money is right, he's not a difference maker at all in that role. Pedestrian at best this year. And that to me is yet another roster building failure, they have about 4 safeties who perform at their best playing the star or in the box/roaming the underneath passing lanes and you're basically guaranteeing at least one of them won't be in their preferred spot in every snap. And to add insult to injury, they draft Mapu and instead of giving him Tavai's snaps, they're playing him at safety a ton as well. Why have Peppers, Dugger, Mapu and Phillips on the same team, then? What sense does it make?

If you're playing 3 or 4 safeties at a time, it may make sense

 

[RodThePat]

If you're playing 3 or 4 safeties at a time, it may make sense

It doesn't because none of them have deep coverage as their best attribute.

 

[PaulThePat]

I genuinely feel that the NFL has moved on and is leaving the Pats i.e. BB, behind. BB still thinks we can get away with coaching jags to somehow win games they shouldn't. The smoke and mirrors doesn't work any more. I've always been a full on "in BB we trust" kinda guy but what we're watching now is so bad something has to happen. We're simply not a functional NFL team and I'm struggling to see us winning 3-4 games. Kraft can't let this franchise go down the pan.

 

[State]

Bill was the greatest DC. As head coach he preaches complementary football. Which is very true.

But our offense stunk last year. Second oldest group in the league though led by an ineffective QB still on his rookie contract.

Unfortunately, in the draft, the first three picks were on defense. Then he moved up to get a kicker even though we had Mr Consistency in Nick Folk who didn’t have a strong leg for kickoffs. So what.

Then the next pick was a center from Troy, vastly screwed up. Jake Andrews had the looks of being available two rounds later.

“Fresh” blood was brought in on offense with free agents like Antique Reiff, Juju Slow Duster, PS Anderson, and Gesicki will get open not too quickly.

A spectacular mismanagement of the offense and a direct violation of complementary football.

A good defense becomes dispirited when they know they won’t be getting any help.

 

[RIpats88]

BB has really lost his touch in evaluating and bringing in offensive talent. If he had gotten a top end TE talent to replace Gronk like Hockenson instead of Izzo and a 40 year old Watson, Brady would have looked much better.

BB should have known how important the TE position is for Brady. Brady was at his peak whenever he had Gronk with both the Pats and Bucs.

Sanu then, Juju over Myers now, BB no longer knows a good WR over a not so good WR.

We also drafted Harry that year. Apparently ignoring his scouts who wanted AJ brown.

Imagine if we redid that draft?

 

[brdmaverick]

We also drafted Harry that year. Apparently ignoring his scouts who wanted AJ brown.

Imagine if we redid that draft?

You know how they say Cleveland is where quarterbacks go to die? Maybe for some reason it's like that for us and wide receivers.

Maybe if we drafted Brown instead of Harry then Harry would be a star today (and Brown would be the journeyman)

 

[203Pat]

Dugger is good, but overrated. The Pats need to rebuild the offense. That money is going to go fast when the Pats have to rebuild the o-line and sign a TE or three since none are under contract next year and hopefully get an impact receiver. and if they don’t draft a QB, they are probably going to have to pay money for a veteran to at least compete with Mac Jones and probably start.

I like Dugger and it seemed like his career trajectory was on the upswing until this year when Bill decided to have him playing the McCourty centerfield role when that isn't what fits Dugger's skillset. He needs to be up closer to the line of scrimmage in order to make plays and it is hard not to be cynical and think Bill isn't putting him in the best position to succeed in order to drive down the price. Obviously that is a somewhat bold claim that can't really be proven but why switch things up when Dugger was playing well in his old role? Phillips, Mills, or even Myles Bryant can't fill that centerfield role? I also didn't love Bill not challenging that Dugger INT yesterday and it seems like Dugger might not have either.

 

[Brewskies]

I have always been a "in BB I Trust" guy, since he arrived.

I am presently reconsidering that position. If I hadn't been so strongly set with that thought I would be saying Bill must go.

I don't want to see him kicked out. We owe him more than that.

This year must be very tough on him. He broke up with his long time girlfriend. His work situation is in the pits.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[captain stone]

I like Dugger and it seemed like his career trajectory was on the upswing until this year when Bill decided to have him playing the McCourty centerfield role when that isn't what fits Dugger's skillset. He needs to be up closer to the line of scrimmage in order to make plays and it is hard not to be cynical and think Bill isn't putting him in the best position to succeed in order to drive down the price. Obviously that is a somewhat bold claim that can't really be proven but why switch things up when Dugger was playing well in his old role? Phillips, Mills, or even Myles Bryant can't fill that centerfield role? I also didn't love Bill not challenging that Dugger INT yesterday and it seems like Dugger might not have either.

The sound of the game was off at the bar, but we were thinking the same thing.

I've been in favor of keeping Bill as HC as long as Eliot Wolf or another Outsider is GM... But this should've absolutely been challenged; and the fact it wasn't tells me that he's not staying on top of things from the sidelines either. Wonder if Ernie would've called-down to Bill on that one... Speaking of,
just who exactly is upstairs now?

 

[203Pat]

The sound of the game was off at the bar, but we were thinking the same thing.

I've been in favor of keeping Bill as HC as long as Eliot Wolf or another Outsider is GM... But this should've absolutely been challenged; and the fact it wasn't tells me that he's not staying on top of things from the sidelines either. Wonder if Ernie would've called-down to Bill on that one... Speaking of,
just who exactly is upstairs now?

Seems like as the people around Bill have left it looks more like they were propping him up. Bill isn't on top of these types of things as much since Ernie left. The offensive line has been shaky since Dante retired. And the team has been subpar to bad since Brady left.

 

[Boomer B]

It’s a talent issue. Sports Illustrated talked to people around the league;

AFC executive: “Quite simply, they have no talent. And it doesn’t help that that’s at the quarterback spot as well.”

NFC executive: “The offensive line is bad, they can’t protect Mac, and Mac can’t move. They have no speed on offense at the skill positions. They used to have guys that could win one-on-one matchups; they don’t have any of those guys anymore. And defensively, they’re banged up. Losing (Matthew) Judon hurts. Losing the rookie corner (Christian Gonzalez) hurts, too, along with Marcus Jones.”

NFC coach: “They look extremely low on talent, to be honest. They have a pretty vanilla plan from what I can tell. An average-at-best QB only exacerbates those issues. They aren’t exactly world-beaters on defense now either — and losing Judon really hurt, and the two feed off each other. Defense gets a stop, offense goes three-and-out, defense back out there, basically no rest. … None of their skill players scare me. Hunter Henry is solid, not close to elite. OL looks sh–ty. Backs are slow. Receivers are overpaid free agents.”

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

I have always been a "in BB I Trust" guy, since he arrived.

I am presently reconsidering that position. If I hadn't been so strongly set with that thought I would be saying Bill must go.

I don't want to see him kicked out. We owe him more than that.

This year must be very tough on him. He broke up with his long time girlfriend. His work situation is in the pits.

Any ideas? Thanks

The thing is, we can still respect Bill and just admit that maybe his way no longer works. Or maybe the new players don’t buy in.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

I don't know if Kraft has the stones to outright fire Bill but at the bare minimum you HAVE to strip the GM title and control of personnel without any doubt, then it's up to Bill if he accepts it and coaches in 2024 or doesn't and is gone.

 

[thecore762]

ESPN first take, even SAS agrees that BB the GM gots to go. If he doesn’t accept being just a coach, then thank you for two decades of service.

 

[Brewskies]

From what I have read, it was Bob Kraft that was so strong on Mac Jones. If this is true then he shouldn't bounce BB, Take ownership.

 

[RodThePat]

ESPN first take, even SAS agrees that BB the GM gots to go. If he doesn’t accept being just a coach, then thank you for two decades of service.

You have to be completely oblivious to believe this turn in the national conversation regarding Bill will have no impact to Robert. If consensus reaches "yeah, he has to do something" by the end of the season, odds increase that he'll do something. I think public perception is a huge deal in this.

 

[PatsfanTN]

From what I have read, it was Bob Kraft that was so strong on Mac Jones. If this is true then he shouldn't bounce BB, Take ownership.

It’s the offensive line, which is absolute trash. No 3rd down guy. That’s all on BB.

 

[Love The Drake]

New coaching staff new QB, new weapons who is the GM where are they to fix this?