The inside story of the Patriots’ fall to rock bottom in the Bill Belichick era

[RIpats88]

It's not hard for the league to catch up when the plan on offense is solid run game. Extremely average (at best) passing game. And winning mostly with superb defense.

even if everything worked out. what do fans think the ceiling of a team in 2023 is playing this way? 8-9, 9-8, 7-10?

before this year became a disaster. most of the media predicted this at best is a 6-7 win or .500 team that would need to hold teams under 20 to win and while offensive style might be better would have a worse record because they had a much tougher schedule.

they were mostly right. they just underestimated how bad the OL/QB would be how much of a downgrade juju would be from meyers. and not factoring in O'Brien being hamstrung by his coach so he couldn't implement what he wanted to do.

 

[upstater1]

so your argument is they expend a ton of draft capital on offense and Bill is just horrible at evaluating offensive talent so they are mostly busts?

The evaluation of Tyquan was horrible. That's obvious.

Don't know who evaluated Mac, that was the right choice at the time, but he is one of the worst starting QBs I have ever seen. He is beyond bad.

Other evaluations have been a lot better: Rham, Onwenu, Douglas.

There are still more we're waiting to see: Sow, Strange.

But the overall point remains: they have expended as many draft resources on offense than they have on defense.

That's an irrefutable fact.

They've also spent a ton of resources in free agency relative to the defense. There they have more of a defense for evaluation because, in general, the quality of FAs they've looked at in key positions (tackle and WR) isn't good. Year after year.

 

[The Gr8est]

Over months, sources described an offense undone by a quieter type of dysfunction, a broken quarterback and finger-pointing between the coaching staff and front office.

This to me reads Billy O blaming Bill for the scraps he has to work with on offense. It also mentions Billy O being unsure of his assistants. That never made sense to me to bring Billy O back but not let him hire his own offensive coaches. Always read to me that Kraft told Bill the Patricia experiment is over and this was Bill's way of pouting. The fact this article claims Bill wanted to double down on Patricia is OC solidifies my feelings he should have been canned last January.

an offensive lineman unofficially working as a coach to round out a shorthanded staff; another veteran proclaiming, with four games left, he would play for another team next season.

Definitely sounds like Andrews or Ferentz have been coaching and Trent Brown formally announcing he's checked out. It is also insane to me that after Klemm left with a "medical absence" that Bill decided to go back to the way Dante coached the O-line instead of trying to maintain continuity. What a complete disaster.

Anyone who reads about all this dysfunction and still believes Bill is the guy is nuts. He threw a hissy fit about getting rid of Patricia and hired Billy O only to not let him pick his own staff. He hired Klemm who apparently yelled at the GM then disappeared. The article mentions that the sources don't think Bill can evaluate offensive personnel or hire a staff that can put together an offense. I really hope this time next week we are looking for a new coach.

I am one of those who does not want to be rash about replacing BB, but if the claims in this article are true, it is hard to defend keeping him.

 

[Ring 6]

I am one of those who does not want to be rash about replacing BB, but if the claims in this article are true, it is hard to defend keeping him.

The article is not an accurate depiction. It’s, as often happens, reporters with a premise, floating it to a number of unnamed sources until they get one to agree with them. Typically they aren’t unnamed because they don’t want to be, but because if they were named it would destroy the credibility of the claim My favorite is “league sources” which means that aren’t even part of the organization.

 

[vicspats]

If you get your wish, Nobody here will be laughing by this time next year, including you.

Not true. I’d give Bill another year or two. Been a Pats fan since early 80s, our Boston teams have been pretty much dominant for the last 20 years. If you missed all of it ? That sucks , law of averages has us way above “championships per city” … we were mathematically due for years of crap cellar dwelling teams. I do 100% agree Bill needs to relinquish his GM role, can’t imagine his workload, the hours or the stress. In all honesty I don’t see Bill getting signed or extended, but with that said , the next guy will absolutely not lead us to the promised land. There is a huge probability that we will do the coaching carousel like pretty much all the rest of the middling franchises end up doing. On top of all that imagine when Bill goes to the next organization, takes HIS guys and wins? Takes years to build a coaching staff and getting the “right” players in place. That’s why Tommy had a lay up in Tampa … that stage was pretty much set. Bill might have his set already somewhere else .. there will definitely be suitors

 

[Ring 6]

even if everything worked out. what do fans think the ceiling of a team in 2023 is playing this way? 8-9, 9-8, 7-10?

before this year became a disaster. most of the media predicted this at best is a 6-7 win or .500 team that would need to hold teams under 20 to win and while offensive style might be better would have a worse record because they had a much tougher schedule.

they were mostly right. they just underestimated how bad the OL/QB would be how much of a downgrade juju would be from meyers. and not factoring in O'Brien being hamstrung by his coach so he couldn't implement what he wanted to do.

Replace awful qb play with average qb play and you have 6 close losses that are wins without the QB turning them into losses.
We aren’t even talking about good Qb play, just Qb play that doesn’t turn wins into losses.
No team in the nfl could win with these QBs

 

[captain stone]

Do you have to take account for the people at all?

Caley and Lombardi don't have jobs in the league. Lombardi failed. He was out the door before McDaniels. Promotions shouldn't be automatic. There needs to be some assessment.

We actually spent a few years here criticizing Bricillo, remember?

Caley is actually the TEs coach of the LARs.

 

[captain stone]

I think generally coaches have a right to leave if they’re getting a promotion. Bill’s philosophy seems to that if you’re a coach then you can coach even if you don’t have specific experience in what you’re coaching

In the case of McD going to LV, two of those coaches - Bricillo (OL) & Bo Hardegree (QBs) were only lateral moves; Bill could have - and Should Have - prevented them from leaving here... Small wonder that those two position groups in particular went to heck in a hand-basket in 2022.

 

[captain stone]

I realized something today: The only people I know that want BB fired are a smattering of idiots on this forum and fans of other NFL teams.

You're the ****ing idiot for wanting to KEEP Bill.

Idiot.

 

[captain stone]

Where's your sources on BB's arrogance and hubris?

"25 years."

 

[signbabybrady]

the story of the last 5-8 years of Bill's tenure has been no backup plan.

no backup plan to gronk retiring (ben watson!)
no backup plan to brady leaving (cam newton!)
no backup plan to mcdaniels leaving (phat matt!)
no backup plan to white retiring

and the list goes on.....

Funny what people choose to remember for me the story of the last 8 years is that of a 2 time SB Champion and 3 time conference Champion.

Most of you guys choose a shorter timeframe but thanks for the set up.

 

[signbabybrady]

I realized something today: The only people I know that want BB fired are a smattering of idiots on this forum and fans of other NFL teams.

You know that's an excellent point pretty much my whole group is still team Bill and I know absolutely no one irl with the opinion of the Captain or his ilk.

 

[captain stone]

Bingo! And I'll add: Drafting for need is how you get Cole Strange in the 1st.

I see it less like drafting for need and more like Bill & his incompetent Splunge for me too toadies are simply really, Really bad at it.

 

[vicspats]

I realized something today: The only people I know that want BB fired are a smattering of idiots on this forum and fans of other NFL teams.

Got friends all over the country in disbelief of the way Bill gets mistreated. Half of them can’t wait to get a shot at hiring him. Bill will put himself in the same position Tommy Boy did… go to a team that’s ready to win….make Krafty wish he was in hooker heaven.

 

[signbabybrady]

Where's your sources on BB's arrogance and hubris?

I'm with you I've always thought this was one of those things the media gets completely wrong and I think this is where his media act hurts him.

But I think he is a very proud man and he has a ton to be proud of but he is not arrogant about it other than the name of his boat and taking a few pictures on ring night he doesn't flaunts it. He is confident absolutely but not arrogant.

 

[vicspats]

I used receiver as my example, because it was easier to quantify, but I think they do this with all 53. I am sure they have measuring matrices for OL on successful run blocks, QB pressures allowed, ect., and the same for every other position. I would further wager they are measuring things that 95% of us would not even think of looking at. Going further down the rabbit hole, the was Ernie's area and no one was capable of replacing him. Ernie's loss IMO is as big as anyone else on Bill's staff.

Again, just speculating on all this stuff. I just think they really analyze everything far beyond what we would consider.

I agree. Bill always stresses receivers that block … those are getting fewer and fewer due to the money that goes along with yards.

 

[PP2]

I'm with you I've always thought this was one of those things the media gets completely wrong and I think this is where his media act hurts him.

But I think he is a very proud man and he has a ton to be proud of but he is not arrogant about it other than the name of his boat and taking a few pictures on ring night he doesn't flaunts it. He is confident absolutely but not arrogant.

It's not so much a media act as it is him refusing to throw them a bone, not even a morsel. He definitely knows how it hurts his image but he, long ago, determined this as the path that causes the least amount of trouble.

I've had plenty of dealings with the press/media long ago when I was in the movie business and they are never your friend. Never. They will throw you under the bus in a heartbeat if it means a few more clicks for them.

 

[captain stone]

If you haven't been able to identify which fans are bandwagon fans, just watch who roots for the Jets this Sunday. It'll clear things up for you.

We should ALL want the J-E-T-E Jete Jete Jete to W-I-N win win win tomorrow.

 

[captain stone]

I see the resident Jets fan is still chiming in with his hatred.

captain stone = Fireman Ed. Makes sense with how bitter he is about BB.

My hatred of losing, you forgot to add.

 

[The Gr8est]

I'm with you I've always thought this was one of those things the media gets completely wrong and I think this is where his media act hurts him.

But I think he is a very proud man and he has a ton to be proud of but he is not arrogant about it other than the name of his boat and taking a few pictures on ring night he doesn't flaunts it. He is confident absolutely but not arrogant.

Projection from his accusers?

Maybe says more about themselves than BB.