The Case Against Eliot Wolf

[lancerman]

I don't think Wolf is the GM. His title is Executive VP of Player Personnel. RK is the GM.

Chad Ryland is not a disappointment, even though PatsFans and the Boston Sports Media said he was over and over. The Pats gave up on him too early after only one season. PFF ranks Ryland as the 13th kicker out of 43. Our kicker, Slye, is 23rd out of 43. Another coaching and GM failure keeping the wrong kicker. Ryland is young with a huge leg and will only get better.

Ryland is better this year, but he actually had a much worse year when he was here last year than Slye is now. We also had one of the worst special team units in the league and kicker was a big part of that last year.

I do agree with you that Ryland had raw talent and we probably should have stuck with him to see how he developed but people generally don't have patience for a bad kicker.

 

[borg]

There's really only 3 rationales I can see for that:

1) Wolf and staff thought these players were/are good enough and there wasn't a need to spend money to improve
2) Kraft wouldn't allow more spending
3) Wolf and staff felt that even with a bad team it was best to use this as a "bridge" year and the long term payoff would be better to spend in future years

4) Free agents wanted no part of the Patriots

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Ryland is better this year, but he actually had a much worse year when he was here last year than Slye is now. We also had one of the worst special team units in the league and kicker was a big part of that last year.

I do agree with you that Ryland had raw talent and we probably should have stuck with him to see how he developed but people generally don't have patience for a bad kicker.

People's patience, or fans' patience, should not have an effect on the Pats' management. The coaching and management should do the right thing, not the popular thing.

 

[signbabybrady]

Agreed caserio was very instrumental in alot of transactions in FA as well. Where does Bill ball washer Lombardi fit in here? Did he do anything other than get fired from every NFL front office job he's every held? He was here for a cup of coffee right?

I think Lombardi was a coaching assistant. Say what you want about him, I'd certainly put him pretty low on the coaching totem pole but the few years he was here were pretty good.

 

[signbabybrady]

He doesn't.. he was making kicks earlier in the season before Drake took over.. he was the offense for a while.. I don't think he sucks.. just my opinion

He's got his worst career FG% right now.

 

[Vindicate]

What is frustrating is the _still_ sheer amount of misses on offense. I was down for a shakeup in scouting because while Bill could make due with a rubber and and paperclip on defense, the team could not figure **** out offensively without Brady.



So, it's annoying to see most of our hits still be defensive players.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

4) Free agents wanted no part of the Patriots

On a case by case basis, I'm sure that could be a factor for certain players. But cash is still king. Guys like Aiyuk or Ridley were in position to turn down tons of cash from our front office, but that's not universally the case. If they wanted to spend for it, they could have made marginal improvements.

If I had to expand on strategy 3 I listed, I think they decided it wasn't worth spending on guys who weren't "premium" solutions for positions. And to your point, all the premium players they pursued had other options. But they seemed to have made a conscious choice not to spend on the second/third/fourth tier players, instead choosing to roll over the money. Probably in hopes that premium guys are more open to coming here now.

 

[Clonamery]

He doesn't.. he was making kicks earlier in the season before Drake took over.. he was the offense for a while.. I don't think he sucks.. just my opinion

He's average. Completely average after 14 non-winter games.

 

[Clonamery]

If Brady doesn't re-sign this franchise is in deep ****.

 

[mgteich]

He doesn't.. he was making kicks earlier in the season before Drake took over.. he was the offense for a while.. I don't think he sucks.. just my opinion

You might consider comparing his stats inside the say 45 and his extra points with other kickers (especially to Ryland).

Kicking isn't like WR. Being good for part of the year does not make up for poor performance in other parts of the year.

 

[mgteich]

I have no problem with Kraft deciding to hire an experienced successful GM. By default, Robert and Jonathan do some of that work.

However, I don't see Wolf leaving.

 

[Triumph]

Passing on McConkey was worse.

Maye, McKonkey and Pop.

Now youre starting to build a legit pass offense that would be around for a while.

 

[Hyped]

Its hard to look at that list of free agency players we signed and not want to throw up. He is not talked about much on here but Nick Caserio has quietly done a great job at Houston. I feel he did a decent job when he was here too.

He traded Watson for a ransom....and was able to double dip at the top of the first round.

 

[borg]

Alex Van Pelt knows Jonathan Kraft was upset with Patriots' play calling

Patriots President Jonathan Kraft was shown on TV during the Patriots' loss on Sunday appearing to tell his father, owner Robert Kraft, that the “play calling is terrible.”

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Hyped]

As for Wolf going....I don't know man, but he sure missed in rounds 2-7 last year. I mean Polk vs. trading up for all of those WR/OT's that were going off the board in the late first....and Wallace in the 3rd who never played LT....

Then again Kingsley Sumiata isn't working out for the Chiefs...and Adonai Mitchell made a boneheaded Jakobi Meyers play on Sunday.... hmmmm...

 

[Steve102]

Bailey Zappe in green. So much for unbiased analysis.

A very strong case can be made for starting over and moving on from Wolf, but the OPs player breakdown is biased.

 

[RobertWeathers]

What is frustrating is the _still_ sheer amount of misses on offense. I was down for a shakeup in scouting because while Bill could make due with a rubber and and paperclip on defense, the team could not figure **** out offensively without Brady.



So, it's annoying to see most of our hits still be defensive players.

In 2021, they averaged 27ppg. They had 2 800yd receivers, 4 players with over 40 catches and ran for 2k on the ground w 24TDs. Josh was OC. Mac was a caretaker.

Starting line was Wynn, Karas, Andrews, Mason and Brown. Certainly not a monster line but there was 10x talent there over this current sad bunch.

 

[Real fan 02]

I have no problem with Kraft deciding to hire an experienced successful GM. By default, Robert and Jonathan do some of that work.

However, I don't see Wolf leaving.

We must understand it wasn't supposed to be this way. The plan was to have bill leave on his own terms as he rightfully deserved to. With the roster ready to compete. Poor drafting got us to this point. Also even if Mayo had a successor Clause he wasn't supposed to be in this position in 2024.. but your right wolf is here and so will Mayo.

 

[Real fan 02]

In 2021, they averaged 27ppg. They had 2 800yd receivers, 4 players with over 40 catches and ran for 2k on the ground w 24TDs. Josh was OC. Mac was a caretaker.

Starting line was Wynn, Karas, Andrews, Mason and Brown. Certainly not a monster line but there was 10x talent there over this current sad bunch.

Good stats! Also add in that they had games where they actually blew opponents out. This team couldn't blow out a candle.

 

[PatsFan2]

Bailey Zappe in green. So much for unbiased analysis.

A very strong case can be made for starting over and moving on from Wolf, but the OPs player breakdown is biased.

Saw that too rub eyes.