Cool Link Bedard’s magnum opus

[Ring 6]

This isn't a criticism of you but when we are talking about Wolf it's obvious he didn't get enough talent for the dollars he spent and for the dollars he left on the table. That's not to say Mayo's coaching hasn't sucked too I guess it's just the tangled web we weave right now. Everyone is to blame.

Both can be true that GM did a bad job and the HC did a bad job too. And both are true.

 

[JohnJH]

Kraft sees charm.

And, he writes the checks. At the end of the day, sadly, for better or worse (in this case, for worse), is all that counts.

 

[JohnJH]

I think I just agree with Bedard that the ultimate brain-dead move is to scape-goat AVP.

If they keep Mayo then they need to keep AVP. If they replace Mayo, then either replace him with an offensive HC or with a solid HC/OC combo that you're very confident you'll get a few years out of. Perhaps there's a chance you can bring in a Vrabel and still keep AVP but that seems unlikely to me.

The sad thing is, although AVP is not what we need for an OC, he's the only one of the coaching staff (especially offense) that I'd keep just as QB Coach for the work that he's done with Maye. He's in over his head as an OC.

 

[JohnJH]

If I was Kraft and I was dead-set on keeping Mayo, I would do the below:

1. Keep AVP to provide continuity for Maye and see how AVP himself improves as a playcaller next year
2. Fire Covington
3. Bring in an experienced defensive coordinator. Probably easier to replace DC than OC
4. Spend bigly - Tee Higgins (WR), Jevon Holland (S), Nick Bolton (LB), Ronnie Stanley (LT), Josh Sweat (DE), Trey Smith (G)
5. Secure #2 or #1 overall, trade down with a team seeking a QB, then use assets to move up and get talent on both sides
6. Push Mayo to play for the win, not to play not to lose
7. If Mayo is more than 1 game below .500 by midseason after all this, fire his ass and immediately begin a new search


But if it were up to me I'd be blowing up the whole thing top-to-bottom.

I agree with everything you said, except keeping Mayo and I'd move AVP to just QB Coach.

 

[JohnJH]

I remember the blackouts....jus sayin'....

I do too!

 

[catent]

What a bunch of garbage. Really just a word soup trying to suck up to the talk show callers and message board/social media commentary.

First his rehash was wildly inaccurate and a pile crap.

Second I don't think he has a pulse on the fan base as a whole I think it's more a pulse on the whiniest loudest ones of the group. It's a pulse on the people who call in to talk radio and post on message boards and comment on his articles.

Lastly he doesn't even say fire Mayo so really all he is doing is crying about Krafts process and imploring him not to get it wrong going forward but he says even if that means keeping the current group.

This is my take, as well.

It's a sophomoric, poorly written article. Honestly, my blood slightly boiled realizing this article by a professional writer would've landed me a solid 'C' (maybe a 'B' with any luck) and a lot of editing in most High School English classes, while Bedard is making good money publishing this.

Besides the poor analytical process and lack of good information/evidence, the quality of the writing is poor and reads not like a polished written article, but rather like a podcast riff / monologue transcribed into writing.

There aren't any interesting insights in this article via Bedard himself (which is exactly what a great sportswriter should provide: unique perspective, inside info, a not-yet-known nugget of info/insight ... there is none of that. Just a rehash of already known info, and poorly written at that).

As another poster mentioned, the article does very much read like an AI summary of PatsFans/PatsPulpit/Patriots social media comments generally, from the past 4-6 years; candidly, an AI summary would've been just as informative and likely much better written.

 

[Tunescribe]

This is my take, as well.

It's a sophomoric, poorly written article. Honestly, my blood slightly boiled realizing this article by a professional writer would've landed me a solid 'C' (maybe a 'B' with any luck) and a lot of editing in most High School English classes, while Bedard is making good money publishing this.

Besides the poor analytical process and lack of good information/evidence, the quality of the writing is poor and reads not like a polished written article, but rather like a podcast riff / monologue transcribed into writing.

There aren't any interesting insights in this article via Bedard himself (which is exactly what a great sportswriter should provide: unique perspective, inside info, a not-yet-known nugget of info/insight ... there is none of that. Just a rehash of already known info, and poorly written at that).

As another poster mentioned, the article does very much read like an AI summary of PatsFans/PatsPulpit/Patriots social media comments generally, from the past 4-6 years; candidly, an AI summary would've been just as informative and likely much better written.

It wasn't written as an article, it was written as an open letter to the Krafts. Hence, the conversational style.

 

[catent]

It wasn't written as an article, it was written as an open letter to the Krafts. Hence, the conversational style.

Point well taken about the letter format and that lending itself to a less formalized writing style and something intended to be read aloud, more in the vein the letter is written.

 

[Triumph]

I expect good coaching and the right culture and mentality. We don’t have that.

What happened to good players.

Change your mind

 

[Huckleberry1]

Because there are so many reasons to be positive about this team….

Boston Sports media, Boston sports radio, and many in the fan base were trashing them during the dynasty. There was no better example of this than the week the Patriots got blown out by the Chiefs in 2014, when media and fans alike were clamoring for Belichick to trade Brady and start Garrapolo, were also calling for Belichick’s head, and the self acclaimed “ God of Wrath” Deus Irae wrote a lengthy post detailing how Belichick had built “ the worst roster in football!”


End Result-They beat the Seahawks in the Siper Bowl, and went on to win two more Lombardi’s before the Dynasty was done.

So it’s not specific to this moment in time, it’s an everlasting feature of Boston Sports. Everybody sucks, until they don’t, and then they immediately suck again.

“ Kevin McHale and Larry Bird aren’t walking through that door…………”

 

[TomPatriot]

What happened to good players.

Change your mind

It’s the bigger need, but Mayo? Idk.

 

[Toofy]

Now unless we get a new GM and offensive minded HC nobody of note would come here.

Don't think Krafts will fire both wolf and Mayo. There is a risk that new ones will also mirror existing performance or be worse off. They will punt on the hope that wolf and Mayo will be better this year. I just think there is no option honestly for them unless Brian Johnson says he is interested and willing to come if he has 3 years and GM of his say. Unlikely, but thats the only scenario which will get Mayo and wolf fired .

Both Mayo and Wolf know they will be judged on this season and if things don't improve , they will be fired. So with some fire in their belly, I hope coaching and drafting will improve and we might have some luck too in drafting.

Now coming into fall guys, I think they will definitely want an experienced DC. So they will probably overpay for a DC like Saleh hoping to get them in for a crucial litmus test. If the defense improves they will be credited. As for Mayo, his success hinges on draft and that off DC. No decent OC will join under Mayo. So Mayo would need AVP more than AVP needs him. They will be hoping AVP to get better and tbh, his play calling has slightly improved. So let's hope AVP continues to grow and Maye gets better opportunities.

The goal for this season is to bring the team to a 7 - 9 win team .

For ticket sales to happen some changes need to happen. I expect these

1. Covington and wide receivers coach will be fired. There is a chance Scott peters is also let go.
2. Groh might be let go to show some optics on front office
3. Sign tee Higgins in free agency.
4. Sign McMillan or Hunter in draft.

This year is about optics . They can't look stupid by trading down and grabbing. Strange level of player in weak draft class.

I have come to the realization that Krafts screwed by hiring remnants and we need to allow for 2 years for it to completely dissolve on its own or to rise up from the ashes like Phoenix. Unlikely but that's where we are. When I as a casual fan can see it, Krafts also know that. They know they have screwed up and will just be hoping Mayo can resurrect, else they will be making a coaching change 10 weeks into season .

At this point the focus should be that maye does not regress. Winning is secondary now. Just build around maye and hope you get a core of 10 players from existing 5.

 

[Triumph]

It’s the bigger need, but Mayo? Idk.

I would give the whole gang 1 more season to improve.

 

[TomPatriot]

I would give the whole gang 1 more season to improve.

I think you’re getting your wish. Some position coaches will probably be replaced. Maybe they can AVP too, but if they’re going to run it back, they should run it all back and spend in FA.

 

[p8ryts]

I think you’re getting your wish. Some position coaches will probably be replaced. Maybe they can AVP too, but if they’re going to run it back, they should run it all back and spend in FA.

I think AVP is the least of our worries in the coaching ranks.

 

[Triumph]

I think you’re getting your wish. Some position coaches will probably be replaced. Maybe they can AVP too, but if they’re going to run it back, they should run it all back and spend in FA.

I'm warming up to the plan of drafting OL early and often.

The game is still won and lost in the trenches. Even more so today with virtually every teams OL under duress. The defenses and pass rushers have gotten better overnight or the OLs have gotten worse. Probably both. Mahomes is getting the crap kicked out of him week in and week out.

 

[TomPatriot]

I'm warming up to the plan of drafting OL early and often.

The game is still won and lost in the trenches. Even more so today with virtually every teams OL under duress. The defenses and pass rushers have gotten better overnight or the OLs have gotten worse. Probably both. Mahomes is getting the crap kicked out of him week in and week out.

An above average starting LT solves a bevy of OL problems.

 

[Ray Ray 717]

I

"ruined a good asset in Mac Jones"

Huh. Weird definition of a good asset lol but most of the stuff I agree with.

I will say, I don't know if jettisoning Belichick over Brady would've produced much else, right? This team was in hell by that point. I don't know if it could've flipped to a win-now situation just by keeping Brady (although we would've won more, for sure). I feel like leaving it at that would be reductionist. The team around Brady was **** on almost all levels except a defense that was soon to fold against good offenses in the next year.

The Bucs had almost every position on the offense already settled and strong.

Interesting to think about how different it would've been, if at all. Would it have been a slower flare out? Would we have developed a QB on Mac and maybe miss out on Maye? That's where the pondering gets sexy.

Should have drafted Lamar Jackson in 2018 with one of two first round picks instead of a backup college RB and a fat unspectacular tackle

 

[Ray Ray 717]

I'm warming up to the plan of drafting OL early and often.

The game is still won and lost in the trenches. Even more so today with virtually every teams OL under duress. The defenses and pass rushers have gotten better overnight or the OLs have gotten worse. Probably both. Mahomes is getting the crap kicked out of him week in and week out.

Draft OL early while failing to address WR and I will bet you top dollar we win no more than 5 games.

 

[Vindicate]

I like belichick. As a defensive coach, he is arguably the best of all time, no doubt. His coaching and even drafting in the early 2000s was fantastic. However, he grew older and became ornery. He became so arrogant and pretentious he single handily drove this team into the ground with appalling GM moves. refused to hand over the keys to

Should have drafted Lamar Jackson in 2018 with one of two first round picks instead of a backup college RB and a fat unspectacular tackle

Lmao, "fat unspectacular tackle" is hilarious

I gotta say, I wonder what a team would look like with Lamar as a QB and Bill as the coach. Cam was way too over the hill to be a comp of what it could've been.

I do like Maye, though. If he keeps improving he could be a standout in the future NFL.