Good story on Roman Phifer, who is rumored to be on Vrabel's staff

[mike_usagisan]

It’s effective because it’s complicated. It is steeped in game planning, opponent film study, every concept known to man, utilizing role players, covering weaknesses and experience. You can’t run that effectively without the right staff and we don’t and won’t have it.

Granted I'm biased, but those were descriptors a lot of people have used to describe Vrabel's Titans teams.

 

[signbabybrady]

It’s effective because it’s complicated. It is steeped in game planning, opponent film study, every concept known to man, utilizing role players, covering weaknesses and experience. You can’t run that effectively without the right staff and we don’t and won’t have it.

Matty P ran it I'm sure if that's what Vrabel wants to run he can do it and find someone with experience to do it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Bill's such a meanie lol

Here is an article which goes into that story...

In the summer of '01, Phifer was experiencing turbulent times with his first wife, Alexis. Phifer, unsigned through the offseason, eventually got a divorce and told teams that he didn't think he'd be able to attend training camp.

Belichick, who was then going into his second season in New England, told Phifer not to worry. The two agreed that Phifer, going into the 11th season of his 15-year career, could miss the first three or so weeks of training camp. All Phifer had to do was be in shape and there would be a role for him.

"The role ended up that he played 98 percent of the downs," Belichick said recently, smiling at the memory. "We still joke about that when we see each other. But we didn't have anybody else who could do the skills Roman provided and we needed those skills on the field almost all the time."

Disciples can learn from 'warm' Belichick

Bill Belichick's former assistants should adopt his practice of giving the players some leeway.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Ring 6]

Matty P ran it I'm sure if that's what Vrabel wants to run he can do it and find someone with experience to do it.

Vrabel hasnt run BBs system as a coach.

It’s not just play calls, it’s also the personnel fitting and many other factors.
Why would you want to force Vrabel into someone else’s defense?

 

[Ring 6]

Granted I'm biased, but those were descriptors a lot of people have used to describe Vrabel's Titans teams.

Vrabel hasn’t copied BBs system so far, why would he try now

 

[mike_usagisan]

Travel hasn’t copied BBs system so far, why would he try now

It’s not the same system, but the core concepts are the same. Adapt to each game, find the three things that will spell success for that game, prepare diligently, etc.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Loved Phifer as a player. I was pissed when the Jets got him and Atwater in 1999. He was cooked by the time he came to NE, but he still found a way to get over 100 tackles in 2 of the 4 seasons he was in NE.

 

[Ring 6]

It’s not the same system, but the core concepts are the same. Adapt to each game, find the three things that will spell success for that game, prepare diligently, etc.

The discussion started with whether our personnel are only fit for BBs system. My point is we are screwed if we keep trying to run the defense the way belichick ran it. There is too much complexity.
What I am saying is we need to stop trying to replicate what BB did and have whoever comes in run their system.

That makes some of the role players who’s weaknesses were well hidden in bbs defense bad fits in a different system but the key players will fit any system.

 

[signbabybrady]

Vrabel hasnt run BBs system as a coach.

It’s not just play calls, it’s also the personnel fitting and many other factors.
Why would you want to force Vrabel into someone else’s defense?

That's why I said if he wants to.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Here is an article which goes into that story...

Disciples can learn from 'warm' Belichick

Bill Belichick's former assistants should adopt his practice of giving the players some leeway.

sports.yahoo.com

Countless stories like this that are indicative of Belichick's ability and approach.

Bill wasn't a player. He was always a coach.

The silly assertion that Parcells was only successful with Belichick is over the top. Belichick was there because Tuna wanted him there.

But, I think what separates the great ones is, in an example like this, most coaches would say, "Yeah, fine, stay out west, take the year off, whatever you need to do." What happened here was not just beneficial to Bill because we needed him, it was great for Roman as well. I think the best way to get over something unhappy is to be busy and get going.

Losing **** Rehbein is about as lousy a way to start a season as you can get. Then, the team started 0-2. 911 was an unimaginably horrific disaster for everyone. And, Drew Bledsoe having his life in jeopardy feels like too much to bear.

Throughout it all, Coach Belichick always said keep going. Do your job. Focus on today, on what we can control.

Bill really did a masterful job in free agency and personnel in that '01 offseason. He hit it out of the park. Role players, leaders, guys hungry not just for playing time, but for success.

But he really amped it up for the season. He was calm. He was collected. Ask anybody on that team.

The Patriots were, I believe, the largest underdog to the Rams in the Super Bowl since the Jets.

I think it was Chris Carter who was asked about the Pats' chances in New Orleans, and he said, "There's one wild card. Belichick. He could make the difference."

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Here is an article which goes into that story...

Disciples can learn from 'warm' Belichick

Bill Belichick's former assistants should adopt his practice of giving the players some leeway.

sports.yahoo.com

Great story. On the flip side, I love the story that was posted right underneath it.

On the other side …: While that's a warm and fuzzy story about Belichick, not all of his players are so fortunate.

In 2007, safety Brandon Meriweather(notes) was a first-round NFL draft pick of the Patriots out of the University of Miami. During training camp, part of Meriweather's work was to cover ultra-quick New England wide receiver Wes Welker(notes). At one point, before New England had played an exhibition game, Meriweather was asked what it was like to face Welker regularly.

Meriweather made a seemingly innocuous remark about how Welker was one of the best slot receivers in the league, a fact Welker has proved over the past two years. At the time, however, Welker was still relatively unknown.

During a team meeting the next day, Belichick was going over a series of quotes from players both on his team and around the league. He brought up Meriweather's remark about Welker and then said aloud: "Brandon, what the [bleep] do you know about the NFL?"

 

[Patjew]

Can he kick it? All the time?

 

[Ray Ray 717]

LOL another defensive guy.

Still no plan to bring in a real offensive mastermind to develop our franchise QB, fix the o line and find us some real NFL WRs

Maye is no Brady, folks. Vrabel has zero clue how to play call or take Maye to the next level

 

[Lavictoire]

I have an old wheaties box or two with him and other SB 36 patriots players on it.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

Can he kick it? All the time?

 

[Stu Pidassle]

I only remember him a little, but he was part of that hardworking, lunch pail defense we had, especially early on in 2021.

He was one of the core guys brought in as veteran FA for the 2001 season to reset the locker room. I would love to see him have a leading role choosing players for rebuilding the team.

 

[Patjew]

I have an old wheaties box or two with him and other SB 36 patriots players on it.

Me too. It's next to a Larry Bird Wheaties box.

 

[p8ryts]

Me too. It's next to a Larry Bird Wheaties box.

I think mine is in storage along with my Doug Flutie one.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Yeah, but who is on the box of little chocolate donuts?

 

[Patjew]

Yeah, but who is on the box of little chocolate donuts?

Belushi, of course