PATRIOTS NEWS Ryan Cowden to join front office

[Steve102]

He gets the first guy being compared really wrong. Polk and Wallace were just bad picks.

But he's right both times about the second guy.

Robinson and Baker are not bad picks. It was hard to know Baker has a 10 cent brain until you got to really know him.

I dunno man. These guys can get a real handle on how smart dudes are. I think they took a flier on a kid with a ton of talent and hoped he would pan out. No one would have cared if they took him in the 5th.

I really want to know what Bruschi meant when he said that a real decision maker who knows football is now taking over, and that the front office guys should just sit down and listen to people who actually know football. The key part of Bruschi's quote is he said YEARS of this, not just last year. If he meant the personnel people, which is my guess, then it's clear Bruschi thinks it's enough of a problem to talk about it on ESPN.

He certainly knows who it is. It's gotta be Groh, Glazer or Wolf. It may not be one person, but a team of scouts that need to get gone. Only Bruschi knows, although I'd bet all the money that Vrabel knows it, too.

 

[Brotherblues]

I thought he was close to Bob's age, then recently learned he's only like 60. Holy ****balls, drugs are bad, and some drugs are really bad.

 

[Steve102]

I thought he was close to Bob's age, then recently learned he's only like 60. Holy ****balls, drugs are bad, and some drugs are really bad.

 

[upstater1]

Most consensus WR rankings as I recall:

Nabers Odunze and MHJ were all top 5

Then there were a handful of mid-late 1st rounders:

Brian Thomas
Xavier Worthy
Leon Coleman
AD Mitchell
Ladd McConkey
Xavier Liggette
Ricky Pearsall

Polk was never considered amongst that 2nd teir. If anything Javon Baker was rated higher by most experts.

This is the way I remembered it too. Of course, I also wrote that Polk was going to be a bust if picked in the 3rd round (wrote this in January of 2024).

 

[PatsFan2]

This is the way I remembered it too. Of course, I also wrote that Polk was going to be a bust if picked in the 3rd round (wrote this in January of 2024).

stater: let's' give Polk a chance stranger things have happened. K Boutte made a decent Second year jump both Polk and Baker might too.

 

[signbabybrady]

1) Vrabel
2A) Cowden
2B) Highsmith
3) Wolf

I know you've been touting Highsmith this off-season but what indications actually exist to suggest he would be third in the pecking order?

Vrabel mentioned Wolf extensively I didn't hear him say Highsmith once. Highsmith's title on his wiki is just personnel executive where Wolf is still Executive Vice President of player personnel unless these titles changed or something else I think Wolf is still the highest ranking personnel guy.

I think it's as simple as Kraft has his guy and Vrabel got his and the two will be running things as another collaboration. I think the big difference is last year I think it was Wolf's vision in collaboration with Mayo and whoever else and this year Wolf and Cowden will collaborate on Vrabel's vision and maybe even Vrabel being the deciding vote.

 

[upstater1]

stater: let's' give Polk a chance stranger things have happened. K Boutte made a decent Second year jump both Polk and Baker might too.

It's a repeated story. Remember, Tyquan was vilified before his 2nd year as a bad pick as well. It's happened again and again and again to the Patriots, and we just have not seen a WR who didn't show us anything become good after repeated attempts. Givens, Branch, Mitchell, etc. all started out slow but they showed enough in their first year to look promising.

 

[PatsFan2]

It's a repeated story. Remember, Tyquan was vilified before his 2nd year as a bad pick as well. It's happened again and again and again to the Patriots, and we just have not seen a WR who didn't show us anything become good after repeated attempts. Givens, Branch, Mitchell, etc. all started out slow but they showed enough in their first year to look promising.

One name Mayo!

 

[PatsFan2]

It's a repeated story. Remember, Tyquan was vilified before his 2nd year as a bad pick as well. It's happened again and again and again to the Patriots, and we just have not seen a WR who didn't show us anything become good after repeated attempts. Givens, Branch, Mitchell, etc. all started out slow but they showed enough in their first year to look promising.

Tyquan's body type alone should have made us pass: shows how clueless BB was when it came on to Receivers. You don't take a Fourth Rounder in the Second.

 

[The Gr8est]

stater: let's' give Polk a chance stranger things have happened. K Boutte made a decent Second year jump both Polk and Baker might too.

Let’s hire a competent WR coach and see what happens.

Who was the last competent WR coach for the Pats?

 

[Steve102]

Let’s hire a competent WR coach and see what happens.

Who was the last competent WR coach for the Pats?

Randy Moss and Wes Welker shared the job 2007-2009.


EDIT: probably Chad O'shea 2009-2018.

 

[Urgent]

Yeah he might have his own grading system but I think it's too close to the draft to train all the scouts and get on the same page. I think they will roll with Wolf's and if it sucks...then time for more change. I like the addition of Cowden with Vrabel having the final say with personnel. Wolf and Cowden will provide input and Vrabel with make the decision. IMO Wolf won't make waves and what could he possibly do anyway? Run to Kraft? Kraft will tell him Vrabel makes the final decision.

I disagree.
There’s over three months. It’s 100 days away.
Senior Bowl. Combine. Pro days. Visits and interviews.
With 100 days and access to the players, their coaches, the testing, and their medical records my kids could deliver a better outcome.

And I don’t think Vrabel has been ignoring college football.

 

[The Gr8est]

Most consensus WR rankings as I recall:

Nabers Odunze and MHJ were all top 5

Then there were a handful of mid-late 1st rounders:

Brian Thomas
Xavier Worthy
Leon Coleman
AD Mitchell
Ladd McConkey
Xavier Liggette
Ricky Pearsall

Polk was never considered amongst that 2nd teir. If anything Javon Baker was rated higher by most experts.

I remember thinking that last year looked strong at WR, but Polk was not on my radar and I had to research him after they selected him.

 

[PatsFan2]

Yeah he might have his own grading system but I think it's too close to the draft to train all the scouts and get on the same page. I think they will roll with Wolf's and if it sucks...then time for more change. I like the addition of Cowden with Vrabel having the final say with personnel. Wolf and Cowden will provide input and Vrabel with make the decision. IMO Wolf won't make waves and what could he possibly do anyway? Run to Kraft? Kraft will tell him Vrabel makes the final decision.

Not this year coming off last year. Wolf is on thin ice.

 

[Zuma]

I disagree.
There’s over three months. It’s 100 days away.
Senior Bowl. Combine. Pro days. Visits and interviews.
With 100 days and access to the players, their coaches, the testing, and their medical records my kids could deliver a better outcome.

And I don’t think Vrabel has been ignoring college football.

They need to scout players as you said, new coaches, new mgmt, new scouts, learning existing players. I just think it will be too difficult with all these moving parts but get your point.

 

[Zuma]

Not this year coming off last year. Wolf is on thin ice.

There is no time with all the work that needs to be done. A new grading system should be implemented in May…not January.

 

[upstater1]

One name Mayo!

What does Mayo have to do with Tyquan and all the other busts?

Did Mayo hamper Boutte and Demario Douglas? No, not one bit.

 

[upstater1]

They need to scout players as you said, new coaches, new mgmt, new scouts, learning existing players. I just think it will be too difficult with all these moving parts but get your point.

Cowden has already been doing this work for a year

 

[upstater1]

Tyquan's body type alone should have made us pass: shows how clueless BB was when it came on to Receivers. You don't take a Fourth Rounder in the Second.

???
Polk is the same thing!! 3rd rounder at best. Taken 15 picks before Tyquan

 

[Stu Pidassle]

It's a repeated story. Remember, Tyquan was vilified before his 2nd year as a bad pick as well. It's happened again and again and again to the Patriots, and we just have not seen a WR who didn't show us anything become good after repeated attempts. Givens, Branch, Mitchell, etc. all started out slow but they showed enough in their first year to look promising.

You are probably right. The only bright spot is that he looked good up until the season started and his confidence was shaken. There is a chance that he can be a productive player with better coaching.