AVP; could be great for this team.

[Wozzy]

Back when they said they were making the changes to more zone blocking, shouldn’t they have brought in more linemen for this scheme? If I’m not mistaken they only brought in strange. Color me wrong…or stupid even but I would think it would take more than 1…

Zone blocking doesn't require a different type of lineman, a talented lineman is a talented lineman. The zone was originally employed because those early Shanahan/Kubiak offenses had all their money tied up in QB, skill position players and defense, so their offensive line was low cost and less talented. They employed zone instead of man for the same reason basketball teams with less athleticism run zone defense or certain NFL defensive backfields with less talent run zone... they didn't have the athletes to man up opponents one on one.

Any talented lineman can run zone, the thing about zone is it has to be practiced and taught well to be effective. The unit has to be on the same page and have a hive mind to make it work. It's not something you can just say "we're doing this now" and all of a sudden it works. The Patriot offense figured that out pretty quickly in the 2022 preseason when they tried it and it looked like crap.

It's apparent some voices in the Patriots braintrust wanted to switch to zone whether the other coaches wanted to or not. I suspect some voices wanted to change the entire offensive system despite other coaches not wanting to. In short, there was clearly a power struggle among coaches and ownership, and collaboration only works when everybody is rowing in the same direction.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Back when they said they were making the changes to more zone blocking, shouldn’t they have brought in more linemen for this scheme? If I’m not mistaken they only brought in strange. Color me wrong…or stupid even but I would think it would take more than 1…

The players were only part of the problem, I would have taken 1 coach who knew about zone blocking. The failed experiment with zone blocking is the most visible symptom of the systematic failure that was in progress at the time. The roster was aging out, TB12 left a year or two before BB and RKK were ready on the player side, JMD and Popovich strip mined the offensive brain power and RKK was too busy pretending that the team was still mid dynasty. We would be better off today if the rebuild started in earnest instead of focusing on damage control after TB12 won the super bowl in Tampa.

 

[Real fan 02]

The players were only part of the problem, I would have taken 1 coach who knew about zone blocking. The failed experiment with zone blocking is the most visible symptom of the systematic failure that was in progress at the time. The roster was aging out, TB12 left a year or two before BB and RKK were ready on the player side, JMD and Popovich strip mined the offensive brain power and RKK was too busy pretending that the team was still mid dynasty. We would be better off today if the rebuild started in earnest instead of focusing on damage control after TB12 won the super bowl in Tampa.

Well said. The whole problem was you had a former DC/OL/HC that knew nothing of it. If the assistant coaches were properly paid and the staff maintained then a a competent coach could have been promoted. The notion bill didn't care about titles is BS.. titles mean everything to a coach as that's how the NFL sets the salaries .

OCs and DCs salaries are 1 million at minimum in the NFL. I'd argue if anyone on the Lower level staff made 1 million all together as a staff.

As we all know and lived it.. the entire offense and leaders on defense felt betrayed when Patricia was put in the position he was. If the players and coaches have no trust it doesn't permeate to success. It's amazing we went 8-9..

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

As we all know and lived it.. the entire offense and leaders on defense felt betrayed when Patricia was put in the position he was. If the players and coaches have no trust it doesn't permeate to success. It's amazing we went 8-9..

Well put! Players buying in plays a huge part in making things work and pretty sure there was little if any of it when he took it on. I would have loved to be the fly on the locker room walls that year. It musta been uuugggglyyyyy…

 

[Real fan 02]

Well put! Players buying in plays a huge part in making things work and pretty sure there was little if any of it when he took it on. I would have loved to be the fly on the locker room walls that year. It musta been uuugggglyyyyy…

Oh yeah... I can imagine. Even Slater during the 2017 season.. said that there was alot of tension in the organization as we all know from the documentary. But many felt that's when the players started to question things. Like McCourty saying we had a 2nd year QB that played well, and took us to the post season. Then you give him the set up... how can that be for the best interests of the team.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Oh yeah... I can imagine. Even Slater during the 2017 season.. said that there was alot of tension in the organization as we all know from the documentary. But many felt that's when the players started to question things. Like McCourty saying we had a 2nd year QB that played well, and took us to the post season. Then you give him the set up... how can that be for the best interests of the team.

No doubt a **** show. For a dude like Slater to say something says a lot. I need to see that documentary still. Gona see if it’s on the ol’ torrentski…

 

[Real fan 02]

No doubt a **** show. For a dude like Slater to say something says a lot. I need to see that documentary still. Gona see if it’s on the ol’ torrentski…

It's interesting but alot of things were left out. If you're like me.. looking to full up the time slot until camp gets here I'd definitely binge watch the documentary and man in the arena.