Bill "The Optometrist" Belichick

[shmessy]

The term I keep thinking about regarding Bill Belichick the past week or so, when I marvel at what this defense has turned into after shipping out Chandler Jones, Dominique Easley, Jamie Collins and then sitting Jabal Sheard for a few weeks is "Optometrist".

At first, I looked at it as an "amputation" - - actually multiple amputations - many of us did, hence all those Monty Python memes that we all put up here.

Boy, was I off!

Those weren't mere amputations - - those were optometry prescription changes.

Jabal, and the entire unit have new pairs of glasses and, while the talent level may not be so high, their FOCUS is 2001-like. They are winning with their MINDS again, not just their talent. That line shift in the Ravens game before the safety was a great illustration. They (and Patricia) are dialed in together.

BB simply went old school (2001) and rebuilt the defense to the 2001 model at the beginning and in the middle of this season. "Choosing to be introduced as a team" mentality. Remarkable.

 

[Gronk]

Was it just a prescription change, or LASIK? Because that would require he be an ophthalmologist.

I think the talent level is plenty high with this bunch...maybe not the names we were expecting, but maybe that's part of what you're getting at is that those who remain are geared up to prove they don't need those prettyboys BB kicked to the curb.

 

[luuked]

The term I keep thinking about regarding Bill Belichick the past week or so, when I marvel at what this defense has turned into after shipping out Chandler Jones, Dominique Easley, Jamie Collins and then sitting Jabal Sheard for a few weeks is "Optometrist".

At first, I looked at it as an "amputation" - - actually multiple amputations - many of us did, hence all those Monty Python memes that we all put up here.

Boy, was I off!

Those weren't mere amputations - - those were optometry prescription changes.

Jabal, and the entire unit have new pairs of glasses and, while the talent level may not be so high, their FOCUS is 2001-like.

BB simply went old school (2001) and rebuilt the defense to the 2001 model at the beginning and in the middle of this season. "Choosing to be introduced as a team" mentality. Remarkable.

If you break it down the thing that really sets him apart from most of the other coaches in the business and what also kept the Patriots on the top for so long is his -- and the staff's -- ability to self evaluate so ruthlessly. Lombardi mentions self-evaluation as one of the thing that most teams just can't do right on his pretentious podcast very often.

No other team would have had the balls to send the "great" Jamie Collins away in his contract year to replace him with a mix of players. Like Lombardi says one of the known sayings inside the NFL is that you are "1-2 injuries away form being a good team" and in this case BB & co showed that they don't need the excuse of an injury to take a uninterested, struggling "star player" out and still upgrade.

There are many more things that set BB apart which many of us has mentioned again and again (e.g. his "consistency over ability" mantra...) in similar threads but the evaluation ability of this team really was showcased this year.

 

[ausbacker]

If you break it down the thing that really sets him apart from most of the other coaches in the business and what also kept the Patriots on the top for so long is his -- and the staff's -- ability to self evaluate so ruthlessly. Lombardi mentions self-evaluation as one of the thing that most teams just can't do right on his pretentious podcast he co-hosts very often.

No other team would have had the balls to send the "great" Jamie Collins away in his contract year to replace him with a mix of players. Like Lombardi says one of the known sayings inside the NFL is that you are "1-2 injuries away form being a good team" and in this case BB & co showed that they don't need the excuse of an injury to take a uninterested, struggling "star player" out and still upgrade.

There are many more things that set BB apart which many of us has mentioned again and again (e.g. his "consistency over ability mantra"...) in similar threads but the evaluation ability of this team really was showcased this year.

The thing I most like about Belichick is when he sniffs a problem, he deals with it promptly. Whether it be a scheme change, a coaching change, or shipping out players who aren't pulling in the same direction, gaudy contract or not, he pulls the trigger, cuts himself free and moves on. It's an incredible strength.

 

[Nikolai]

The thing I most like about Belichick is when he sniffs a problem, he deals with it promptly. Whether it be a scheme change, a coaching change, or shipping out players who aren't pulling in the same direction, gaudy contract or not, he pulls the trigger, cuts himself free and moves on. It's an incredible strength.

He's trusting his analysis. Shipping Collins was a ballsy move, but the move was grounded in sound analysis of his play relative to what BB would get with his replacement.

BB gets a lot of credit for challenging conventional wisdom, and not just in this situation. He kept 4 QBs in 2000, because he didn't want to let go of Brady. It's what he does. He makes the "bold" move, but is basing it on what he feels are solid measures.

 

[ctpatsfan1]

The term I keep thinking about regarding Bill Belichick the past week or so, when I marvel at what this defense has turned into after shipping out Chandler Jones, Dominique Easley, Jamie Collins and then sitting Jabal Sheard for a few weeks is "Optometrist".

At first, I looked at it as an "amputation" - - actually multiple amputations - many of us did, hence all those Monty Python memes that we all put up here.

Boy, was I off!

Those weren't mere amputations - - those were optometry prescription changes.

Jabal, and the entire unit have new pairs of glasses and, while the talent level may not be so high, their FOCUS is 2001-like. They are winning with their MINDS again, not just their talent. That line shift in the Ravens game before the safety was a great illustration. They (and Patricia) are dialed in together.

BB simply went old school (2001) and rebuilt the defense to the 2001 model at the beginning and in the middle of this season. "Choosing to be introduced as a team" mentality. Remarkable.

I have one small nitpick with your statement in that you say "while the talent level may not be so high..."

I'm not sure that is correct - the addition of Van Noy and McClellin has added talent, they are talented individuals/athletes with their own set of skills/talents to play professional football. Now they may not be as gifted athletically as a Collins but they are talented and their talents better fit this defensive scheme than Collins pure athletic skills and free lance mentaility do and thus make the overall defense perform better and more talented even though it is less athletic than it was before. It's a small nuance but I think an important one as to how this defense performs post Collins and Jones vs with them.

 

[oldrover]

So you're saying Bill is good at performing eye tests?

 

[n1997y]

I have one small nitpick with your statement in that you say "while the talent level may not be so high..."

I'm not sure that is correct - the addition of Van Noy and McClellin has added talent, they are talented individuals/athletes with their own set of skills/talents to play professional football. Now they may not be as gifted athletically as a Collins but they are talented and their talents better fit this defensive scheme than Collins pure athletic skills and free lance mentaility do and thus make the overall defense perform better and more talented even though it is less athletic than it was before. It's a small nuance but I think an important one as to how this defense performs post Collins and Jones vs with them.

Van Noy and McClellin are about the same as Jones and Collins, if you look at where they were drafted. Van Noy was a second round pick; so was Collins. Shea McClellin was the nineteenth overall pick; Chandler Jones was the twenty first. I'd say they're all at the level where there is little difference quantitatively in athletic ability, it's more a matter of style and what they do with it. So I agree, the talent level is still pretty high, certainly not greatly diminished.

 

[old 55]

The thing I most like about Belichick is when he sniffs a problem, he deals with it promptly. Whether it be a scheme change, a coaching change, or shipping out players who aren't pulling in the same direction, gaudy contract or not, he pulls the trigger, cuts himself free and moves on. It's an incredible strength.

Overall, I agree, but last year we might have won the SB if he had replaced our crappy offensive line coach with Dante rather than letting the season play out. The line played badly yet we only lost to Denver by 2 in Denver. Scar would have improved the line play enough to win that game. I had been telling my wife and anyone that would listen that the o line coach needed to be fired. Our crappy finish to that season also insured we would lose home field and play in Denver. When BB pulled the trigger within 24 hrs, I was happy with the decision,but disappointed that another season of Brady's career was squandered without a ring.

 

[TomPatriot]

I think Collins and Jones were more than adequately replaced by Van Noy and Long. Like Collins, Van Noy was a second round pick, so he has physical talent. Chris Long was the second pick in the 2008 draft and is the son of a great DL, so he has both physical talent and pedigree. Both Long and Van Noy were also hungry to play within a system that exploits their respective talents. Add Flowers and Sheard and you have a pretty decent pass rush and no drop-off in production there.

 

[WinstonSmith]

Agreed, I think that smart football, being on the same page, and being selfless in pursuit of team goals trumps the talent loss.

Although, as the season comes to a conclusion I hope that he becomes known as Bill "the Dentist" Belichick after forcing Goodell to endure an unanesthetized root canal while repeatedly asking him, “Is it safe”.