Forged in Foxborough: episode 3, "Building an Identity"

[The Gr8est]

There is a lot to take away from these Forged in Foxboro presentations.

I enjoyed hearing Terrell Williams speak. He was just a name to me previously, but it was good to hear him speak and get a sense of who he is.

Seems like a well-spoken and solid individual.
Definitely seems like someone who has the requisites to fit into his role as DC.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Diggs seems better than advertised.
A real professional who likes to help others, work hard and hone his craft.

It’s very nice seeing he’s not the being the head case he’s been made out to be in the past. I know wrs are usually divas and that’s ok so long as it doesn’t screw up the rest of the team, of give the young guys ideas on how they should(nt) be acting. I’ll be even more pleased once a games played and he leads the team in receptions…

 

[n1997y]

the emphasis on Chism is interesting. does the team dress 5 or 6 game 1? if 4, who sits? Boutte? Chism? WIlliams? Hollins?
seems Diggs and Pop are for certain, no?

I expect it will be a few games into the season before we see Williams active on game day.

 

[n1997y]

Like 30% of this episode was dedicated to Efton Chism, lmao. I guess the Pats org loves him as much as we do.

Spillane got a lot of focus in the first half too. And Hollins was also prominently featured. They both impressed me as very articulate and clearly dialed in.

 

[Real fan 02]

There is a lot to take away from these Firged in Foxboro presentations.

I enjoyed hearing Terrell Williams speak. He was just a name to me previously, but it was good to hear him speak and get a sense of who he is.

Seems like a well-spoken and solid individual.
Definitely seems like someone who has the requisites to fit into his role as DC.

Williams has been around the NFL for a long time and is highly respected. His eye for how he schemes a defense reminds me of Romeo crennel.

 

[mayoclinic]

Spillane and Chism are clearly the veteran/rookie role models for the "identity" the team wants to project: blue collar work ethic, grit, preparation and teamwork. No entitlement, nothing that is not earned, team >>> individual.

 

[Steve102]

Spillane and Chism are clearly the veteran/rookie role models for the "identity" the team wants to project: blue collar work ethic, grit, preparation and teamwork. No entitlement, nothing that is not earned, team >>> individual.

I love how they are preaching violence.

 

[mayoclinic]

Starting with the coach jumping into the pile.

 

[Real fan 02]

I love how they are preaching violence.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

It’s very nice seeing he’s not the being the head case he’s been made out to be in the past. I know wrs are usually divas and that’s ok so long as it doesn’t screw up the rest of the team, of give the young guys ideas on how they should(nt) be acting. I’ll be even more pleased once a games played and he leads the team in receptions…

Reminds me of Randy Moss in 2007 when he hardly played in the pre-season and some of the pundits said he was on the bubble. 20 plus TD receptions later he was just being hidden. I'm not saying Diggs in Randy 2.0 but I'm confident he's much better than anything this team has had the last few years.

 

[n1997y]

Spillane and Chism are clearly the veteran/rookie role models for the "identity" the team wants to project: blue collar work ethic, grit, preparation and teamwork. No entitlement, nothing that is not earned, team >>> individual.

Both UDFAs. Spillane has established himself as a damned good football player in the NFL. I loved the scene when he was asked how many training camps he’d been to, and answered “eight”. He’s clearly earned some cred. I expect he will be one of the captains.

 

[Real fan 02]

Reminds me of Randy Moss in 2007 when he hardly played in the pre-season and some of the pundits said he was on the bubble. 20 plus TD receptions later he was just being hidden. I'm not saying Diggs in Randy 2.0 but I'm confident he's much better than anything this team has had the last few years.

I can see that myself. I also think it's important to try to get a fast start early in games. We've been 3-7 in the mont of September going back to 2021. Target Diggs early to let the defense know that they are going to have to play honest. Diggs definitely his presence helps the other guys.

 

[Clonamery]

Both UDFAs. Spillane has established himself as a damned good football player in the NFL. I loved the scene when he was asked how many training camps he’d been to, and answered “eight”. He’s clearly earned some cred. I expect he will be one of the captains.

Clearly still loves the Game.

 

[Huckleberry1]

It’s very nice seeing he’s not the being the head case he’s been made out to be in the past. I know wrs are usually divas and that’s ok so long as it doesn’t screw up the rest of the team, of give the young guys ideas on how they should(nt) be acting. I’ll be even more pleased once a games played and he leads the team in receptions…

Yeah, that’s not going to happen. How the hell do you expect a guy like Diggs to lead the team in receptions when they have EFTON CHISM III? Christ man, give these things a little thought before you commit them to the post. Stefon Diggs, gimme a break.

 

[The Gr8est]

Starting with the coach jumping into the pile.

“You should have seen the other guy.”

 

[The Gr8est]

Both UDFAs. Spillane has established himself as a damned good football player in the NFL. I loved the scene when he was asked how many training camps he’d been to, and answered “eight”. He’s clearly earned some cred. I expect he will be one of the captains.

Maybe UDFAs just work harder?

Too bad more highly drafted players don’t work as hard as Spillane and Chism.

Maybe the secret to a winning culture isn’t who you draft high, it is the best UDFAs that you find.

 

[Vindicate]

What’s striking to me is the difference in coaching emphasis between Vrabel and Belichick. Whereas Belichick focused almost exclusively on execution and situational football-“ do your job,” Vrabel seems to emphasize team and the “ culture of violence” first and foremost. I realize that this episode was about culture, and that it may have been emphasized more, but that theme has been evident from Vrabel’s first day on the job. And I’m sure Belichick talked about team and Vrabel does plenty of situational football in practice, but to me Belichick’s focus was more on individual players executing their responsibility, whereas Vrabel’s is more on them fighting together as a team to get the job done. Either way it was a fun episode to watch, and I loved the focus on Efton Chism III, and how he earned his place on the team. He’s a baller, and he’s really going to help Maye and this team. I also love the emphasis on violence. In football you have to win the fistfight to be able to execute properly, and that’s why running the ball effectively is so critical to the success of a team like the Patriots, as you are dishing out the hits and wearing the opponent down on every running play, as opposed to absorbing them in pass protection.

Belichick built identity purely through defining the role of each position and holding them to that role. Those roles came together to form an identity.

Vrabel is more aggressive in articulating that identity, getting people to embrace it. Vrabel is basically Kevin Garnett as a head coach and decisively less crazy.

I prefer the first, but the second is animating and definitely can get it done, as well.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I love how they are preaching violence.

Cracks me up that it’s being led and preached by Williams, who seems to be the most calm, collected, and organized of the coaches. I loved the scene where he was leading the film review, so calm with a set process yet had complete command.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Maybe UDFAs just work harder?

Too bad more highly drafted players don’t work as hard as Spillane and Chism.

Maybe the secret to a winning culture isn’t who you draft high, it is the best UDFAs that you find.

It seems like the best players in any sport have a chip on their shoulder for whatever reason. You can be a top 3 pick in the NBA like Michael Jordan and spend your entire career pissed off trying to prove he should have been the number 1 overall. We know Brady’s story, and a whole lot of UDFAs stories. If a first round talent doesn’t have a first round determination, it can lead to a good player but won’t lead to a star.

 

[Real fan 02]

Just like Romeo was.. such a kind, calm laid back guy.. but wanted his defense to be physically imposing and beat up WR's at the line line of scrimmage.

Cracks me up that it’s being led and preached by Williams, who seems to be the most calm, collected, and organized of the coaches. I loved the scene where he was leading the film review, so calm with a set process yet had complete command.