Greg Bedard: Pats coaching staff already at a troubling crossroads

[Real fan 02]

The Patriots had the most cap space in the entire league after signing every free agent and all their draft picks.

Money is no excuse for anything, they simply should have signed better players and drafted better.

When they saw this past off season wasn't panning out they chose to self invest. They are in the upper half of the league in cash spent. If money can't get guys to come here then what will? They tried and couldn't get Ridley or ayuik who looking at the offense now is probably best they didn't come here.. they'd be getting cob webbs.

 

[50-yard-line]

You can’t put a crappy product on the field because you want to play young guys who stink over older guys who can play. Those guys that stink won’t be here either.

You can’t build a defense with 11 guys. Are you seriously telling me that you didn’t want to disrupt having:
Ekuale plating starter snaps when he is a sub rusher at best
Friends U playing starter snaps (we lost both guy and Barmore)
A waiver wire pickup being DT3
McMillan playing starter snaps
Tavai playing every down
Uche playing every down
Jennings playing on passing downs
Hawkins as S3
Wilson playing corner
J Jones having to play outside instead of in the slot
Pettus playing. Or even being on the roster


White was playing no matter who we signed.

Who are the young players you didn’t want upgraded?

There are dozens of players in that list better than players we are putting on the field. Players at all levels from good players to average players to role players to backups. Pick the ones you like. This isn’t about which ones you like best it’s about the fact that we rostered bad players and shouldn’t have had to

Another general and vague answer. "Dozens" isn't an answer.

Almost all young players, particularly rookies, stink. Or flash and fade, or fade, then flash. It takes a couple of years in real time to see where most of them will be (especially when you're moving them around to different positions). Bentley is a prime example of this, as is Jennings.

I didn't want Austin or Bolden pushed out (like Froholdt). I want lots of snaps for Polk, Douglas, Uche, Jennings, and Sow. I want to see what we have in Wallace and Robinson.

In trying to keep the dynasty running, BB sacrificed playing time for the kids in favor of veterans who wouldn't screw up. It was the right thing to do for a competing team. This is NOT a competing team, and wasn't going to be close THIS YEAR, especially with a naked FA market. Go look at the tackles on your life. Most of them signed for under $1m, and the ones who didn't are all JAG vets, including Chuks. The only tackle to be had who was worth a damn was snagged by the Jets, who paid for an old man (who's still pretty good) because they have to win now in the Rodgers' window.

 

[Rob0729]

Coach Vrabel like Bill is unemployed.

Seems that people’s opinions about him here are quite a bit higher than what the league thinks about him as a HC. Doubtful he moves the needle on this team much if at all…

Vrabel is employed. He is a coach consultant for the Browns. Sorta like Patricia was here his first year after getting fired by the Lions. Vrabel is likely to be the Browns' head coach next year.

 

[Tunescribe]

Coach Vrabel like Bill is unemployed.

Seems that people’s opinions about him here are quite a bit higher than what the league thinks about him as a HC. Doubtful he moves the needle on this team much if at all…

You're attributing too much authoritative wisdom to "the league." You doubt Vrabel -- a recent NFL Coach of the Year -- would have assembled a better coaching staff than Mayo? Or believe he wouldn't have landed a better veteran bridge quarterback than Jacoby? Guess again.

 

[50-yard-line]

I just asked you valid questions that you seemingly ignored. Last time I checked don't the Jets have a veteran tackle? Wasn't he a available FA? So are you going to ignore what I asked you?

There isn't a ? in your post.

Tyron Smith is 33. The Jets are looking for a ring before Rodgers retires. Would I have liked him as a placeholder here? Sure - would he come here and protect Brissett over protecting Rodgers?

Would he be here when the Pats were ready to compete? No chance.

 

[50-yard-line]

The Redskins signed 3 FA OL starters including a LT. That seems to have gone well for them.
Ironically people here thought Trent Brown didn’t care about football so they rejoiced at signing Chunks who quit after 12 plays.

The Commanders starting left tackle is a rookie taken in the 3rd round.

They signed 3 OL FAs - two centers and a Guard. Those positions weren't the problem.

The biggest reasons their offense is playing so well is the coaching of Kingsbury, the talent of McLauren, and the athleticism of Jayden Daniels, who looks like the real deal.

I like Biadasz well enough - you going to sign him to backup your team captain?

 

[Real fan 02]

There isn't a ? in your post.

Tyron Smith is 33. The Jets are looking for a ring before Rodgers retires. Would I have liked him as a placeholder here? Sure - would he come here and protect Brissett over protecting Rodgers?

Would he be here when the Pats were ready to compete? No chance.

There you have it. That was another factor the affected FA.. so the team chose to self invest.. there were other options out there at qb that were better than Brissett who was holding a clip board to howell.. who himself is a backup this season. Go figure! Should have kept zap he'd be no worse. But to answer your question no he would not have come here. Is why I said looking like we look currently with no attraction will not help us going forward.

 

[Ring 6]

The Commanders starting left tackle is a rookie taken in the 3rd round.

They signed 3 OL FAs - two centers and a Guard. Those positions weren't the problem.

The biggest reasons their offense is playing so well is the coaching of Kingsbury, the talent of McLauren, and the athleticism of Jayden Daniels, who looks like the real deal.

I like Biadasz well enough - you going to sign him to backup your team captain?

Huh? Brandon Coleman? Zero starts. Cornelius Lucas has started all 4 games.

What positions weren’t the problem? Every position on our OL has been bad.

We hired an OC, we drafted a QB in the first round.

We are being told the OC and QB can’t help us because the OL stinks.

I would love to have Biadasz, he could have played G until Andrews went down.
One of many dozens of players we could have pursued who are better than what we are putting on the field. Maybe you are one if those “Ridley didn’t want to come here so what good would upgrading all of the other positions do” guys

 

[sb1]

You're attributing too much authoritative wisdom to "the league." You doubt Vrabel -- a recent NFL Coach of the Year -- would have assembled a better coaching staff than Mayo? Or believe he wouldn't have landed a better veteran bridge quarterback than Jacoby? Guess again.

One of the criticisms of Vrabel from the Titans is that he wasn't good at assembling an offensive coaching staff. Dunno if he picks AVP but yeah it's totally believable that he doesn't assemble and keep a staff together any better than what we have now and I believe Jacoby is absolutely the kind of bridge QB he would pick to run his offense. He's a conservative coach whose teams can win games running and playing defense (that sounds familiar....) His team rode Derrick Henry to 2 playoff wins in 2019 then followed that up with two straight one-and-dones wasting an 11-5 and 12-5 record in each season. His offenses haven't been much better than the Pats the last couple of seasons.

He's a decent head coach but I think he has a ceiling. IMO if you have a championship in mind I don't think he's your guy. People talk about him here like he's a great coach... I don't see it. Kinda overrated IMO....

 

[Tunescribe]

One of the criticisms of Vrabel from the Titans is that he wasn't good at assembling an offensive coaching staff. Dunno if he picks AVP but yeah it's totally believable that he doesn't assemble and keep a staff together any better than what we have now and I believe Jacoby is absolutely the kind of bridge QB he would pick to run his offense. He's a conservative coach whose teams can win games running and playing defense (that sounds familiar....) His team rode Derrick Henry to 2 playoff wins in 2019 then followed that up with two straight one-and-dones wasting an 11-5 and 12-5 record in each season. His offenses haven't been much better than the Pats the last couple of seasons.

He's a decent head coach but I think he has a ceiling. IMO if you have a championship in mind I don't think he's your guy. People talk about him here like he's a great coach... I don't see it. Kinda overrated IMO....

Rationalize and equivocate all you want. Vrabel coached six seasons in Tennessee, made the playoffs in three of them, had an overall winning record and was NFL Coach of the Year in 2021. Beyond that, he has roots in The New England organization. The Titans made a mistake letting him go and Kraft made a mistake hiring Mayo instead of him.

 

[sb1]

Rationalize and equivocate all you want. Vrabel coached six seasons in Tennessee, made the playoffs in three of them, had an overall winning record and was NFL Coach of the Year in 2021. Beyond that, he has roots in The New England organization. The Titans made a mistake letting him go and Kraft made a mistake hiring Mayo instead of him.

I suspect that is by far the reason why his name comes up around here more than anything else.

This was Vrabel's coaching record. Shows their offense the last two seasons was abysmal, so I don't think letting him go was a mistake.



Doubtful he moves the needle much or at all. I'm neutral on Mayo right now but I don't see anything to suggest Vrabel was the right guy here.

 

[PatsFan2]

I suspect that is by far the reason why his name comes up around here more than anything else.

Doubtful he moves the needle much or at all. I'm neutral on Mayo right now but I don't see anything to suggest Vrabel was the right guy here.

He still has more experiences than Mayo he was there for the taking some Team will get him in the Offseason. I think he's the Top name I don't think Teams will trust BB at his age.

 

[Wozzy]

When they saw this past off season wasn't panning out they chose to self invest. They are in the upper half of the league in cash spent. If money can't get guys to come here then what will? They tried and couldn't get Ridley or ayuik who looking at the offense now is probably best they didn't come here.. they'd be getting cob webbs.

When they saw this offseason wasn't panning out?

You act like Wolf was a tourist on a roller coaster... it wasn't panning out because he signed crap and drafted poorly.

 

[Real fan 02]

When they saw this offseason wasn't panning out?

You act like Wolf was a tourist on a roller coaster... it wasn't panning out because he signed crap and drafted poorly.

So Dugger, peppers, Barmore, rham are all crap? That's where the money was spent. You want wolf to force players to sign?

 

[Wozzy]

Were their better players that wanted to play here?

Yes, there were better players available to sign and draft.

 

[PatsFan2]

Yes, there were better players available to sign and draft.

Names please who would sign here last year...

 

[Wozzy]

Names please...

I'm not doing this again... this has been beaten to death.

 

[PatsFan2]

I'm not doing this again... this has been beaten to death.

Wozzy what your thoughts on the season so far and what are your hopes??

 

[Toofy]

Tbh, we need some young mind. Ben Johnson was a training assistant who moved to tight ends coach and then to OC then to Hottest HC candidate in a span of 4-5 years. That's what we need.

Zac Robinson is killing it in Atlanta .

We need some fresh blood on offensive coaching. Not sure who will want to come here. The only draw would be if maye pans out big time .

As for free agents I see many reasons not to come , and no single reason to sign here. No wonder we get retreads who have no other option.

Top reasons why not to sign with NEP

1. Rookie HC
2. Taxachussets
3. Cold weather
4. Horrible facilities
5. Miserly owners
6. Losing record
7. No offensive line
8. OC who cannot even devise simple plays like misdirections
9. Worst offensive show on turf for last 3-4 years
10. Losing record
11. No QB who can throw the ball yet.

The only good ones who would come here would be if we massively overpay. Tune of 30-40% over other competing offers .


In the best interest of our org, we should play the rookies more and find out who are the ones worth extending. No point looking at FA for offense. Not gonna happen . Develop internally. Play the rookies . It's okay if we lose playing Boutte and baker . Who knows they come of age towards end of season.

At this point I would probably play brissett for 1 more game and if he doesn't improve in passing play, sign zappe off PS and make him starter for next 3 weeks while we get maye ready from week 8 or week 9.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I think Mayo is and will be a good HC ...
To accomplish that he needs to ditch the displaced loyalty he has with a few ...
Players busting their ass out there while AVP and Brissett are protected shows weakness.