Inside the most dysfunctional Pats season under BB

[Hammer of Thor]

How do we know this to be true? I can think of several other reasons why he'd go to LV. Maybe he simply prefers to work under Josh rather than Bill, maybe they mesh better. Maybe he sees his potential path to HC is shorter by going to LV instead of staying in NE, not being in Bill's shadow, not being surrounded by Bill's "cronies". Maybe he simply wanted to be a part of something new. Maybe he liked the idea of living somewhere different. Maybe he thought he'd be more successful as an OC under an offensive-minded coach like Josh rather than a defensive minded HC like BIll.

No, it’s not the “only” reason, so maybe I used a bad word there, but inertia is a big deal for people - why move if you don’t have to, unless you really, really don’t like where you are? But yes, your options are true.

If he thinks his potential path to HC is shorter in LV than in NE, then I believe he’s mistaken. Took 5 for Weiss to get a HC job, 4 years for Josh, and 3 years for BOB. Unless he has ridiculous expectations of 1 or 2 years, can’t do much better than that.

 

[All3Phases]

Lemme guess ... is it the same someone who twisted himself into a pretzel finding ways to condemn Mac for everything?

We were told this wasn’t true

“The goal of the revised offense, as players explained to the media throughout training camp, was to play faster. Reduce the reads, cut the concepts, practice those that were kept, simplify, simplify, simplify.”

 

[50-yard-line]

Hello board.

This article is unbelievable.
And I believe every word of it.

First off, this is 100% on Bill. The big part that isn't unbelievable is that Patricia and Judge both rubbed the players the wrong way - watching the Lions and the Giants this year, well, those two guys have some issues. I do think that 2022 was an experiment, and Bill was thinking BOB would be back if it didn't work. it didn't work, and we got served a heap of embarrassing football because of it.

They'll straighten things out, I hope, but there is residual damage here, without doubt.

This explains Kendrick Bourne's invisibility. There's no excuse for that, particularly after his emergence with Mac in 2021. Will he be able to bounce back, head on straight, and operate as he can with Bill as Head Coach? I don't know. Maybe Patricia is the one who benched him, but Bill didn't go to his defense.

When they flipped Wynn to RT in his contract year, I knew it would cause issues. The move alone cost him millions of $$$$ before they had ever played a down. No surprise that he was mentally checked out, and given the confusion on the OL all year, the many procedure penalties from him and Brown make a lot more sense. Many here don't want Wynn back. I get it. But he was a decent Left Tackle two years ago (health is an issue, sure), and him leaving puts a big hole in the offense. Read an article about him being a "high-priority FA" for the Pats. Doubt that's a possibility. Even if his price is low, as it will probably be this off season, I can't imagine he'd want anything to do with them if he has other options, and he will.

With Mac Jones, who knows? I don't like his floating sideline passes, don't like his inability to get across the 1st down marker, and really hate the cheap shots he's thrown. Book remains out, however, because a second year QB should NEVER have been put into the situation they threw at him this year. never. Inexcusable. I can't even count the number of times I was yelling "PLAY-ACTION" at the TV this year - and when they did it, it usually worked. The idea that Stevenson was able to do what he did when every team knew what was coming is encouraging, for the OL, too. That said, if Mac wound up traded to LV, it wouldn't surprise me. Bill didn't seem happy with his attitude. Back to square one?

So even with all of that, a little guts from the coaches in the Green Bay Game, a little less stupidity in the Raider game (along with that absurd touchdown that wasn't), and a Henry catch that should have been, and this dysfunctional team, spattered with rookies and injuries, could easily have been 11-6. No chance in the playoffs this year, probably, but neither middling nor a bottom-feeder.

I'll be optimistic now, I guess.

Also, even regarding the draft philosophy, things certainly are not "fixed." They're still thinking they're smarter than everyone else and shooting toes off. With all respect to Cole Strange, who I think will be a solid NFL guard for a long time, both Nakobi Dean and Devin Lloyd fit exactly what the Pats are trying to develop on Defense and are/were 1st Round talents. So were a couple of WRs sitting there at the time - not hindsight here.

And don't get me stated on Tyquan Thornton. I just don't see it with him. Maybe (hopefully) I'll be proven wrong, but Skyy Moore was sitting right there.

Both those guys were huge reaches; the drafting ain't fixed.

 

[PatsFan2]

MY THoughts:
- I think that Patricia went to Bill and told him that he believed he could implement facets of the Shanahan offense.
- I think that Patricia took the same approach as Herman Boone took by "simplifying things". But his lack of understanding of the how the parts of the Shanahan offense worked together were huge issues.
- Patricia clearly didn't understand facets of the Shanahan offense. This got exposed by a player or players who had experience in the Shanahan /McVay offense (not sure who outside of Bourne had that experience). I think THIS led to Bourne "being in the dog house".
- Joe Judge failed to "Do HIS job" and then tried to do other coaches' jobs, causing issues. It's awfully strange that he wasn't showing up to meetings unless he was TOLD to stay out of them.

BOB being named OC/QB Coach should be a good thing for Mac. They worked together in that Mac helped BOB learn the Alabama offense. I think that BOB should be able to fix whatever Judge/Patricia broke and that MAC should be able to make an exponential leap in his play, making up for the regression of last year AND getting back on track.

BOB will have a plethora of weapons. Bourne, Parker, Thornton, Stevenson, Henry, Smith, Strong, K. Harris, and Marcus Jones. We don't know if Meyers will be back. We don't know what Ty Montgomery's status is. Tre Nixon, Matt Sokol, and Scotty Washington are likely camp fodder unless they step up big.

BOB was very effective using Gronk and that other guy at TE. While Henry and Smith aren't those two, they are very talented TEs and we should see them utilized better.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a huge jump in the Red Zone either. With Thornton, Bourne, Parker, Stevenson, Henry and Smith, you have a variety of players you can put on the field to create mismatches. Something that Patricia never seemed to accomplish.

Nice post I want us to Draft a Rookie TE that puts us back on the TE map. Bob knows how to use TE's I don't like the Jonnu Smith who was terrible with McDaniels a proven OC I'm not hopeful with him and Bob. I would move on from H Henry he's not a good Blocker from the position we have a lot of picks to fill certain holes. I hope we target Mike Gesicki or Austin Hooper at a reduced price. I wouldn't mind Hayden Hurst on three year deal in FA he was a older Draft prospect who's solid.

 

[Ollie]

I honestly can't work out how last year actually happened. From the article it wasn't just the knowledge gap that was the issue but also the level of organisation wasn't at a professional standard. I think within the organisation this has to have changed things. It feels like things are being done differently which i suspect is the Krafts input. Maybe last year might even prove helpful in that it has facilitated that change

 

[turkeyneck]

Just heard Cowherd on the radio at the gas station. He's picked up the Herald story so it's now national. BB's penance has now begun. The press he loathes will be all over him on this to the exclusion of all else.

 

[Tunescribe]

We were told this wasn’t true

“The goal of the revised offense, as players explained to the media throughout training camp, was to play faster. Reduce the reads, cut the concepts, practice those that were kept, simplify, simplify, simplify.”

Yeah, that was the company line. At the same time it was being reported that all this "simplification" was for the coaches' benefit, not the players. Then began the process of all hell breaking loose in slow motion.

 

[50-yard-line]

Nice post I want us to Draft a Rookie TE that puts us back on the TE map. Bob knows how to use TE's I don't like the Jonnu Smith who was terrible with McDaniels a proven OC I'm not hopeful with him and Bob. I would move on from H Henry he's not a good Blocker from the position we have a a lot of picks to fill certain holes. I hope we target Mike Gesicki or Austin Hooper at a reduced price. I wouldn't mind Hayden Hurst on three year deal in FA he was a older Draft prospect who's solid.

I don't think they'll move on from either, and I'm not sure they should. Neither of these guys were put in a position to succeed in the confusion of 2022, and both contracts, particularly Smith, carry lots of dead money if they're moved. The few times Smith got the ball, he fought hard for every yard, and Henry is a smooth seam runner. I'd like to see BOB scheming plays to get Jonnu isolated with a safety or LB - he can break that first tackle.

 

[StrawHatPatriot]

Im glad that people on here are admitting that the Pats DID change offensive scheme in 2022 to a 49ers offense.

Some people like Ring deny that there was any change.

I got condescendingly lectured by someone for implying that they changed the scheme. He tried explaining to me how route trees work.

This was after Kendrick Bourne mentioned them having a new system... lol

 

[Triumph]

I got condescendingly lectured by someone for implying that they changed the scheme. He tried explaining to me how route trees work.

This was after Kendrick Bourne mentioned them having a new system... lol

I sincerely doubt that BB is going to change the scheme again.

The Pats will stay with the SF type offense.

 

[sean10mm]

I truly don't get how Belichick ever thought this could work. It seems like everyone but him, Judge and Patricia pegged it as a crap show from the jump outside a couple token simps. Unreal.

 

[Family]

All this trash of a season and we still wound up 8-9 lol

Can I now be excused for thinking Super Bowl if we get the coaching staff fixed?

BB only wants to coach with his buddies.

It is exactly what happened.

BB figured with this roster, he could coach the team to a playoff spot even if things went bad.

He wanted to coach with his buddies on the cheap, probably pocket a bonus, and reboot this year if needed.

It was never the plan to be this bad in his wildest dreams. Bill knows he can steal a few wins, during the year, but never thought these bozos would be giving games away.

 

[PatsFan2]

I don't think they'll move on from either, and I'm not sure they should. Neither of these guys were put in a position to succeed in the confusion of 2022, and both contracts, particularly Smith, carry lots of dead money if they're moved. The few times Smith got the ball, he fought hard for every yard, and Henry is a smooth seam runner. I'd like to see BOB scheming plays to get Jonnu isolated with a safety or LB - he can break that first tackle.

With Bob being on the College circuit I am sure he's seen these TE prospects Michael Mayer - Dalton Kincaid and Darnell Washington it should be quite tempting.

 

[BizmoFunyans239]

I truly don't get how Belichick ever thought this could work. It seems like everyone but him, Judge and Patricia pegged it as a crap show from the jump outside a couple token simps. Unreal.

A classic case of Cronyism

 

[Grogan14]

I just read this. It was worse than we ever thought. They didn't install play action passes which is why they didn't use them, didn't have answers for how defenses would defend their offense. Judge acting like he's "the guy" and pissing everyone off. Confusing the offensive line with a new system.

From this though it does sound like Patricia and Judge might be out for good.

But at the end of the day this was Bill Belicheck decision. The media said what he was doing didn't make sense. But he snorted and scoffed at them. And here we are a year later with a lost season

Where the hell was BB while this was going on. No course correction or adjustments. Asleep at the wheel? Probably should have been asked to resign.

 

[Pats2000]

I just read this. It was worse than we ever thought. They didn't install play action passes which is why they didn't use them, didn't have answers for how defenses would defend their offense. Judge acting like he's "the guy" and pissing everyone off. Confusing the offensive line with a new system.

From this though it does sound like Patricia and Judge might be out for good.

But at the end of the day this was Bill Belicheck decision. The media said what he was doing didn't make sense. But he snorted and scoffed at them. And here we are a year later with a lost season

That doesn't make any sense. Zappe ran a ton of play action. Even when Mac came back he still didn't run any PA, at least not until the last few games. I dont buy this article, if they are saying that when we clearly saw the Pats running very successful PA with Zappe

 

[TomPatriot]

Inside the most dysfunctional Patriots season under Bill Belichick: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’

Clashes with the QB, Belichick blame and coaching malpractice: how the Patriots’ dysfunction last season ran deeper than anyone knew.

www.bostonherald.com

Says it all. Not the kind of thing you’d expect to hear from a BB coached team.

Not shocked that Joe Judge helped to screw things up and was on the outs. Just look at his time in NY, which was worse than reported.

 

[crawhammer]

Using the term "ego" does show a bias against Belichick. Not sure where that comes from unless you listen to Felger. Making decisions based on "ego" is the same as saying they're based on emotion, and BB is the opposite of that, he's Dr Spock, very unemotional. His behavior toward the media is based on the fact that they can't be trusted, and they can't.

That's fine. We're not all going to agree on each other's characterization of Belichick or whomever. I think Belichick's motivation to move on from Brady was very much about his ego. He was sending out signals through his inner circle about being able to achieve similar success with "any top 15 quarterback." He thought he and "his system" were the only essentials to sustained success. That kind of thinking is ego driven. Especially as Brady got older, Belichick saw him as increasingly expendable (because that inevitable cliff has to come eventually, right?). Belichick moved on from Brady and he's finding out that "any top 15 quarterback" thinking is total bullsh*t. And now "his system" is flip flopping from year to year.

You make Belichick sound (clinically) paranoid in his dealings with the media. The New England Patriots have had more scandals and bad press than any team in the league so I don't think Belichick's "behavior toward the media" is doing anyone any favors. Granted some of those scandals have been essentially fake, but they've been perpetuated by the NFL/Goodell with the media being complicit at most. But the scandals, or controversies, or however you want to refer to them were brought about by Belichick or the team.

Just regarding more ordinary dealings with the press, regular in seasons press conferences, etc., I don't think there's an example of a head coach or team being taken down by media conspiracy. Or teams losing games because the head coach wasn't evasive, muddling information, or otherwise just being an ass.

By the way, I don't listen to Felger much, mostly because I'm working, but I don't take anything he says literally anyway. That show is heavily scripted and they've all carved out a radio persona to further the agenda of the show and bolster their ratings.

 

[h0c2000]

Where the hell was BB while this was going on. No course correction or adjustments. Asleep at the wheel? Probably should have been asked to resign.

Bill put his foot down and said no to the wishbone... only because it was too late in the season.

 

[sb1]

Bertrand thinks the timing of announcement about O'Brien being hired might be a reaction to this report being released today to calm everyone down lol.