Cool Link Interesting Mayo article from Mike Giardi

[Huckleberry1]

Yes. Polk was a bad pick by a young, inexperienced pseudo-GM. He never had a chance to be a successful pro player. But in Wolf's defense, now we've learned through Breer that the organization has not been on par with other NFL teams, in terms of scouting and analytics (and other things). That takes some of the blame from Wolf and puts it right on Kraft's shoulders.

It really makes you wonder what Wolf's role is. Isn't it the GM's job to build up the organization and make sure it's competitive as a whole? Is that Wolf's responsibility? If not him, who? And if that person failed to keep his ear to the ground to make sure the Patriots stayed competitive, shouldn't he be terminated? It seems ridiculous to go into the draft with subpar scouting capabilities and analysis. Breer's characterization of the situation made it seem egregious.

All said, it seems like we're doing half-measures again with the Kraft's running point on finding a new coach. They are going to pick him and go forward with a weak GM whose scope of responsibilities is far more restricted than typical. They are going to decide if scouting and analytics is up to par. What is needed is for someone to build a modern NFL organization, but it looks like we're getting ownership as GM.

I would put the failure to bring the organization into the 21st century at Belichick’s feet. This isn’t a criticism of Belichick, but recognition of the way he set the organization up while he was in charge. Belichick was as old school as it gets, and his ways have them the greatest dynasty in NFL history for 20 years, that’s an incredible achievement, but an even greater achievement in the era of free agency and a hard salary cap. The league is structured to prevent that kind of success. That said Belichick was also a guy who wanted control over everything, and his idea of analytics was watching game film on the treadmill with 3 markers and a team of papers in his hand, or to give the analytical work to Ernie so he could mark it with pink ribbons. And everyone saw what happened when the league gave him a Microsoft tablet to replace his pencil and paper during games. I think it lasted a half before he smashed it to pieces. He didn’t like new technology, and made that very clear. Belichick liked a small coaching staff, and his tried C and true ways of doing things, so when he left it then became obvious that they weren’t set up like the rest of the league. Now they have to address those issues and catch up to where the rest of the league is at.

 

[Huckleberry1]

You already responded to that yesterday. Did you hit your head again?

No, but I can post more of Belichick’s picks if you like?

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Never asked you to delete anything, just offering a criticism. I never even said anything about my position. I was just speaking to you as a fellow poster. Not sure why you are flying off the handle.

Yeah it’s weird. I also didn’t care for the use of the word “******” but generally just view it as a reflection of the person using it. Really no different than the “N” word which people also don’t use in polite company.

But whatevs.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

I would put the failure to bring the organization into the 21st century at Belichick’s feet. This isn’t a criticism of Belichick, but recognition of the way he set the organization up while he was in charge. Belichick was as old school as it gets, and his ways have them the greatest dynasty in NFL history for 20 years, that’s an incredible achievement, but an even greater achievement in the era of free agency and a hard salary cap. The league is structured to prevent that kind of success. That said Belichick was also a guy who wanted control over everything, and his idea of analytics was watching game film on the treadmill with 3 markers and a team of papers in his hand, or to give the analytical work to Ernie so he could mark it with pink ribbons. And everyone saw what happened when the league gave him a Microsoft tablet to replace his pencil and paper during games. I think it lasted a half before he smashed it to pieces. He didn’t like new technology, and made that very clear. Belichick liked a small coaching staff, and his tried C and true ways of doing things, so when he left it then became obvious that they weren’t set up like the rest of the league. Now they have to address those issues and catch up to where the rest of the league is at.

Okay, I can buy that, but... Are they just realizing the problem? Have they realized it's a problem? Because they went into 2024 with essentially the same structure, as if nothing needed to be changed. Who is in charge of modernizing the team scouting and analytics departments (or creating them)?

 

[Huckleberry1]

Um, that's what scares me. I don't know what the scouts told them.

It very well could be that Wallace was best tackle left and that Wolf was outflanked and panicked.

If you look at the draft, a lot of WRs were taken before Polk (although McConkey was right there for us) and a lot of tackles were taken right before Wallace.

I don't know which is worse, a GM who can't assess tackles and WRs properly, or a GM who is thoroughly beaten by his peers in attempts to acquire better WRs and Tackles.

Im going to say that I believe it's the former, since McConkey was right there and he didn't want him.

You must be referring to Belichick taking Aaron Dobson over Keenan Allen. Or was it N’Keal Harry over Deebo Samuel? Either way Belichick sure as **** couldn’t pick a WR to save his life.

The list is long, someday maybe I will post it.

 

[Patsgofor4]

The Stevie B anecdote makes Mayo look like a real a hole. Multiple reports have mentioned that he and Steve are/were close, but then Mayo does him dirty by only offering him a demotion, even though is now clear that Steve, along with Bill, was the brains of the defensive operation. What a **** move. Thankfully, it blew up in his face. See ya, Jefraud.

 

[upstater1]

You must be referring to Belichick taking Aaron Dobson over Keenan Allen. Or was it N’Keal Harry over Deebo Samuel? Either way Belichick sure as **** couldn’t pick a WR to save his life.

The list is long, someday maybe I will post it.

Your boy Eliot is going to get the heave-ho and this will prove how wrong you were all along.

 

[captain stone]

I read a tweet that linked the comment about losing faith in the spring to Hunter Henry because he’s used the “look in the mirror” line a couple times during interviews. He would also have a good frame of reference, since he played under Anthony Lynn for a few years in San Diego who had an up-and-down tenure (a 9-7 year, a 12-4 year and then a couple slightly below .500 years) and then came here and played under Bill Belichick for 3 years. Been around long enough to know this staff didn’t know wtf they were doing.

I kinda thought that his TEs coach Bob Bicknell was one of the very few capable ones on Mayo’s staph, so…?

 

[Ross12]

I kinda thought that his TEs coach was one of the More capable ones on Mayo’s staph, along with the RBC, no…?

Yes, I think Henry probably thought well of the TE coach and AVP generally but was commenting on Mayo specifically.

 

[captain stone]

duplicate

 

[signbabybrady]

You must be referring to Belichick taking Aaron Dobson over Keenan Allen. Or was it N’Keal Harry over Deebo Samuel? Either way Belichick sure as **** couldn’t pick a WR to save his life.

The list is long, someday maybe I will post it.

Let's see your list? And please include 3 WRs we could have taken instead of each?

 

[n1997y]

What a shock.

Sounds like HC Mayo was never DC or OC or anything on his own and was learning while on year 1 of the Pats job.

Amazing.

I never would’ve guessed, just looking at the product on the field there was no evidence…

/s

 

[n1997y]

stater I think you're better than the Patriots current GM and Scouts.

Well that’s a classic example of damning with faint praise if I’ve ever seen one

 

[PatsFan2]

Well that’s a classic example of damning with faint praise if I’ve ever seen one

You have Potential.

 

[PatsFan2]

I'm not saying it's not possible. I could easily be wrong. There's some Dunning-Kruger at work here since I'm not a pro. I only watch a lot. But my views are further reinforced by where both Polk and Wallace were slated to go in the draft, so I'm not alone on this.

I'm going to point this out too: knowing how the Organization moved on from a Rookie HC very quickly... should light a fire under Polk and Bakers @sses. IF they show nothing in TC 25 they won't make the final cut!! So we'll see who make people in wheel chairs stand up...you hear that Baker??

 

[PatsFan2]

Um, that's what scares me. I don't know what the scouts told them.

It very well could be that Wallace was best tackle left and that Wolf was outflanked and panicked.

If you look at the draft, a lot of WRs were taken before Polk (although McConkey was right there for us) and a lot of tackles were taken right before Wallace.

I don't know which is worse, a GM who can't assess tackles and WRs properly, or a GM who is thoroughly beaten by his peers in attempts to acquire better WRs and Tackles.

Im going to say that I believe it's the former, since McConkey was right there and he didn't want him.

One thing too stater: maybe not so much recently but in the past Rookie WR's who had abysmal Rookie years made that Second year jump. I'm hoping one of the Polk/Baker have a similar trajectory.

 

[Triumph]

Amazing.

I never would’ve guessed, just looking at the product on the field there was no evidence…

/s

The Krafts need new writers that will spin up something really bizarre and newsworthy.

 

[Ray Ray 717]

You must be referring to Belichick taking Aaron Dobson over Keenan Allen. Or was it N’Keal Harry over Deebo Samuel? Either way Belichick sure as **** couldn’t pick a WR to save his life.

The list is long, someday maybe I will post it.

2006: Drafted Chad Jackson over Greg Jennings
2009: Drafted Brandon Tate over Mike Wallace
2010: Pass up on Golden Tate in Round 2, Drafted Taylor Price in Round 3.
2012: Drafted Jake Bequette over Ty Hilton
2013: Drafted Aaron Dobson over Keenan Allen. Also Drafted Josh Boyce
2014: Drafted a backup QB in Round 2, over Jarvis Landry
2017: Drafted Derek Rivers over Chris Godwin in Round 3.
2018: Passed up DJ Moore, Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton with 2 first round picks.
2019: Drafted N'Keal Harry over Deebo Samuel, AJ Brown, Dk Metcalf, and Terry McLaurin.
2020: Traded out of first round and drafted a D2 safety over Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, and Michael Pittman.
2022: Traded up in the 2nd round to draft Tyquan Thornton over George Pickens.
2023: Pass up on Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers in Round 1. Drafted Keion White in Round 2 over Jaylen Reed and Rashee Rice.
2024: Drafted Ja'Lynn Polk over Ladd McKonkey.

 

[signbabybrady]

2006: Drafted Chad Jackson over Greg Jennings
2009: Drafted Brandon Tate over Mike Wallace
2010: Pass up on Golden Tate in Round 2, Drafted Taylor Price in Round 3.
2012: Drafted Jake Bequette over Ty Hilton
2013: Drafted Aaron Dobson over Keenan Allen. Also Drafted Josh Boyce
2014: Drafted a backup QB in Round 2, over Jarvis Landry
2017: Drafted Derek Rivers over Chris Godwin in Round 3.
2018: Passed up DJ Moore, Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton with 2 first round picks.
2019: Drafted N'Keal Harry over Deebo Samuel, AJ Brown, Dk Metcalf, and Terry McLaurin.
2020: Traded out of first round and drafted a D2 safety over Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, and Michael Pittman.
2022: Traded up in the 2nd round to draft Tyquan Thornton over George Pickens.
2023: Pass up on Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers in Round 1. Drafted Keion White in Round 2 over Jaylen Reed and Rashee Rice.
2024: Drafted Ja'Lynn Polk over Ladd McKonkey.

Now do a list of GMs who drafted more than 1 WR who had a ten plus year career that also included a SBMVP?

 

[captain stone]

One thing too stater: maybe not so much recently but in the past Rookie WR's who had abysmal Rookie years made that Second year jump. I'm hoping one of the Polk/Baker have a similar trajectory.

The only WR that I recall fitting this category is David Givens, over 20 years ago…