Kraft acknowledges drafting woes, says approach is changing

[Deus Irae]

While Manning has had his fair share of blunders, how years could the Colts not stop the run?


While Edgerin James was one of the best backs in the NFL, trading Faulk and drafting James was unnecessary.

Faulk was looking for a renegotiated deal with 2 years left on his contract, and he was going to need to continue to be a focal part of the offense, which would have limited Peyton.

And I'm not sure why bringing up the downside of a light, fast, front-running defense is supposed to be some refutation of anything I said.

 

[Deus Irae]

Agreed, Bethea is a good example. Cato June was a Pro Bowler for them, Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden made big interceptions in their 2006 SB run. Not a draft pick but the late season acquisition of Booger McFarland that year fixed their run stopping problem.

Morris was a good linebacker for a while, too. The Colts had some talent on defense, but they were light and fast by design, in order to take advantage of the home turf, and the ability of Peyton to put up points. So being relatively weak against the run wasn't a "hole". It was built into the design.

 

[Lansdowne]

While Edgerin James was one of the best backs in the NFL, trading Faulk and drafting James was unnecessary.

Apparently in 1999 Faulk wanted a new contract and the Colts weren’t feeling accommodating, so they traded him to the Rams for 2nd and 5th round picks that they used on Mike Peterson and Brad Scioli. The Rams won the Super Bowl with Faulk. Fair to say the Colts messed that one up.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Faulk was looking for a renegotiated deal with 2 years left on his contract, and he was going to need to continue to be a focal part of the offense, which would have limited Peyton.

And I'm not sure why bringing up the downside of a light, fast, front-running defense is supposed to be some refutation of anything I said.

I would’ve kept Faulk and used the draft capital on D. They basically rolled the dice to replace a player with the same player without improving other areas of the team like their D. You’re at square A again.

RB’s were still the focal points of all offenses during that time so it wouldn’t have affected Manning.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Morris was a good linebacker for a while, too. The Colts had some talent on defense, but they were light and fast by design, in order to take advantage of the home turf, and the ability of Peyton to put up points. So being relatively weak against the run wasn't a "hole". It was built into the design.

Teams had a tough time running on the Bucs D’s.

 

[Deus Irae]

I would’ve kept Faulk and used the draft capital on D. They basically rolled the dice to replace a player with the same player without improving other areas of the team like their D. You’re at square A again.

No, they weren't. In return for Faulk, they got a 2nd and a 5th. Because they had those picks, they were able to draft James in round one, which gave them a new RB with 5 fewer NFL years of wear on his tires. They used that 2nd round pick to draft Mike Peterson, a 14 year NFL player who recorded 100+ tackles in 6 of his first 7 years, with the one missed year being a year where he missed 7 games due to injury. They used that 2nd round pick to draft Brad Scioli, who lasted 7 years as a sub-DE and starting DT.

RB’s were still the focal points of all offenses during that time so it wouldn’t have affected Manning.

That's just not true.

 

[Deus Irae]

Teams had a tough time running on the Bucs D’s.

That has literally nothing to do with the Colts.

 

[woolster22]

Thanks. So Camren should be recognized for finding a gem in Meyers. Too bad the scout who found Butler left . We shouldn't draft another CB or WR until the whole scouting system for these 2 positions is blown up, and improved or at worst just revert back to Belichick's original scouting system which over over-written in 2004.

Do you remember the collection of talentless smurfs that used to plague our secondary? 1 armed Ellis Hobbs getting singled up with Plax cost us a god damn super bowl.

It's not like Bill's CB eval's were good, they were just slightly less bad than Jordan ****ing Richard's in round 2. As bad as leaving a one armed Hobbs on island with Plax in a SB was, taking a defensive back who moves like he has one leg in the second is inexplicable.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Do you remember the collection of talentless smurfs that used to plague our secondary? 1 armed Ellis Hobbs getting singled up with Plax cost us a god damn super bowl.

It's not like Bill's CB eval's were good, they were just slightly less bad than Jordan ****ing Richard's in round 2. As bad as leaving a one armed Hobbs on island with Plax in a SB was, taking a defensive back who moves like he has one leg in the second is inexplicable.

Yes. Exactly. We have a ******ed CB and WR drafting system that hasn't worked since 2004. Deion Branch and Asante Samuel are the last good picks at WR and CB. At this point don't even draft CB or WR anymore. We have morons with John Carroll university IQ's thinking a CB or WR will be good based on a guy's height or some stupid combine metric. This might be a revolutionary thought but how about carefully vetting if a WR can get open, or if a CB can cover. Next war room guy who brings up height or 3cone should be fired.

.

 

[Ring 6]

Yes. Exactly. We have a ******ed CB and WR drafting system that hasn't worked since 2004. Deion Branch and Asante Samuel are the last good picks at WR and CB. At this point don't even draft CB or WR anymore. We have morons with John Carroll university IQ's thinking a CB or WR will be good based on a guy's height or some stupid combine metric. This might be a revolutionary thought but how about carefully vetting if a WR can get open, or if a CB can cover. Next war room guy who brings up height or 3cone should be fired.

.

It’s such a shame we put these people in charge and had such a horrible 21 years.

 

[woolster22]

Yes. Exactly. We have a ******ed CB and WR drafting system that hasn't worked since 2004. Deion Branch and Asante Samuel are the last good picks at WR and CB. At this point don't even draft CB or WR anymore. We have morons with John Carroll university IQ's thinking a CB or WR will be good based on a guy's height or some stupid combine metric. This might be a revolutionary thought but how about carefully vetting if a WR can get open, or if a CB can cover. Next war room guy who brings up height or 3cone should be fired.

.

Height/length play a role at both positions. How they have so many metrics available, yet seem to be unable to select an actual NFL caliber athlete is what is scary. Did anyone ever think Richards was an NFL db, or capable of even moving like one?

Harry's pre-draft warts have dominated his career. He seems to have no motivation/fire. Granted I am basically just making this up from the always touchy "body language" seen in game, but the preseason game he got injured in, he was playing with fire.

He was attacking the db at the line, and was attacking the ball and trying to leave his mark on the defense. He ended up torching his hammy or w/e, and hasn't shown any of that fire since.

There was a brief span during a game last year (maybe? Last 2 years have been a blur) where he started flashing again. Before he could really get rolling, he fumbled near the goal-line trying to make a move for the pylon, a BB dog house move. He's been seemingly going through the motions since. Given his willingness to engage in the run game, his struggles with physical dbs is confusing. With Brady, I figured the big body and sure hands would translate to a RZ threat. With Cam? Lol.

 

[Biffins]

Kraft needs to shut up with BB criticism or the mods here will delete his threads and ban him!

 

[Lansdowne]

Yes. Exactly. We have a ******ed CB and WR drafting system that hasn't worked since 2004. Deion Branch and Asante Samuel are the last good picks at WR and CB. At this point don't even draft CB or WR anymore. We have morons with John Carroll university IQ's thinking a CB or WR will be good based on a guy's height or some stupid combine metric. This might be a revolutionary thought but how about carefully vetting if a WR can get open, or if a CB can cover. Next war room guy who brings up height or 3cone should be fired.

.

Devin McCourty was drafted as a CB and was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro selection his rookie year, and was our top CB for the 2011 AFC championship team. Converted to FS where he’s been one of the best of his generation and one of the greatest Patriots of all-time. Not a long term CB obviously but that pick worked out.

Logan Ryan was drafted as a CB but played all over the secondary. Was a quality CB2 for us including the 2016 Super Bowl winning season. He’s carved out a solid career for himself since leaving, making $10m a year the last four years and just signed a 3-year extension with the Giants. We could’ve kept him but he priced himself out of our range.

Julian Edelman is one of the greatest playoff performers in NFL history and a Patriots legend. Safe to say he’s been the last good WR draft pick, and yes it’s still been a long time since then.

You’re absolutely right that the drafting at WR and CB has sucked for a long time, but Branch and Samuel weren’t the last good picks at their positions.

 

[Biffins]

I'm sure this last draft including Uche, Jennigs and most notably Dugger were the last straw for Kraft. Trading out of the 1st round, then trading up for a S like Dugger has got to stop.

Look for an aggressive draft.

We never heard stuff like this till we had a losing season. It’s on!

 

[Biffins]

Kraft seems visibly frustrated about the QB situation. Don’t tell me releasing Brady and him winning in Tampa is irrelevant. Come on!!

 

[Biffins]

Absolutely a warning shot across the bow to the GM of this team.

Like I've been saying BB will not be getting an infinite time to rebuild this team. I hope we see a lot more hits than misses this year.

Clear warning.

But don’t say BB will be on hot seat with another losing season. Otherwise mods will delete your post and lock the thread.

 

[Biffins]

We sure as hell don't want Bob Kraft meddling with the draft picks or the board. We already saw what happened when Parcells left and Kraft and Bobby Grier ran the draft. Meddling owners almost always screw up a franchise, just look at Dallas but that is not the worst example.

It is OK if Kraft demands that BB make a change as long as Kraft does not start making the picks. And we do not know what the source of the terrible drafting is, do we? Caserio? McDaniels? BB himself? I suspect McDaniels based on his apalling track record so I was none too happy to see McDaniels at the 'Bama pro day. He should be banned for life from ever being involved in the Patriots draft process; Nike could make better picks.

Yes Kraft needs to not meddle. He needs to just hire a GM!!

 

[Lansdowne]

Kraft seems visibly frustrated about the QB situation. Don’t tell me releasing Brady and him winning in Tampa is irrelevant. Come on!!

Kraft is obviously frustrated by it, but he’s not going to publicly admit that he regrets Brady leaving. There are plenty of pieces of the blame pie.

Belichick pissed off Brady the moment his personal trainer was banned from the locker room and team plane. The drafting was mostly subpar and the next generation of cost-effective core players wasn’t there for them. Didn’t have successors to Edelman or Gronk or D-Mac or Hightower.

Also seemed to piss off Gronk, who he tried to trade to Detroit but Gronk threatened to retire and killed the deal. Gronk then waited too long to officially announce his retirement and we missed out on Jared Cook as a result.

AB messed up an opportunity of a lifetime when he wouldn’t leave the painter woman alone and asked his friends to look into her background. Be that as it may I still wish the Pats would have held on to him, even if suspended, because he was living with Brady who was trying to help his friend and new top weapon. Kraft almost certainly demanded he be cut because the subject of sexual harassment hit a little too close to home thanks to his own rub and tug sessions and didn’t want to be associated with the press AB was getting. That undoubtedly pissed off Brady too.

Fairness to Belichick, he tried to get Brady some help that year in 2019. Drafted a WR in the 1st round for the first time (faceplanted on that one, but the effort was there). Brought back Josh Gordon who had already been suspended for the millionth time. Signed Demaryius Thomas who looked good in preseason and was working closely with Brady. Signed Antonio Brown to provide an elite WR to the offense. Gave up a second rounder for Mohamed Sanu to get somebody, anybody, that could help at the trade deadline. And one by one they fell. Harry hurt in preseason. DT traded. AB cut. Flash waived. Sanu hurt. This was on top of losing Andrews to blood clots, Wynn to injury for the beginning of the year, and Develin’s career ending neck injury. There were no receivers getting open, and no running game to speak of. The frustration was palpable.

Poor timing, poor luck, poor execution. I wish Brady stayed, but I get why he didn’t. I wish AB was kept, but I get why he wasn’t. I see BB tried to draft, sign, and trade for help, but he missed the mark too many times.

Whatever though. Brady’s happy where he’s at now, good for him. I’m glad for him. But I knew sooner or later he would be gone, and I just hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next franchise QB to show himself. I trust in Belichick to find the answer. I’ve definitely been spoiled since the day Drew Bledsoe was drafted. And lastly, I don’t think Kraft is wrong necessarily in his remarks, but he’s not helping either with those remarks. Let’s not forget how little he fought to protect those picks that the commissioner’s office unfairly stole from us, time after time. Bent the knee to Goodell and let his coach and quarterback be slandered and punished. You keep losing first round picks over bogus crap and it catches up with you eventually. We can also thank Kraft Productions for us being without our 3rd rounder this year (not the comp pick but the original). As I said, plenty of blame to go around.

 

[Deus Irae]

Whatever though. Brady’s happy where he’s at now, good for him. I’m glad for him. But I knew sooner or later he would be gone, and I just hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next franchise QB to show himself. I trust in Belichick to find the answer.

Why? Outside of Brady, you're looking at:

Rohan Davey
Kliff Kingsbury
Matt Cassel
Kevin O'Connell
Zac Robinson
Ryan Mallett
Jimmy Garoppolo
Jacoby Brissett
Danny Etling
Jarrett Stidham
Eric Zeier


How does that inspire you to trust that BB can find another franchise QB? Is it that you're expecting him to bring in a veteran? Is it that you trust that he'll break his streak of non-franchise QBs? What's the reason behind your confidence?

 

[catent]

LOL. 40 TDs is declining? 10 TDs in the post-season, the most by any QB is declining? SB MVP is declining?

It's almost like you didn't read a word he wrote besides "declining". Selective reading vision, I suppose.