Pioli: How valuable is he?

[Deus Irae]

We got a good couple of years from Wilson, that's not enough for a "good pick" from me for a #2. And while Hill might be "unfair to judge", he wasn't even getting on the field. They both were, at best, below value in the second round for my liking.

Sorry, but Wilson was a tremendous addition before the Super Bowl injuries sidetracked his career. There's no way I can consider him anything less than a good pick. Frankly, I'd rate him much higher than that, although I think that 3rd injury broke him mentally.

 

[mgcolby]

The current Falcons GM was the real talent before he left the Pats front office.

After he left we started obsessing over offensive skill positions high in the draft, and have had mediocre drafts in the past few drafts since he left.

Belichick is so good he can coach up anybody, but our drafting has gone from great/above-average to average since the Falcons GM took his post (can't remember his name).

Yup, because we took:

1st: Mayo
2nd: Wheatley
3rd: Crable
3rd: O'Connell
4th: Wilhite
5th: Slater
6th: Ruud

That is seven players five of whom are defensive players, one offensive player and one three way player.

Boy we went crazy over offensive players after Dimitroff left!

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Good picks
Branch
Hobbs
Kaczur
Light
Wilson Productive career WAY too short for a 2nd round pick; a major dissapointment

Busts/major disappointments
B.Williams
B. Johnson
G. Scott

Not looking good so far
D. Thomas
C. Jackson Major bust right from the get go

Unfair to judge yet/ever
Hill A bust. Not because he couldn't displace starters but because when he did play, he sucked. I used to isolate on him. TERRIBLE
Wheatley
Crable
O'Connell

I wish I had you as a grader in school. Too easy.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Sorry, but Wilson was a tremendous addition before the Super Bowl injuries sidetracked his career. There's no way I can consider him anything less than a good pick. Frankly, I'd rate him much higher than that, although I think that 3rd injury broke him mentally.

That's the one thing I worry about with Meriweather; Wilson was drafted as a CB and wasn't able to take the pounding as a Safety, hopefully Meriweather can despite being only a tad bigger.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

That's the one thing I worry about with Meriweather; Wilson was drafted as a CB and wasn't able to take the pounding as a Safety, hopefully Meriweather can despite being only a tad bigger.

I hope so too but it's not size, it's intangibles. Welker takes a lick and keeps on tickin. I played with smaller guys who did not ever get hurt while my 6'5" 295 brother-in-law was always injured.

 

[mgcolby]

That's the one thing I worry about with Meriweather; Wilson was drafted as a CB and wasn't able to take the pounding as a Safety, hopefully Meriweather can despite being only a tad bigger.

Merriweather played safety in college while also filling in as a 3 CB in a pinch against spread offenses. Although, if my memory serves me correctly, Miami did like to match him up against the other teams best receiver when he did play CB.

I think your worries are valid if they keep him at SS, but hopefully they move him to FS.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I wish I had you as a grader in school. Too easy.

I missed Jackson. B U S T. Not only because we cut him but we f*cking traded up for him.

 

[mgcolby]

I missed Jackson. B U S T. Not only because we cut him but we f*cking traded up for him.

Yeah, but wait and see what he does now that Shanahan, a real offensive genius has him and uses him correctly....oh wait he just got fired....never mind.

 

[JoePats]

I missed Jackson. B U S T. Not only because we cut him but we f*cking traded up for him.

I don't think trading up has anything to do with it. I'm not defending him, he was awful. But the 36th pick, or whatever it was, is the 36th pick, no matter how you got there.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Merriweather played safety in college while also filling in as a 3 CB in a pinch against spread offenses. Although, if my memory serves me correctly, Miami did like to match him up against the other teams best receiver when he did play CB.

I think your worries are valid if they keep him at SS, but hopefully they move him to FS.

I guess we aren't likely to have two #1 picks at Safety but William Moore from Missouri would give us an intriguing pairing with Meriweather. Moore could give us the 230 pounder that we love so much with Rodney, those types are rare these days. Moore also makes plays against the pass but was injured a bit this past year so he may drop to us.

 

[Deus Irae]

I wish I had you as a grader in school. Too easy.

I just try to take everything into account. Hard or easy doesn't matter. Consistent and fair is all that matters. Without Wilson, there's no 2003 Super Bowl for the Patriots. Anyone who calls Wilson, or any other player a disappointment when they were very successful prior to injuries is someone who takes a completely different approach to grading than I do. Wilson's not a bust because he played at a Pro Bowl level prior to his injuries.

 

[mgteich]

Perhaps Meriweather should be playing FS where he could develop to be an all-pro. It is what he was drafted to do.

That's the one thing I worry about with Meriweather; Wilson was drafted as a CB and wasn't able to take the pounding as a Safety, hopefully Meriweather can despite being only a tad bigger.

 

[mgteich]

Pioli is one of the very best executives in the league. He has been voted such several times. He is an integral part of the Kraft team that has succeeded since the day Kraft bought the team.

It is pretty typical for poster to diss every player that ever leaves. Just look at the posts on Milloy. However, it is usually customary to wait until someone is gone. As of now, Pioli is an important part of the front office of one of the very best franchises of all time, the 2000-2010 New England Patriots.

Our drafts have ranged from average to above average.
Have made some nice FA pickups, but have also have had some disappointments.
How valuable is Pioli, really?

 

[mgteich]

I find amazing that Belichick has done well, all by himself, with such poor players acquired by pioli through the draft and free agency. What rubbush!

Our drafts have ranged from average to above average.
Have made some nice FA pickups, but have also have had some disappointments.
How valuable is Pioli, really?

 

[mgcolby]

I guess we aren't likely to have two #1 picks at Safety but William Moore from Missouri would give us an intriguing pairing with Meriweather. Moore could give us the 230 pounder that we love so much with Rodney, those types are rare these days. Moore also makes plays against the pass but was injured a bit this past year so he may drop to us.

I would be surprised if they went safety again in the 1st round, but maybe a vet signing to fill the need. Dare I say a Milloy or Law type :scared:

Actually not that this is the thread for it but I am hoping the Pats can grab FAU's LB Frantz Joseph in the 1st round (assuming Spikes, maualuga, Lauranitis are gone). He maybe the best unknown LB in the country

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I guess we aren't likely to have two #1 picks at Safety but William Moore from Missouri would give us an intriguing pairing with Meriweather. Moore could give us the 230 pounder that we love so much with Rodney, those types are rare these days. Moore also makes plays against the pass but was injured a bit this past year so he may drop to us.

BB spent two #1s for TEs. I see no problem whatsoever drafting a Harrison replacement with the top pick. I say that while being blissfully and completely ignorant of all college football players.

With Tank Williams back and that Missouri kid at #1, BB could have the Elephant Backfield he lusts for.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

What can we do to keep him? Payraise? I say keep him at ALL COSTS

 

[JoePats]

What can we do to keep him? Payraise? I say keep him at ALL COSTS

He's already turned down the chance to be the highest paid GM in the league (Seattle), and the chance to interview for what would have been a certain big raise (Giants).

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I'd break them down like this:

Good picks
Branch
Hobbs
Kaczur
Light
Wilson

Busts/major disappointments
B.Williams
B. Johnson
G. Scott

Not looking good so far
D. Thomas
C. Jackson

Unfair to judge yet/ever
Hill
Wheatley
Crable
O'Connell

How about player we've traded for. Obviously harder to judge, since plugging them into the system has at least as much to with coaching as "player evaluation". I can think of a few bombs there, most notably the "Duane Starks for a 3rd" , as well as Doug Gabriel (5th), Andre Davis (I forget what pick we traded away for him).

Granted, those are dwarfed by the steals/deals we've had over the years, ala Dillon, Moss, Welker, ect. but they still are part of the docket.

FA's are a mixed bag too, but we've had some good ones and duds along the way too.

 

[SteveBsFan]

It's funny how whenever players or FO personnel are in Boston, or rumored to come here (Texeira), they're the next best thing to sliced bread. Once they're rumored to leave, suddenly there are doubts.

To answer the question, Pioli is extremely valuable and it will hurt the team to lose him. Hopefully he had enough class to give BB enough prep to mold his replacement, and seeing as he's been very loyal to BB, that's very likely.