When it comes to pre-draft evaluation, Patriots' scouting formula different than most

[JDot]

With the draft getting closer, this is a pretty good read from Chris Price. Most stuff we know, but still a interesting read.

In Foxboro, the Patriots have distinguished themselves by ranking prospects in a relatively non-traditional fashion. Instead of putting a grade on a player by round — as most teams do at this time of the year — more of a priority is placed on how that prospect might fit into the New England system.

“They give their scouts a clear set of guidelines in what they are looking for,” according to Dan Hatman, who has worked as a scout for the Giants, Jets and Eagles and now is the chairman of scouting development at The Scouting Academy. “In talking to scouts from New England, it might be the only team that I’m aware of with an internal scout school, for lack of a better term.

LINK

 

[meatface]

very cool, it also gives some perspective to some of the picks BB has made. It also seems to make more sense than the way most teams do things

 

[cstjohn17]

Makes sense, the put the system first in most cases. Which jerk made the pitch to take Tavon Wilson in the 2nd round?

 

[Danger Zone]

Makes sense, the put the system first in most cases. Which jerk made the pitch to take Tavon Wilson in the 2nd round?

It does seem like Tavon could have been had in later round or at the very worst after a trade down for another pick.

That said, end of 2nd round picks have a 50% bust rate on average in the NFL even when the athlete has got the best in measurables. I'm guessing that our coaches fell a little too in love with Tavon and his intangibles and lost sight of the poker/calculating side of things. It happens.

But everyone that wants to read Belichick's mind like some old carnival gypsy woman and announce that Belichick chose Tavon "out of a desire to show how smart he is" can kiss my homer butt. Belichick is smart enough to know, what makes him look smart is when he gets steals in the draft. He know's it's not smart to overpay, ever. And I'm sure he knows he would have looked a hell of a lot smarter had he taken Tavon at the end of the 3rd or 4th round.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Makes sense, the put the system first in most cases. Which jerk made the pitch to take Tavon Wilson in the 2nd round?

Probably the same jerk that pitched to take Vollmer in the 2nd when he wasn't even invited to the combine.

No quarterback completes 100% of their passes. No cornerback breaks up every play. No linebacker makes every tackle. Yet we expect perfection from decision makers despite all of the evidence that it's impossible.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

We SHOULD expect perfection from BB. After all, several Patsfans posters are far better drafters.

 

[jmt57]

On a related note to the OP's link, here is a column today on Football by Football, by former Green Bay linebacker Brady Poppinga, that talks about how the Patriots (and some other successful organizations) are on the same page in regards to player evaluations - and other unsuccessful organizations (like the Browns) can't get on the same page about anything.

Textgate and Competing Interests in the NFL | Football by Football

When that symmetry happens it develops into sustained successful organizations like the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Either egos are put aside for the greater good of winning -- regardless of who gets the credit -- or the coaching department and front office are essentially one and the same, removing that element of potential coach-front office conflict. New England with Bill Belichick is one unusual example of this type of setup.

. . . . .

The problem is, will the player fit the system the coaches implement? What often happens in the NFL is that the front office falls in love with a player without fully understanding the system in place, or whether the coaches will adjust their scheme to fit the player’s skill-set. A coach could have a gifted player the front office really likes and who doesn’t fit the system, and due to the staff’s unwillingness to deviate from their system won’t utilize the player to where his abilities are maximized.

This usually leads to a player’s failure in reaching his potential.​

 

[JDot]

It does seem like Tavon could have been had in later round or at the very worst after a trade down for another pick.

That said, end of 2nd round picks have a 50% bust rate on average in the NFL even when the athlete has got the best in measurables. I'm guessing that our coaches fell a little too in love with Tavon and his intangibles and lost sight of the poker/calculating side of things. It happens.

Tavon was a reach. But, when it comes to beli's value of special teams, and how beli values second and 3rd round picks(pretty much the same). The Tavon pick makes a bit more sense..

It all comes down to special teams snaps. Wilson played 324 snaps on special teams, which was the most by any Patriot this season. More than Matthew Slater. More than Brandon Bolden. More than Chris White. When pointing out Belichick's favorite core four players (those who play all kick and punt plays and returns), Tavon is at the top of the list.

PatsPulpit

Still a reach, but not as bad when considering Tavon's ST contributions.

 

[farn]

Makes sense, the put the system first in most cases. Which jerk made the pitch to take Tavon Wilson in the 2nd round?

People have got to calm down. Is this a comedic post ? Tavon Wilson is an actual NFL player. He plays STs. He actually contributed to a team that won the SB. Here are a few fake players : Tebow, Brady Quinn, Trent Richardson, J Clowney. They don't play. Give me Wilson and his actual production vs these others' potential production any day.

 

[Jercules]

It bears mentioning the NE system would be an utter failure if you didn't have the GOAT sitting at the top.

Philly makes a good case study today. Chip Kelly has similarly dictatorial powers; we'll see if he can get that team winning some playoff games (or if what LeSean McCoy intimated is true: Chip can coach, but he's not so sharp on the personnel side of things).

 

[JDot]

EDIT

 

[1960Pats]

It bears mentioning the NE system would be an utter failure if you didn't have the GOAT sitting at the top.

Philly makes a good case study today. Chip Kelly has similarly dictatorial powers; we'll see if he can get that team winning some playoff games (or if what LeSean McCoy intimated is true: Chip can coach, but he's not so sharp on the personnel side of things).

Chip Kelly has had a great start to his NFL career. Give him some time.

 

[Mike the Brit]

An excellent article by (Patsfans' own) Chris Price.

 

[Oswlek]

It bears mentioning the NE system would be an utter failure if you didn't have the GOAT sitting at the top.

Why does something that is most likely false bear mentioning?

The odds are Bill wouldn't have won 4 SBs without Brady, but we have ample evidence that the system would be much the same and the team would still be in the upper echelon even with a good-not-great QB. Unless, of course, your definition of "utter failure" only involves regular playoff appearances rather than virtual assurance of being in the AFCCG.

 

[BTTA]

Makes sense, the put the system first in most cases. Which jerk made the pitch to take Tavon Wilson in the 2nd round?

This article and others like it over the years have made it clear that the Pats don't slot players by round. If a player is available when they pick, and he is the best fit for their system and their needs, they pick him, regardless of how others have slotted him by round. They don't care about "round slotting."

 

[glm]

Not surprised really, belichick's dad wrote the book on scouting (literally)

 

[Froob]

That doesn't sound like it's in the spirit of the rules...

 

[Ivan]

It bears mentioning the NE system would be an utter failure if you didn't have the GOAT sitting at the top.

Philly makes a good case study today. Chip Kelly has similarly dictatorial powers; we'll see if he can get that team winning some playoff games (or if what LeSean McCoy intimated is true: Chip can coach, but he's not so sharp on the personnel side of things).

It bears mentioning that you don't know what you are taking about.

 

[glm]

It bears mentioning the NE system would be an utter failure if you didn't have the GOAT sitting at the top.

Of course you provide no evidence

 

[convertedpatsfan]

It bears mentioning the NE system would be an utter failure if you didn't have the GOAT sitting at the top.

Obviously having a great QB helps win games, but this franchise has won plenty of games without Tom playing at the top of his game.

The obvious one is 2008 when Matt Cassel led the team to 11 wins. Say what you want about the schedule, it's tough to win 11 games in the NFL.

But people also forget or overlook that last stretch of 2001 because we won the Super Bowl. Brady wasn't the GOAT back then. He had a hot stretch when he first got the starting job, but down the stretch, he really struggled. The team won their last 6 games, but in their last 5, Brady averaged 62% completion, 195 yards per game, and had 2 TDs vs. 5 INTs and had a 72.6 RAT. In the play-offs against the Raiders, Brady threw for a lot of yards but didn't have a TD and threw an INT. Against the Steelers, he only threw 18 passes for 115 yards, 0 TDs. And against the Rams, he threw his only TD of the post-season while completing 59% of his passes for only 145 yards. The defense and special teams made plays, and the running game helped carry the offense to that first Super Bowl win.

In the 2006 and 2007 play-offs, he struggled against the Chargers defense, throwing 2 TDs vs. 3 INTs in each game, but the team managed to win both. Ditto 2011, when one of the worst defenses in league history helped the team beat the Ravens in the AFCCG while Brady didn't throw a TD and 2 INTs.

Tom's the GOAT, but this team is able to win games even when he's not at his greatest.