Patriots Making Weis Moves?
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Posted Under: 2000 Patriots Season
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Things are such with Bill Belichick that it’s news that he hired a PR man to deal with his relationship with the media.
I mean, what’s better right now, gathering the right personnel, or how you present these decisions to John Q. Public? Is it more important to scrutinize who Belichick brings in to be assistant coaches, or is it whether he “rambles” during each press conference to introduce his staff members? His free agent strategy? Who cares if he can’t articulate it properly?
Such is the perception of Belichick. It will never be enough for the poor man to just coach the Patriots and run the personnel department. No, now he needs to be half Will Rogers and half Ronald Reagan. His resignation speech in JetLand is still ringing in everyone’s ears, and now people think he’s more the absent-minded professor rather than the best defensive mind in all of pro football.
The only areas where Belichick needs to prove himself is whether he really is a legit NFL head coach and whether or not he really knows how to “shop for the groceries”. How he sells the idea is really a media thing that is blown way out of proportion. When Belichick steps up and accepts the Vince Lombardi Trophy some day, who cares what he says? Besides, you’re going to want to hear from the game MVP more than you will the head coach.
The bottom line is that Belichick can say what he wants any way he wishes. It’s whether he wins or not that should matter to the rest of us.
Despite this, one of his new hires was Berj Najarian, who, like many of his new hires, is a former Jet employee. Najarian will be his main PR man, a guy who will help present himself better to Patriot Nation.
So, not only do you get a top defensive hoss for a head coach, you’ll also be looking at the next John Madden when he retires from coaching. Belichick will be the smoothest talker since Bill Clinton, the most mellifluous football voice since Pat Summerall, and the most knowledgeable analyst perhaps ever. Welcome aboard, Berj. Do your thing.
While Berj does his thing, let’s concentrate on what Belichick has done so far where football matters are concerned. We’ll try to make up a bit on the “articulate” end.
Without question, the most momentous thing Belichick did this week was to bring Charlie Weis back to New England. This was a near-given following the great rat job Weis pulled on Bill Parcells in New York City at Belichick’s hearing a few weeks back. Weis will run the Patriot offense, something he was able to do quite well in the pre-injury days of the New York Jets of the late ’90s.
Weis has already laid out some preliminary strategies for his job. He wants to open up the Patriot offense, and at the same time balance things out by emphasizing the running game. In talking about building the running game, Weis did address the offensive line, and said that to make it succeed you have to fit the players into schemes and positions that will utilize their talents. Weis wants to take some time to see what the linemen can do as individuals, and then place them into situations and formations that they can excel in.
Weis’ record as Patriot coach speaks for itself. As tight end coach in 1994, Ben Coates set a record for receptions by a tight end. As running backs coach in 1995, rookie Curtis Martin rushed for 1,487 yards. In 1996, as receivers’ coach, Terry Glenn set a rookie record with 90 receptions.
Given this, Weis seems to have bought into Bobby Grier’s theory that the young offensive linemen haven’t been used the way they should have been. Ed Ellis, Derrick Fletcher, Heath Irwin and Jason Andersen could turn out to be key men in training camp this summer. And if Damon Denson is still out there somewhere, don’t rule out his possible return if the man can be made to bust his tail.
Critics of Belichick scoff at this whole idea. Bringing Dante Scarnecchia and Jeff Davidson back as offensive line coaches didn’t help either. Some believe that there simply is a dearth of talent in the line, and they will not succeed no matter how good the coaching is. Others believe that Scarnecchia should go back to special teams, and a more prudent search for a decent line coach, if available, was in order.
Whatever the case, how this plays out will be interesting. At least Paul Boudreau won’t be blamed. Belichick will be blamed if this scheme (which he used in Cleveland) to bolster his offensive line fails.
Weis’ hiring is perhaps at the top of everyone’s list of good moves by Belichick. Eric Mangini, brought in as a defensive assistant after being in a similar position with the Jets, also was hailed as a good get. But not all of his moves have been met with the same enthusiasm.
Last Saturday, it was announced that Johnny Parker was let go as strength/conditioning coach. Many stories that try to explain this abound everywhere. Some thought Parker was a spy for Parcells. Some brought up Willie McGinest’s groin, Ted Johnson’s biceps (both of them), and the many nagging injuries in 1997 and 1998. Others looked at Ty Law’s situation, and all the other players who train away from Foxborough.
Belichick will insist that all players train at Foxborough. Law trained with Bob Kersee last year, but Belichick will still try and get Law to train in Foxborough. He will also try and go after the other veterans (Coates, Bruce Armstrong, Glenn) who train elsewhere to come here. Belichick also talked of taking the S/C program “in a new direction”, but the clear fact is that he wants his team together as a group. Pulling that off, or how hard he tries to do that will be interesting, as Parker was very popular with the veteran players.
Belichick also dismissed Raymond Hamilton, the former Patriot defensive lineman/defensive line coach. Hamilton may wind up on Parcells’ staff, but many thought that Hamilton would wind up as Patriot defensive coordinator. Belichick has not yet committed to hiring someone to run the defense, and the chance still exists that Belichick may try to run it himself and the rest of the team. Losing Hamilton to the Jets would be like them losing Belichick, Weis and the old Gang Green to us. Hamilton, a presumed “institution” here, would be an invaluable help to Al Groh in attacking the Patriot defense.
The most disconcerning thing about the Belichick regime so far is the continued presence of Grier. When Belichick was being rumoured as coming to Foxborough, it was presumed that he would get full control of personnel matters. Grier was all but given up for dead. Fueling that possibility was the talks the Patriots had with Tom Donahoe, and rumours that Charley Armey would return to Foxborough.
Today, the Globe reported that Belichick has the final say, and that Grier would still have a hand in drafts. Whether Belichick can make a big difference in this area himself is doubtful, given his draft history in Cleveland. Is Patriot Nation in for more “nickel backs” and “projects” as first round picks?
The possibility exists that more people from Joisey will come up here to work in personnel. Scott Pioli remains at the forefront of this area, as he has been rumored to be coming up and working in the personnel department. Pioli, who is Parcells’ son-in-law, would presumably take some of the draft prep burden off of Grier. It’s not much, but perhaps it’s a small step in the right direction.
Another odd thing is that Belichick has not signed a contract yet, and the personnel control issue still needs to be worked out. Belichick and Bob Kraft shook hands on a five-year deal, but Belichick has yet to sign anything. It is believed that personnel control is at the center of the deal here. Armey is staying in St. Louis, and Donahoe will probably take the year off. So either Belichick will maintain full control or Pioli (or someone similar) will come in and help. Whatever the case, clarifying Belichick’s exact personnel role real soon would be a nice thing to do.
One thing that might help Patriot Nation through this transition period is to key on the “big picture” and forget the small disagreements here and there. Despite some of Belichick’s moves being scrutinized as being “not what you or I might have done”, at least things seem to be perking up in Foxborough.
Weis alone is perhaps the best hire, and should make an immediate impact. Weis wants to do everything possible to win, and he alone should wake up the Patriot offense. And, as my esteemed colleague Ian Logue reported, Weis seems intrigued by one Michael Bishop, and that alone is reason for heightened anticipation for the coming year.
Grier’s presence is a legit concern. So is the offensive line. Right now, Belichick looks like he has a plan and will get the chance to see it through. One really wasn’t ever sure if Pete Carroll had a plan. Belichick does. Give him the chance to let it succeed.
As for free agents, the Patriots will do what their salary cap and Andy Wasynczuk’s ingeniuity will allow. Lawyer Milloy can shoot off his mouth and want all he wants, but the Patriots can either get him to come to his senses or franchise him and make a good deal for him. Drew Bledsoe can get his contract re-worked so that Steve Israel and Troy Brown can stay. But Belichick cannot be held totally accountable for what does or doesn’t happen here. He is a coach, not a capologist.
Naturally, all speculation goes out the window when the 2000 season starts up. From then on, Bill, you’re on your own. For now, just build your team and don’t listen to us whiners.
And easy does it on this Berj stuff. Yeah, right, here’s Belichick at his Super Bowl postgame press conference: “I’d like to thank Berj Najarian, the man most responsible for this victory today.” Just be yourself, Bill.
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