Why are they so good? (1 Viewer)

[Jercules]

The Pats won three SuperBowls pretty recently, and last year only narrowly missed a chance at a 4th. Most other NFL franchises would be in a down cycle right now, falling from grace with a bloated cap, aging stars, raided coaching staffs, and the undivided attention of every opponent looking to make a name for themselves.

Some of this has happened to the Pats - Weis and Crennel are gone along with a number of valuable players (Law, Vinatieri, McGinest, etc.), while other players sticking around seem to be losing a step or two. In the end though, this is all overshadowed by the fact that instead of getting worse, like a team with NE's past successes should be, they have instead gotten much much better.

The last two NE SB teams went 17-2 (with significant injuries), and now they've improved in every aspect (save for RB). Next year they'll have a top 5 draft pick. Besides Moss and Samuel, everyone looks to be under contract, and the team is snug under the cap.

It's like they made a deal with the devil. People are hating them as much as any team in history, and it'll only get worse. Nobody is supposed to be able to do this with a salary cap in place. I'm a casual Pats fan, and I know I sound like a complete homer predicting another 3 NE Championships in the coming years... but when you think about it, why not?

So my question is; what is it? What is it about this organization that allows them to have this unnatural amount of success in the cap-era NFL? Do you think it all goes down the tubes without Brady? Or Belichick? Or Robert Kraft? Or have they had just a small enough amount of success that we can call it luck, and in the end their organization isn't really head and shoulders above anyone else's?

Also, why hasn't anybody copied them? Everyone in the league started using the West Coast offense after Walsh ushered it in, and the Denver zone-blocking scheme became a big deal after the two Denver SBs - why isn't the 3-4 defense the rage of the league right now?

 

[Fantaholic]

I for one, dread the day that Brady calls it a career. I think his leadership and cool under pressure makes this team go.

 

[D_House]

The Pats won three SuperBowls pretty recently, and last year only narrowly missed a chance at a 4th. Most other NFL franchises would be in a down cycle right now, falling from grace with a bloated cap, aging stars, raided coaching staffs, and the undivided attention of every opponent looking to make a name for themselves. Some of this has happened to the Pats - Weis and Crennel are gone along with a number of valuable players (Law, Vinatieri, McGinest, etc.), while other players sticking around seem to be losing a step or two. In the end though, this is all overshadowed by the fact that instead of getting worse, like a team with NE's past successes should be, they have instead gotten much much better.The last two NE SB teams went 17-2 (with significant injuries), and now they've improved in every aspect (save for RB). Next year they'll have a top 5 draft pick. Besides Moss and Samuel, everyone looks to be under contract, and the team is snug under the cap. It's like they made a deal with the devil. People are hating them as much as any team in history, and it'll only get worse. Nobody is supposed to be able to do this with a salary cap in place. I'm a casual Pats fan, and I know I sound like a complete homer predicting another 3 NE Championships in the coming years... but when you think about it, why not? So my question is; what is it? What is it about this organization that allows them to have this unnatural amount of success in the cap-era NFL? Do you think it all goes down the tubes without Brady? Or Belichick? Or Robert Kraft? Or have they had just a small enough amount of success that we can call it luck, and in the end their organization isn't really head and shoulders above anyone else's?Also, why hasn't anybody copied them? Everyone in the league started using the West Coast offense after Walsh ushered it in, and the Denver zone-blocking scheme became a big deal after the two Denver SBs - why isn't the 3-4 defense the rage of the league right now?

1. Tom Brady - say what you want about him, but he is one of the greats, as with any great his supporting cast has a lot to do with his success, no one moreso than:2. Bill Belichick - cheating or no, he is clearly the best coach in the game, and has been for some time. master of putting players in positions to succeed and scheming to neutralize his opponent's strengths.3. The offensive line - and the position coach that gets these guys ready to play. it seems like no matter who gets plugged in here, the results are the same come gametime: a nice comfortable pocket for Brady to sit and relax in and find his go-to guys. i hope pats fans recognize just how large a role in their team's success the exceptional blocking this unit plays. no other QB in the league has consistently had the kind of blocking that Brady has had for the past several years.4. The defensive line - the Patriots spend high draft picks consistently on only one unit on the team, and that is the defensive line. and the defense has been consistently great, despite a constant barrage of injuries to the secondary. part of that success is of course due to Belichick's ability to scheme for the players he has (see Troy Brown plugging in as a DB), but a lot of it is due to the consistent play from the big men up front, that do their job in the trenches and helping to create pressure on opposing QBs.And basically, these are the elements it all boils down to. It's the same for any great team. Belichick and Pioli would have this team playoff bound because of their emphasis on 3 and 4 and because of Belichick's ability as a coach. But it was their monumental luck in getting Brady that has made this team a dynasty.

 

[Kyzersosik]

Pats Homer, but as I see it right now...............NFL MVP race.

1-B Favre

2-T Brady

3-Pats OFF Line

4-All The Rest.........!!!

 

[sm8680]

Also don't forget Belichick doing whatever it takes to win. Some call it cheating I call it bending the rules and waiting to get a slapped on the wrist.

 

[Phurfur]

Pats Homer, but as I see it right now...............NFL MVP race.1-B Favre2-T Brady3-Pats OFF Line4-All The Rest.........!!!

Although Favre is having an MVP year, Brady is setting the bar this year. If he continues on his current pace no one will beat him.

 

[Boxer]

I think Brady's trick to keeping it cool on the field is knocking supermodels up off the field.

 

[daveR]

No weaknesses.

I think it comes down to improving the bottom of the team rather than overpaying a free agent superstar.

 

[timschochet]

I don't think it will happen, but if it did, it would be the one of the greatest stories in sports history:

An undefeated New England team heads into the SB having destroyed everyone in their path, only to lose in a last second drive led by an aging Brett Favre...

 

[Sabertooth]

The Pats won three SuperBowls pretty recently, and last year only narrowly missed a chance at a 4th. Most other NFL franchises would be in a down cycle right now, falling from grace with a bloated cap, aging stars, raided coaching staffs, and the undivided attention of every opponent looking to make a name for themselves. Some of this has happened to the Pats - Weis and Crennel are gone along with a number of valuable players (Law, Vinatieri, McGinest, etc.), while other players sticking around seem to be losing a step or two. In the end though, this is all overshadowed by the fact that instead of getting worse, like a team with NE's past successes should be, they have instead gotten much much better.The last two NE SB teams went 17-2 (with significant injuries), and now they've improved in every aspect (save for RB). Next year they'll have a top 5 draft pick. Besides Moss and Samuel, everyone looks to be under contract, and the team is snug under the cap. It's like they made a deal with the devil. People are hating them as much as any team in history, and it'll only get worse. Nobody is supposed to be able to do this with a salary cap in place. I'm a casual Pats fan, and I know I sound like a complete homer predicting another 3 NE Championships in the coming years... but when you think about it, why not? So my question is; what is it? What is it about this organization that allows them to have this unnatural amount of success in the cap-era NFL? Do you think it all goes down the tubes without Brady? Or Belichick? Or Robert Kraft? Or have they had just a small enough amount of success that we can call it luck, and in the end their organization isn't really head and shoulders above anyone else's?Also, why hasn't anybody copied them? Everyone in the league started using the West Coast offense after Walsh ushered it in, and the Denver zone-blocking scheme became a big deal after the two Denver SBs - why isn't the 3-4 defense the rage of the league right now?

They have made a deal with the devil. They cheated. They will always be considered cheaters.

 

[PatrickT]

Two words: Offensive Line.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

The Pats won three SuperBowls pretty recently, and last year only narrowly missed a chance at a 4th. Most other NFL franchises would be in a down cycle right now, falling from grace with a bloated cap, aging stars, raided coaching staffs, and the undivided attention of every opponent looking to make a name for themselves. Some of this has happened to the Pats - Weis and Crennel are gone along with a number of valuable players (Law, Vinatieri, McGinest, etc.), while other players sticking around seem to be losing a step or two. In the end though, this is all overshadowed by the fact that instead of getting worse, like a team with NE's past successes should be, they have instead gotten much much better.The last two NE SB teams went 17-2 (with significant injuries), and now they've improved in every aspect (save for RB). Next year they'll have a top 5 draft pick. Besides Moss and Samuel, everyone looks to be under contract, and the team is snug under the cap. It's like they made a deal with the devil. People are hating them as much as any team in history, and it'll only get worse. Nobody is supposed to be able to do this with a salary cap in place. I'm a casual Pats fan, and I know I sound like a complete homer predicting another 3 NE Championships in the coming years... but when you think about it, why not? So my question is; what is it? What is it about this organization that allows them to have this unnatural amount of success in the cap-era NFL? Do you think it all goes down the tubes without Brady? Or Belichick? Or Robert Kraft? Or have they had just a small enough amount of success that we can call it luck, and in the end their organization isn't really head and shoulders above anyone else's?Also, why hasn't anybody copied them? Everyone in the league started using the West Coast offense after Walsh ushered it in, and the Denver zone-blocking scheme became a big deal after the two Denver SBs - why isn't the 3-4 defense the rage of the league right now?

They have made a deal with the devil. They cheated. They will always be considered cheaters.

“Racism isn't born, folks, it's taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list.” -Dennis LearyI love irony.

 

[FavreCo]

Two words: Offensive Line.

That is as valuable as Brady. Iif they didn't have that OL, Brady would not be able to do what he's doing. Same goes for Favre's OL. Take a look at Manning without Harrison and 3/5 of his OL. He's not so invincible.Also, they are very good at determining who is a great FA pickup Adalius Thomas, and who is a horrid one (texans - A. Green). They also are good at not overpaying for a player. D. Branch.

 

[Sabertooth]

The Pats won three SuperBowls pretty recently, and last year only narrowly missed a chance at a 4th. Most other NFL franchises would be in a down cycle right now, falling from grace with a bloated cap, aging stars, raided coaching staffs, and the undivided attention of every opponent looking to make a name for themselves. Some of this has happened to the Pats - Weis and Crennel are gone along with a number of valuable players (Law, Vinatieri, McGinest, etc.), while other players sticking around seem to be losing a step or two. In the end though, this is all overshadowed by the fact that instead of getting worse, like a team with NE's past successes should be, they have instead gotten much much better.The last two NE SB teams went 17-2 (with significant injuries), and now they've improved in every aspect (save for RB). Next year they'll have a top 5 draft pick. Besides Moss and Samuel, everyone looks to be under contract, and the team is snug under the cap. It's like they made a deal with the devil. People are hating them as much as any team in history, and it'll only get worse. Nobody is supposed to be able to do this with a salary cap in place. I'm a casual Pats fan, and I know I sound like a complete homer predicting another 3 NE Championships in the coming years... but when you think about it, why not? So my question is; what is it? What is it about this organization that allows them to have this unnatural amount of success in the cap-era NFL? Do you think it all goes down the tubes without Brady? Or Belichick? Or Robert Kraft? Or have they had just a small enough amount of success that we can call it luck, and in the end their organization isn't really head and shoulders above anyone else's?Also, why hasn't anybody copied them? Everyone in the league started using the West Coast offense after Walsh ushered it in, and the Denver zone-blocking scheme became a big deal after the two Denver SBs - why isn't the 3-4 defense the rage of the league right now?

They have made a deal with the devil. They cheated. They will always be considered cheaters.

“Racism isn't born, folks, it's taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list.” -Dennis LearyI love irony.

You either don't know what irony is or don't know what racism is. I'm betting on the former.....at least I hope so.You pointing out my sig is kind of ironic considering that your sig attempts to factually reference an event that never happened. "Go ahead and try to tell me that the Bears were respecting the game when Walter Refrigerator Perry scored a TD at 11:38 in the 3rd quarter of Superbowl 20. Then maybe we'll talk."Are you ####### kidding me? There has never been a "Walter" Perry. It was William Perry. My wife even knows that. And you act like you have some type of credibility when assessing Super Bowl 20. Talk about irony. Or is it morony?

 

[DawnBTVS]

Also one aspect people forget/may not realize is how adept they are in the draft. They know the values they have on players and are willing to trade down or acquire future picks if A) The guy they want isn't there or B) The guy they want will drop down to where they can get some value in extra picks.

As a result of that, they have had a lot of success with mid to late round picks being productive immediately in their rookie seasons and in their New England careers.

The following players were all drafted in Round 5 or later: QB Tom Brady (6, 2000), FB Patrick Pass (7, 2000), WR David Givens (7, 2002), C Dan Koppen (5, 2003), LB Tully Banta-Cain (7, 2003), G Ryan O'Callaghan (5, 2006), and CB Mike Richardson (6, 2007).

They have selected players like Asante Samuel in the 4th Round, Ellis Hobbs and Nick Kaczur in the 3rd Round, Stephen Gostkowski in the 4th Round, and Jarvis Green in the 4th Round.

 

[Intergalactic Kegger]

Belichick already had 2 super bowl rings and 3 appearances total before Tom Brady ever made it to the NFL. They will be fine even after Brady leaves. Its more likely that Belichick gets the most out of Brady's successor.

 

[Intergalactic Kegger]

Two words: Offensive Line.

That is as valuable as Brady. Iif they didn't have that OL, Brady would not be able to do what he's doing. Same goes for Favre's OL. Take a look at Manning without Harrison and 3/5 of his OL. He's not so invincible.Also, they are very good at determining who is a great FA pickup Adalius Thomas, and who is a horrid one (texans - A. Green). They also are good at not overpaying for a player. D. Branch.

And that is why it is unbelievable that Joe Thomas slid to the Browns at 3. Just look at what his play has meant to their entire offense. Thomas should have been the #1 overall pick, but people get so enamored with QBs and WRs they forget that its real football and not a madden video game.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

The Pats won three SuperBowls pretty recently, and last year only narrowly missed a chance at a 4th. Most other NFL franchises would be in a down cycle right now, falling from grace with a bloated cap, aging stars, raided coaching staffs, and the undivided attention of every opponent looking to make a name for themselves. Some of this has happened to the Pats - Weis and Crennel are gone along with a number of valuable players (Law, Vinatieri, McGinest, etc.), while other players sticking around seem to be losing a step or two. In the end though, this is all overshadowed by the fact that instead of getting worse, like a team with NE's past successes should be, they have instead gotten much much better.The last two NE SB teams went 17-2 (with significant injuries), and now they've improved in every aspect (save for RB). Next year they'll have a top 5 draft pick. Besides Moss and Samuel, everyone looks to be under contract, and the team is snug under the cap. It's like they made a deal with the devil. People are hating them as much as any team in history, and it'll only get worse. Nobody is supposed to be able to do this with a salary cap in place. I'm a casual Pats fan, and I know I sound like a complete homer predicting another 3 NE Championships in the coming years... but when you think about it, why not? So my question is; what is it? What is it about this organization that allows them to have this unnatural amount of success in the cap-era NFL? Do you think it all goes down the tubes without Brady? Or Belichick? Or Robert Kraft? Or have they had just a small enough amount of success that we can call it luck, and in the end their organization isn't really head and shoulders above anyone else's?Also, why hasn't anybody copied them? Everyone in the league started using the West Coast offense after Walsh ushered it in, and the Denver zone-blocking scheme became a big deal after the two Denver SBs - why isn't the 3-4 defense the rage of the league right now?

They have made a deal with the devil. They cheated. They will always be considered cheaters.

"Racism isn't born, folks, it's taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list." -Dennis LearyI love irony.

You either don't know what irony is or don't know what racism is. I'm betting on the former.....at least I hope so.You pointing out my sig is kind of ironic considering that your sig attempts to factually reference an event that never happened. "Go ahead and try to tell me that the Bears were respecting the game when Walter Refrigerator Perry scored a TD at 11:38 in the 3rd quarter of Superbowl 20. Then maybe we'll talk."Are you ####### kidding me? There has never been a "Walter" Perry. It was William Perry. My wife even knows that. And you act like you have some type of credibility when assessing Super Bowl 20. Talk about irony. Or is it morony?

You've got issues, homeboy.

 

[Statorama]

I'd say the truth, but it would only unneccessisarily agitate Patriot fans. Let them enjoy their season.

 

[PatsWillWin]

I'd say the truth, but it would only unneccessisarily agitate Patriot fans. Let them enjoy their season.

Thanks. Without your blessing it'd be a tough season to watch.

 

[Upchuck]

I don't think it will happen, but if it did, it would be the one of the greatest stories in sports history: An undefeated New England team heads into the SB having destroyed everyone in their path, only to lose in a last second drive led by an aging Brett Favre...

I hope you're referring to the coming playoffs. They HARDLY "destroyed" the Colts. Can't wait for a rematch (assuming some players get healthy.)And yes, I'm a Colts 'homer'.

 

[Raider Nation]

Pats Homer, but as I see it right now...............NFL MVP race.1-B Favre2-T Brady3-Pats OFF Line4-All The Rest.........!!!

Although Favre is having an MVP year, Brady is setting the bar this year. If he continues on his current pace no one will beat him.

At the beginning of the season, if I had told you that N.E. was going to start 10-0, would you have thought I was crazy?At the beginning of the season, if I had told you that G.B. was going to start 10-1, would you have thought I was crazy?Favre deserves the MVP. I don't care if Brady finishes with 66 TDs and 5 picks.

 

[bostonfred]

Belichick and Pioli do a great job of talent evaluation. There is a huge disparity between the best and worst guys who get the veteran minimum, or something close to it. That's one area where you can make a huge leap in overall talent without a lot of money. They value smart football players who love the game more than the guys with the best combine numbers or the guys with the best college resume or who had the best year last year. They do an excellent job of scouting opponents' backups, and actively sign away the guys that they're developing to be the future at a position. Pittsburgh was known for having a great run of stud linebackers. Every time one of them would get signed away, they had another guy they'd been developing to take his place. One such backup was Mike Vrable, who was signed away as an unrestricted free agent in his fourth year in the league. At the time, he had not started a game and had just seven sacks through four seasons.

I also think their moves at the top of the draft deserve a ton of credit. The media sensationalism around the NFL draft has put a lot of pressure on GMs to take the sexy pick, and not to risk being "the guy who passed on" the flavor of the week. Look how much the Texans got blasted for taking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush (or, to a lesser extent at the time, Vince Young). Whether it turns out to have been a good pick or not, the guys who make these picks may be long gone, so they bow to the pressure to take the guy that's "supposed to" go in a particular round. Think of it this way - imagine if you had to assemble a fantasy football team, and while you would be judged partially on your ability to win championships, you would never get all of the credit. However, if the fans who watched your draft saw that it was the end of the first round and you were thiinking about passing on stud running backs or the consensus #1 QB or the consensus top receivers to take Randy Moss, you might lose your job before you got a chance to see how they'd perform. If most of the league operated under the "stay under the radar, don't get fired, and hope to get lucky on a couple picks" model, and you had the confidence of your owner to take whoever you wanted, you'd be able to gain a significant advantage.

And that's not even considering the marketability issue. Ownership wants a winner, yes, but even more than that, they want big, sexy offense. A lot of people thought that Atlanta couldn't win a Superbowl with Vick, but they signed him to one of the biggest contracts in history because he was so marketable. Recent events notwithstanding, the team probably made a good business decision. A lot of people wanted Houston to take Vince Young because he would be a hero in Texas, not because he was head and shoulders better than Reggie Bush or Mario Williams. There was considerable debate over whether he was even as good as Leinart.

They've also made great pick for player trades. After getting extremely lucky to find Tom Brady, they stockpiled talent by trading Bledsoe to Buffalo. During the trade negotiations, New England wanted Buffalo's first round pick in 2002, a top five pick. Buffalo wanted to trade their 2003 draft pick instead. Buffalo kept them talking on draft day, keeping them from talking substantively with other teams. But at the last minute, they used their pick, then called New England back and offered their 2003 pick. With few other offers on the table, the Pats accepted. In retrospect, it seems like the Pats got the better value, but at the time, Buffalo fans thought they got a steal. In 2006, the Patriots acquired a first round pick from Seattle for Deion Branch. That was a much higher pick than was originally expected, but the Pats held firm and risked going into the season with their #1 receiver holding out. On the other hand, they've gotten great value in the other direction, too. People of course will remember the trades this year that brought in Randy Moss (for a fourth) and Wes Welker (for a second), but they also traded a second round pick for Corey Dillon, their all time leading rusher.

They also make great pick for pick trades. They used the pick they got from Seattle for Branch on their first choice of players (Brandon Meriweather) and traded their own pick for the 49ers' pick, which is now expected to be a top 5 pick. In 2003, the Pats traded their second first round pick to the Ravens (who used it on Kyle Boller) for a second rounder they used on Eugene Wilson and a first they used on Vince Wilfork. They had already traded up from their first pick of the day, #14th overall that they had gotten in the Drew Bledsoe deal, to the #13 spot to get Ty Warren.

A lot of people have mentioned that the Pats love taking defensive linemen early, but they have also gotten very lucky in the draft. Vince Wilfork was projected to go in the top ten. He slipped to the 21st pick. Ty Warren was supposed to go earlier, too, but slipped to #13, where he was expected to be selected by the Bears. Instead, the Pats traded up one spot to get him. The only pick where the Pats reached for a guy who wasn't "supposed to go" wher they took him was Seymour. Richard Seymour was considered a reach with the seventh overall pick. Consider this criticism by local writer Ron Borges:

"On a day when they could have had impact players David Terrell or Koren Robinson or the second-best tackle in the draft in Kenyatta Walker, they took Georgia defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had 1 sacks last season in the pass-happy SEC and is too tall to play tackle at 6-6 and too slow to play defensive end. This genius move was followed by trading out of a spot where they could have gotten the last decent receiver in Robert Ferguson and settled for tackle Matt Light, who will not help any time soon."

In retrospect, that sounds ridiculous, but the Pats were under significant public pressure to get help for Bledsoe, who was considered the face of the franchise. Instead, they drafted and signed two unknown players who would be integral to their upcoming dynasty, then traded Bledsoe for another.

Another turning point that people don't talk much about happened before the decision to start Brady over Bledsoe. It was the release of Terry Glenn. And the subsequent release of Lawyer Milloy. And the subsequent refusal to overpay for Ty Law. Many people talking about the backlash the Patriots would feel from potential free agents, but the reality is that even before the Superbowl victories, the Patriots had the legitimate threat of letting anyone go at any time. Think about how many of the best players talk about how they were driven to keep working out in the offeseason because any season could be their last, and nothing is guaranteed in the NFL.

One of the reasons people think Moss has been more successful with the Patriots than with Oakland is the veteran presence in the locker room. Another is that he's not forced to be the star. The Patriots do a very good job of prepping their players for media pressure, and as a result, no player (except maybe Brady) is under individual pressure to perform. By some accounts, Moss did not do well in Oakland because he was asked to be the star of the offense, and the team around him wasn't good. Neither factor is an issue with the Patriots. The veteran presence also probably had an effect on players like Vince Wilfork, whose weight and motivation were considered a concern and were a big reason he had slipped in the draft. Instead, he's been the centerpiece at arguably the most important position in the 3-4, after replacing another player with similar concerns in Ted Washington.

The Patriots rarely pick a bust. They don't overpay for free agents, and look for draft picks who would be a great fit for the team. Ty Law was getting older and wanted to be paid for his previous accomplishments, not his future abilities. The Pats refused to overpay. They opened the checkbook for Adalius Thomas, though, who was a great fit at a position of need and could play multiple positions. The Pats had recentaly spent an early pick on tight end Daniel Graham, and used him as a sixth offensive lineman, but weren't afraid to pull the trigger on Ben Watson, who they also split out wide. They took Logan Mankins because he had a mean streak, could start quickly, and could play multiple positions. Vrabel was a great fit as a DE/ILB/OLB.

And last but not least, the Pats pick guys who complement one another well. Guys like Randall Gay and Hank Poteat are far from superstars, but they've had great games when needed because the Pats could give them a very limited area of responsibility and then adjust the rest of the defense to support them.

I don't mean to come off as a superfan homer here. You could probably write up something similar for other teams, although the Pats have obviously had some recent success. But these are some of the things that stick out to me.

 

[Swampy]

uhhhhh...Offensive+Defensive line....pretty straight forward, it doesnt work w/o that

 

[nerangers]

Belichick and Pioli do a great job of talent evaluation. There is a huge disparity between the best and worst guys who get the veteran minimum, or something close to it. That's one area where you can make a huge leap in overall talent without a lot of money. They value smart football players who love the game more than the guys with the best combine numbers or the guys with the best college resume or who had the best year last year. They do an excellent job of scouting opponents' backups, and actively sign away the guys that they're developing to be the future at a position. Pittsburgh was known for having a great run of stud linebackers. Every time one of them would get signed away, they had another guy they'd been developing to take his place. One such backup was Mike Vrable, who was signed away as an unrestricted free agent in his fourth year in the league. At the time, he had not started a game and had just seven sacks through four seasons. I also think their moves at the top of the draft deserve a ton of credit. The media sensationalism around the NFL draft has put a lot of pressure on GMs to take the sexy pick, and not to risk being "the guy who passed on" the flavor of the week. Look how much the Texans got blasted for taking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush (or, to a lesser extent at the time, Vince Young). Whether it turns out to have been a good pick or not, the guys who make these picks may be long gone, so they bow to the pressure to take the guy that's "supposed to" go in a particular round. Think of it this way - imagine if you had to assemble a fantasy football team, and while you would be judged partially on your ability to win championships, you would never get all of the credit. However, if the fans who watched your draft saw that it was the end of the first round and you were thiinking about passing on stud running backs or the consensus #1 QB or the consensus top receivers to take Randy Moss, you might lose your job before you got a chance to see how they'd perform. If most of the league operated under the "stay under the radar, don't get fired, and hope to get lucky on a couple picks" model, and you had the confidence of your owner to take whoever you wanted, you'd be able to gain a significant advantage. And that's not even considering the marketability issue. Ownership wants a winner, yes, but even more than that, they want big, sexy offense. A lot of people thought that Atlanta couldn't win a Superbowl with Vick, but they signed him to one of the biggest contracts in history because he was so marketable. Recent events notwithstanding, the team probably made a good business decision. A lot of people wanted Houston to take Vince Young because he would be a hero in Texas, not because he was head and shoulders better than Reggie Bush or Mario Williams. There was considerable debate over whether he was even as good as Leinart. They've also made great pick for player trades. After getting extremely lucky to find Tom Brady, they stockpiled talent by trading Bledsoe to Buffalo. During the trade negotiations, New England wanted Buffalo's first round pick in 2002, a top five pick. Buffalo wanted to trade their 2003 draft pick instead. Buffalo kept them talking on draft day, keeping them from talking substantively with other teams. But at the last minute, they used their pick, then called New England back and offered their 2003 pick. With few other offers on the table, the Pats accepted. In retrospect, it seems like the Pats got the better value, but at the time, Buffalo fans thought they got a steal. In 2006, the Patriots acquired a first round pick from Seattle for Deion Branch. That was a much higher pick than was originally expected, but the Pats held firm and risked going into the season with their #1 receiver holding out. On the other hand, they've gotten great value in the other direction, too. People of course will remember the trades this year that brought in Randy Moss (for a fourth) and Wes Welker (for a second), but they also traded a second round pick for Corey Dillon, their all time leading rusher. They also make great pick for pick trades. They used the pick they got from Seattle for Branch on their first choice of players (Brandon Meriweather) and traded their own pick for the 49ers' pick, which is now expected to be a top 5 pick. In 2003, the Pats traded their second first round pick to the Ravens (who used it on Kyle Boller) for a second rounder they used on Eugene Wilson and a first they used on Vince Wilfork. They had already traded up from their first pick of the day, #14th overall that they had gotten in the Drew Bledsoe deal, to the #13 spot to get Ty Warren. A lot of people have mentioned that the Pats love taking defensive linemen early, but they have also gotten very lucky in the draft. Vince Wilfork was projected to go in the top ten. He slipped to the 21st pick. Ty Warren was supposed to go earlier, too, but slipped to #13, where he was expected to be selected by the Bears. Instead, the Pats traded up one spot to get him. The only pick where the Pats reached for a guy who wasn't "supposed to go" wher they took him was Seymour. Richard Seymour was considered a reach with the seventh overall pick. Consider this criticism by local writer Ron Borges:"On a day when they could have had impact players David Terrell or Koren Robinson or the second-best tackle in the draft in Kenyatta Walker, they took Georgia defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had 1 sacks last season in the pass-happy SEC and is too tall to play tackle at 6-6 and too slow to play defensive end. This genius move was followed by trading out of a spot where they could have gotten the last decent receiver in Robert Ferguson and settled for tackle Matt Light, who will not help any time soon."In retrospect, that sounds ridiculous, but the Pats were under significant public pressure to get help for Bledsoe, who was considered the face of the franchise. Instead, they drafted and signed two unknown players who would be integral to their upcoming dynasty, then traded Bledsoe for another. Another turning point that people don't talk much about happened before the decision to start Brady over Bledsoe. It was the release of Terry Glenn. And the subsequent release of Lawyer Milloy. And the subsequent refusal to overpay for Ty Law. Many people talking about the backlash the Patriots would feel from potential free agents, but the reality is that even before the Superbowl victories, the Patriots had the legitimate threat of letting anyone go at any time. Think about how many of the best players talk about how they were driven to keep working out in the offeseason because any season could be their last, and nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. One of the reasons people think Moss has been more successful with the Patriots than with Oakland is the veteran presence in the locker room. Another is that he's not forced to be the star. The Patriots do a very good job of prepping their players for media pressure, and as a result, no player (except maybe Brady) is under individual pressure to perform. By some accounts, Moss did not do well in Oakland because he was asked to be the star of the offense, and the team around him wasn't good. Neither factor is an issue with the Patriots. The veteran presence also probably had an effect on players like Vince Wilfork, whose weight and motivation were considered a concern and were a big reason he had slipped in the draft. Instead, he's been the centerpiece at arguably the most important position in the 3-4, after replacing another player with similar concerns in Ted Washington. The Patriots rarely pick a bust. They don't overpay for free agents, and look for draft picks who would be a great fit for the team. Ty Law was getting older and wanted to be paid for his previous accomplishments, not his future abilities. The Pats refused to overpay. They opened the checkbook for Adalius Thomas, though, who was a great fit at a position of need and could play multiple positions. The Pats had recentaly spent an early pick on tight end Daniel Graham, and used him as a sixth offensive lineman, but weren't afraid to pull the trigger on Ben Watson, who they also split out wide. They took Logan Mankins because he had a mean streak, could start quickly, and could play multiple positions. Vrabel was a great fit as a DE/ILB/OLB. And last but not least, the Pats pick guys who complement one another well. Guys like Randall Gay and Hank Poteat are far from superstars, but they've had great games when needed because the Pats could give them a very limited area of responsibility and then adjust the rest of the defense to support them. I don't mean to come off as a superfan homer here. You could probably write up something similar for other teams, although the Pats have obviously had some recent success. But these are some of the things that stick out to me.

as always bostonfredI think the Veteran leadership they bring in when others are let go is extremely important as well...you take a player like McGinnest and Milloy were leaders in the locker room...sometimes you can bring in a replacement player, but they are not leaders for the younger guys in the locker room. The veterans always seem to step it up...like Harrison and Seau.love the Ron Borges quote! Typical!

 

[Assani Fisher]

Belichick already had 2 super bowl rings and 3 appearances total before Tom Brady ever made it to the NFL. They will be fine even after Brady leaves. Its more likely that Belichick gets the most out of Brady's successor.

Bellicheck had one winning season in 5 years with Cleveland, went 6-10 in his first year in NE, and was 0-2 to start the next year when Brady took over IIRC.

 

[Assani Fisher]

Pats Homer, but as I see it right now...............NFL MVP race.1-B Favre2-T Brady3-Pats OFF Line4-All The Rest.........!!!

Although Favre is having an MVP year, Brady is setting the bar this year. If he continues on his current pace no one will beat him.

At the beginning of the season, if I had told you that N.E. was going to start 10-0, would you have thought I was crazy?At the beginning of the season, if I had told you that G.B. was going to start 10-1, would you have thought I was crazy?Favre deserves the MVP. I don't care if Brady finishes with 66 TDs and 5 picks.

This logic makes no sense whatsoever. Couldn't I use this same logic to say that ANY Packer should win the MVP award...its not like they're 10-1 only due to Brett Favre.

 

[Assani Fisher]

great post Fred

 

[SteelerMurf]

The Pats missed out on the playoffs 2 years in a row thinking they can just win with anyone because of their scheme.

They then decided after this season to actually go out and buy some talent. So they brought in Thomas on defense and on offense they brought in an entire new WR corp of Welker, Stallworth and Moss.

Their offense is unstoppable IF you don't blitz or mix up your pass rushing looks, but I think their defense has some holes if you don't get outschemed.

 

[twitch]

The Pats missed out on the playoffs 2 years in a row thinking they can just win with anyone because of their scheme.They then decided after this season to actually go out and buy some talent. So they brought in Thomas on defense and on offense they brought in an entire new WR corp of Welker, Stallworth and Moss.Their offense is unstoppable IF you don't blitz or mix up your pass rushing looks, but I think their defense has some holes if you don't get outschemed.

This meant to suggest that Pittsburgh will be that one team capable of mixing up those pass rushing looks and confusing Brady? That Pittsburgh game cant get here fast enough.

 

[jscout]

I don't mean to come off as a superfan homer here.

Dude, you reek superfan homerism! Be proud. Good post.

 

[PatsWillWin]

The Pats missed out on the playoffs 2 years in a row thinking they can just win with anyone because of their scheme.They then decided after this season to actually go out and buy some talent. So they brought in Thomas on defense and on offense they brought in an entire new WR corp of Welker, Stallworth and Moss.

This post is full of wrong.

 

[NEUPJ]

The Pats missed out on the playoffs 2 years in a row thinking they can just win with anyone because of their scheme.

What years were those? 1999 & 2000?

 

[Raider Nation]

Pats Homer, but as I see it right now...............NFL MVP race.

1-B Favre

2-T Brady

3-Pats OFF Line

4-All The Rest.........!!!

Although Favre is having an MVP year, Brady is setting the bar this year. If he continues on his current pace no one will beat him.

At the beginning of the season, if I had told you that N.E. was going to start 10-0, would you have thought I was crazy?At the beginning of the season, if I had told you that G.B. was going to start 10-1, would you have thought I was crazy?

Favre deserves the MVP. I don't care if Brady finishes with 66 TDs and 5 picks.

This logic makes no sense whatsoever. Couldn't I use this same logic to say that ANY Packer should win the MVP award...its not like they're 10-1 only due to Brett Favre.

Really? It makes no sense at ALL to you?If Favre had retired in the offseason, this same Green Bay team is now 4-7 at best with Aaron Rodgers at the helm.

 

[PatrickT]

Two words: Offensive Line.

That is as valuable as Brady. Iif they didn't have that OL, Brady would not be able to do what he's doing. Same goes for Favre's OL. Take a look at Manning without Harrison and 3/5 of his OL. He's not so invincible.Also, they are very good at determining who is a great FA pickup Adalius Thomas, and who is a horrid one (texans - A. Green). They also are good at not overpaying for a player. D. Branch.

And that is why it is unbelievable that Joe Thomas slid to the Browns at 3. Just look at what his play has meant to their entire offense. Thomas should have been the #1 overall pick, but people get so enamored with QBs and WRs they forget that its real football and not a madden video game.

This is exactly why I want the Falcons to sell the freakin' farm if necessary for an O-Line. It doesn't really matter if it's lefty of joey, either could be successful with a stellar oline. THEN you go out and get your marquis QB.

 

[Sabertooth]

The Pats won three SuperBowls pretty recently, and last year only narrowly missed a chance at a 4th. Most other NFL franchises would be in a down cycle right now, falling from grace with a bloated cap, aging stars, raided coaching staffs, and the undivided attention of every opponent looking to make a name for themselves. Some of this has happened to the Pats - Weis and Crennel are gone along with a number of valuable players (Law, Vinatieri, McGinest, etc.), while other players sticking around seem to be losing a step or two. In the end though, this is all overshadowed by the fact that instead of getting worse, like a team with NE's past successes should be, they have instead gotten much much better.The last two NE SB teams went 17-2 (with significant injuries), and now they've improved in every aspect (save for RB). Next year they'll have a top 5 draft pick. Besides Moss and Samuel, everyone looks to be under contract, and the team is snug under the cap. It's like they made a deal with the devil. People are hating them as much as any team in history, and it'll only get worse. Nobody is supposed to be able to do this with a salary cap in place. I'm a casual Pats fan, and I know I sound like a complete homer predicting another 3 NE Championships in the coming years... but when you think about it, why not? So my question is; what is it? What is it about this organization that allows them to have this unnatural amount of success in the cap-era NFL? Do you think it all goes down the tubes without Brady? Or Belichick? Or Robert Kraft? Or have they had just a small enough amount of success that we can call it luck, and in the end their organization isn't really head and shoulders above anyone else's?Also, why hasn't anybody copied them? Everyone in the league started using the West Coast offense after Walsh ushered it in, and the Denver zone-blocking scheme became a big deal after the two Denver SBs - why isn't the 3-4 defense the rage of the league right now?

They have made a deal with the devil. They cheated. They will always be considered cheaters.

"Racism isn't born, folks, it's taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list." -Dennis LearyI love irony.

You either don't know what irony is or don't know what racism is. I'm betting on the former.....at least I hope so.You pointing out my sig is kind of ironic considering that your sig attempts to factually reference an event that never happened. "Go ahead and try to tell me that the Bears were respecting the game when Walter Refrigerator Perry scored a TD at 11:38 in the 3rd quarter of Superbowl 20. Then maybe we'll talk."Are you ####### kidding me? There has never been a "Walter" Perry. It was William Perry. My wife even knows that. And you act like you have some type of credibility when assessing Super Bowl 20. Talk about irony. Or is it morony?

You've got issues, homeboy.

That's what I thought.

 

[Statorama]

I wish every Patriot fan was like BostonFred. That was an outstanding post

 

[bostonfred]

I've been thinking about the trading a pick this year for a pick next year thing. It's really a great move. The Pats missed out on a first round pick the first year they did it, but they've generally gotten a second rounder in year X and a first in year X+1 each time they've done this. The interesting thing is that people see the value in this as them stockpiling extra picks, which to some extent is true. But there's another sneaky value here - if they want to trade one the following year, they will generally get the same deal regardless of which pick they trade. For example, this year they picked Meriweather with the higher pick, and traded the lower one to San Francisco. Since they're always "going for it", they tend to get a better pick each year, which is essentially a lottery ticket with the hopes that San Francisco sucks, or Baltimore, etc. They can then trade up or down with their own pick.

What's also interesting is that everyone thought Dallas got a better deal by picking up Cleveland's pick, but right now Dallas would probably gladly trade everything they got in that deal for San Francisco's pick. I wasn't happy that they'd missed out on trading Brady Quinn to someone who was dying to get him, especially considering it was a "weak" team, and while I wasn't sold on SF this year, I didn't like the idea of improving them in an area of need, which would ostensibly have made their pick less valuable, while giving up on a player I actually wanted the Pats to take this year.

 

[saintfool]

Two words: Offensive Line.

certainly, they are an obvious reason but i think it goes back to brady this year. the o-line is providing him outstanding pass protection but isn't showing much in the way of run blocking. the numbers don't back this up, i know, but they aren't a very good rushing team. i think brady is carrying the offensive load this season. he's getting good protection, of course, but he's making welker a pro-bowler as much as he's making moss one. the talent differential between those two guys is pretty substantial, i think. brady's the engine for that offense. it reminds of the rich gannon/oakland offense more than anything.

 

[Workhorse]

Great post by BostonFred.

In a lot of ways, Belichick and Pioli have brought a Moneyball-esque scheme into today's salary cap NFL. A lot of baseball fans misinterpreted what Moneyball meant -- believing erroneously that "Moneyball" meant either an overreliance on OBP and stat-geeks. What it really meant, and the area where it directly applies to the New England Patriots is this: It identifies inefficiencies in the talent market and seeks to exploit them.

When Beane (and others) starting going heavy on OBP type players, it wasn't just that they believed that OBP guys were critical to run scoring (even though, to a large extent, they were) - It was that the high OBP mediocre power type players were easily obtainable on the open market and in the draft because they were undervalued by the majority of the league.

In the same way, the NFL has a large market inefficiency for smart, versatile players who may not have the eye popping measurables anymore in terms of physical ability. Belichick has understood this for a number of years and has always peppered his roster with guys who are a bit past their prime but can still add to a scheme that relies on versatility. Some of the most shrewd pickups the Pats have made over the years (Brian Cox, Vrabel, Roman Phifer, Ted Washington, Rodney Harrison, etc...) were castoffs from other teams who added far more on the field than they cost against the cap. Or getting guys way under the radar like Stephen Neal, a former college wrestler with good hand-to-hand physical gifts and a great mind for absobing a playbook but not much football experience. In fact, many of their O-Line draftees like Logan Mankins and Dan Koppen were guys who they seemed to "reach" for in the draft according to scouts but the Patriots realized that those kind of lunch pail type interior lineman were undervalued in current draft strategy and he scooped them up.

IMO, it's one of the most underappreciated aspects of the Patriots success.