Well, from the 2,000 posts on this thread and the drool that is dripping off most of them, it appears that actually many here respect the way the Patriots have built the roster. :D

Good god I want this guy.

:drool:

Yes, but we're talking football here. Leave your Frankie goes to Hollywood fantasies back at the bath house please...:D

4. The Ravens didn't run a 3-4 when they won their Superbowl.

This would be a total 360 from what Carl's philosophy was (see Johnson, Larry; Bartee, William; McGlockton, Chester; Battle, Julian; etc.) and Herm's stated philosophy is. Herm has said he just wants talented players and he will mold a system to fit their skills. However, while that sounds good, the reality is that more often than not you still have a system you want to run (see Tampa-2) and at the end of the day, despite the talk, they still are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

I just hope he leaves the video equip with Bill.

Yep. I agree. Dynastic teams have a system.

Meh. The Pats don't have Dick Curl.

Really? I believe you, but I am surprised. Ok. 4 out of 8 then. :D

That fatass Saragousa (sp) counts for about five people.....

It's true. They had Sam Adams, and Saragoosa(sp) in the middle, and Boulware, and someone else on the ends.

The amount of draft day trades he did in 2o years is probably not much more than Dallas or NE's one typical draft.

OK I said that with some exaggeration, but you know what I mean.

Michael McCrary

Furthermore, I'm not talking about wheeling and dealing just for the sake of wheeling and dealing. I'm talking about being smart and active on draft day.

this.

What's the word?

Gee I hope not.

But if they play their cards right, who knows, maybe we'll let them have the guy for a 1st round draft choice.

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Or Rob Burnett.

I think towards the end of that season they both started at the ends and Boulware was OLB.

Yeah Marvin Lewis has always run a 4-3. I don't think the Ravens moved to a 3-4 until Nolan became DC.

Rex Ryan's 3-4 is more of a hybrid scheme anyway, the Raven's don't run the same two gap 3-4 the Parcells/Belichick coaching tree uses.

Oh heck no. Neither do the Chargers or Steelers. In fact, the Patriots D sometimes seems maddeningly "passive", but it's a proven system, so I just bite the bullet.

ROFL

Seems like most of the time the patriots scheme depends on who they are playing. No better game to game coach in the NFL then BB if you ask me.

Pioli, KC starting to bond
by Mike Reiss GLOBE STAFF , The Boston Globe

Updated: January 12, 2009, 11:29 AM EST

Discussions between the Kansas City Chiefs and Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli have intensified, according to an NFL source. Although negotiations had not begun as of early last night, word out of Kansas City was that the possibility of a marriage was picking up momentum.

Even before he interviewed last Monday, Pioli was presumed to be the Chiefs' top choice to run their Football operation. That hasn't changed since Kansas City chairman Clark Hunt conducted a thorough, close-to-the-vest search that has included multiple candidates.

Hunt, interim president Denny Thum, and Pioli have increased their dialogue and think they could form a strong partnership, which is crucial, because regardless of whom the Chiefs hire, that person will have to work closely with Thum.

As part of the search for a general manager, Hunt has stated that he plans to split the job, with Thum handling business matters and the new hire focusing mostly on the Football side. Although it has been suggested that Pioli, 43, might be seeking total control and thus wouldn't be comfortable with such an arrangement, the increased intensity of talks indicate that might not be the case.

Hunt has decided to split the job after former general manager Carl Peterson, who was with the club for 20 years, held both titles. In dividing the job, Hunt has said he wants a general manager who would be a "fresh set of eyes" and "shrewd evaluator of talent."

Pioli, a two-time Sporting News Executive of the Year Award winner, would qualify.

While Pioli and the Chiefs moved closer, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has emerged as a top candidate to become the Denver Broncos head coach, according to Adam Schefter of the NFL Network.

McDaniels had a second interview with the Broncos last Thursday.

Oh, I agree, don't get me wrong.

But the Patriots defense is very rarely the attacking style of defense that the Ravens and Steelers have become famous for out of the 3-4 system. It is a read-and-react defense.

It WORKS, but it's alot less exciting. :D

I know this is old but man we have to hire this guy!:clap:


Brian MacPherson's Patriots Notebook: Loss of Pioli would be huge one for Pats

By BRIAN MACPHERSON
Special to The Sunday News

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MAKE NO MISTAKE: Losing Scott Pioli, should he take a new job this week, won't be like losing Romeo Crennel or Charlie Weis. Bill Belichick certainly has good instincts for player acquisition, but everything he's done with the Patriots has had Pioli's thumbprint on it.

And losing Pioli, the vice president of player personnel, also would make an already challenging offseason even more challenging.

The Patriots must evaluate the health of Tom Brady and make a huge decision on the future of Matt Cassel, a free agent who could be a candidate for the franchise tag. They must decide whether Laurence Maroney has any hope of living up to the promise he showed when he rushed for 745 yards as a rookie three years ago.

They must work on contract extensions for franchise cornerstones like Vince Wilfork, Richard Seymour, Ellis Hobbs and Logan Mankins. And they must find a way to inject more youth into a defense that didn't get any younger when injuries forced the return of Rosevelt Colvin and Junior Seau.

►Click here to visit the blog of the Union Leader's Boston sports correspondent, Brian MacPherson, 'One If By Land.'

Trouble is, Tom Dimitroff, the most natural successor to Pioli, left last season to take over as general manager of the Atlanta Falcons. Belichick and much of his coaching staff will return, Pioli has had as much to do with the Patriots' decade of dominance as anyone -- especially anyone whose last name does not start with the letter "B." Still skeptical?

Here's a handful of highlights from the resume of the most sought-after executive of the offseason:

Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis, 1996
It seems easy now to call the selection of Ogden -- an 11-time Pro Bowl selection and perhaps the greatest left tackle of all-time -- with the fourth overall pick of the NFL draft a no-brainer. But five other offensive tackles went in the first round of that draft, and only two of them made even one Pro Bowl.

The Baltimore Ravens, with Pioli then in his first season as director of pro personnel, then selected bruising linebacker Ray Lewis with the 26th overall selection.

Four years later, Lewis and Ogden were cornerstones of a Super Bowl champion; both are locks for Canton. Yes, it's easy to find talent in the first round of the draft, but it's easy to miss badly, too -- and Pioli hit a pair of home runs.

Vinny Testaverde, 1998
The name of Bill Belichick became inextricably linked with that of Testaverde when Belichick picked the veteran over the popular Bernie Kosar to quarterback the Cleveland Browns in 1993, a move that turned fans against him for good.

But Belichick, later a defensive assistant with the New York Jets after he was fired by the Browns, would have had little to do with the negotiations to bring Testaverde to New York five years later. That responsibility would have fallen in large part to Pioli, for whom Testaverde played both in Cleveland and with the Ravens.

The Ravens had released Testaverde after a season in which the 34-year-old threw almost as many interceptions (15) as touchdown passes (18) and missed the final three games of the season with a knee injury. Pioli, in his second year as the Jets' director of pro personnel, snatched him right up. Testaverde then threw for 3,256 yards and 29 touchdowns and quarterbacked the Jets -- 1-15 two seasons earlier -- to the AFC title game.

Curtis Martin, 1998
Bill Parcells, who coached Martin for two seasons with the Patriots, got most of the headlines. But as director of pro personnel, Pioli had to have quite a bit to do with the decision to spend $36 million and first- and third-round draft picks to get Martin.

It was a steep price, even for a running back who had rushed for at least 1,110 yards in each of his first three seasons. But it paid off in spades. Martin rushed for at least 1,200 yards in each of the next four seasons and went to the Pro Bowl both in 1998, the year that turned the Jets' franchise around, and in 2001, by which time Pioli had left to join Belichick in New England.

Tom Brady, 2000
Self-explanatory, really.

Mike Vrabel, Roman Phifer
...And the outcasts turned champions, 2001.

Defensive tackle Chad Eaton left for a big-money contract in Seattle. Stalwart linebacker Chris Slade was at the end of the road in a decorated career. In response, Pioli and Belichick signed a handful of otherwise unwanted players like Vrabel (who couldn't crack the Steelers' starting lineup), Phifer (released by the Jets), defensive tackle Anthony Pleasant (not retained by the 49ers) and cornerback Terrell Buckley (allowed to walk by the Broncos).

And it was that defense -- as well as the play of Brady in relief of Drew Bledsoe, the franchise quarterback Pioli inherited when he arrived -- that shut down the St. Louis Rams in one of the greatest Super Bowl upsets in history.

That's just a sampling. Pioli since has hit the jackpot time after time with his personnel moves: Adalius Thomas and Rodney Harrison through free agency; Logan Mankins in the draft; Corey Dillon and Randy Moss in trades.

Belichick, of course, has had quite a bit to do with everything Pioli has done, particularly in the nine years since the pair left the Jets for New England.

But should Pioli take a pay raise with the Browns or Chiefs this week, he'd leave a huge hole in the Patriots' personnel team.

Brian MacPherson covers the Patriots for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News.

So I take it there is no "new" news in regards to us signing Pioli?

I wish they would hurry the **** up either way so we can move on.

We MUST keep up with all the other teams filling their GM vacancies right now!

:rolleyes:

there is "some" new news.

Okay gang....

I can't do it.

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Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis, 1996

That's just preposterous.

F5 broke in my keyboard. Can't refresh anymore.

Please Clark, at least let us know what is going on. There are no concrete reports that we even offered a contract, heck, there are no concrete reports that we have even interviewed him!!

Man....I guess I never knew F5 refreshed the browser. LOL.

Thank you!!!!!

I think it's safe to say Pioli would be a great first hire for Clark. Just sayin'.

I am not so worried about the GM position but we need to move on getting a HC if they are going to fire Herm.

Ok, so it is looking better or good for the Pioli hire. This is big, obviously, for the Chiefs.

What are some things that we are likely to see in a Pioli run Chiefs regime?

Is he going to try and find a BB type head coach? One that is very cerebral? Is Ferentz a BB type of coach? I am guessing we will finally steer away from a PR man like Herm, thank god.

Are veteran players as good as gone if it helps the team? Will this be the season that Tony G is traded away? Same goes for LJ, and hopefully Surtain.

Is he going to try and make the Chiefs a marketable image? I know that comes about naturally by winning, but is he going to attempt at something like the Cowboys have... no matter how many times they blow it, reeruns will continue to buy their shit.

What type of team will he try and build? One that is very versatile and can win a game no matter what is thrown at them; one that can run or pass without needing to do the other to set it up?

I am just wondering what we should expect. I guess what I feel like is coming for the Chiefs is a modernization of the franchise. It feels like they are finally going to step into the modern era of the NFL and have the possibility of being trend setters.

I'm pretty sure that this describes a lot of Chiefs fans, too.

From all the various reports it sounds like Ferentz is going to stay at Iowa

Not sure if this should be in the Pioli thread or the Ferentz for HC thread, but I'm posting it here.

Jim Schwartz had his second interview with Detroit today and is said to be their leading candidate.

He had a long interview with a Detroit journalist today, which makes me think he's close to accepting an offer. If that happens, I'll be a bit pissed that this GM search has taken so long.

Schwartz on his defensive philosophy:

http://davebirkett.blogspot.com/

If he has the relationship with Pioli that some here claim, then I have a hard time believing the two haven't spoken about the opportunity at some point.

If Schwartz takes the Detroit job, then it would lead me to believe either:

a) Pioli never intended on hiring Schwartz, where ever he happen to land,

b) Pioli isn't planning on leaving New England.

Exactly, and you could say that about any coach, which is why the OH NOES WE GOTTA HURRY talk is so silly.

If there's an in demand coach who Pioli wants, he's either going to say to the guy "Hey, don't take this other job, because I want to hire you in KC" if they have an existing relationship, or he'd be pressing to get the deal done with Clark so that he could get his coach hired. Or he'd be doing neither because he's not leaving NE.

But there's no chance that he's going to miss out on the coach he wants.

this

Made the same point on the Ferentz thread. If Pioli comes, I'd have to think Ferentz has been his #1 target all along, given McDaniels is gone and Schwartz appears to be gone. I guess there is always that Dean Pees guy, but I'd be shocked if he left the BB tree.

You're ignoring the possibility that we don't get Pioli. A different GM may not have a number of strong HC candidate friends in his network, and thus the supply of coaches would be lower.

I want there to be as many great HC candidates available as possible, instead of hanging my hat on the fact that we will definitely get Pioli and he definitely has some master plan of who he wants as head coach.

This idea that Pioli only has 1 or 2 people as viable coaches all goes back to the preconceived (and now disproved) rumors that Pioli will only leave if he gets a package deal with coach. There's no verification of that at all. What's to say he wouldn't pursue Shanahan, or Spagnuolo, or Frazier, or someone you don't even know about? He has been in the league for a long time and has lots of connections in the league. Let's just get Pioli in town first and then worry about the next step. I'd rather have both parties convinced that this is right than to rush because some "hot coordinator" is going to go off the market soon.

Such logic produces the same behavior that causes us to buy cars and other things without research for fear that they'll be gone soon.

THIS

Pepper Johnson
 

maybe not HC material but might be worth a look at DC. Has coached DLine and LB's.


http://www.patriots.com/team/index.c...hbio&bio=10111

This like Groundhog day. I don't think it's ever going to end.

Wow, Pepper Johnson...that's Tecmo Bowl old school there lol.

I remember that cat.

Well that's just reeruned thinking on your part isn't it?

I love how the Boston media is completely outscooping the KC Star on this Pioli story.

What if the GM ends up being DeCosta from the Ravens? Or someone high up with the Steelers? One of those teams will be in the Super Bowl, which means it'll be weeks before they get hired. In the meantime, other teams are going to hire head coaches, shrinking the pool of available candidates.

Would you rather have one of those guys or Pioli running the team, or should Clark have gone out right after the season and hired whatever old GM was available (Charlie Casserly, Floyd Reese, etc.) so they could have all the available coaching candidates to choose from?

For Chrissakes, I hopes the NFL teams out there leave us with at least one or two guys. :shake:

ROFL

He's another one that's been with BB along time, player and coach.

From a pats fan, what can you tell us about him. Just curious if you like him or not. Also, has he been mentioned that you know of as a DC candidate in the past?

And just to emphasize my point... the latest "scoop" from Adam Teicher...

http://chiefsblog.kansascity.com/?q=node/613

Denny Thum, the Chiefs' interim president and general manager, is assisting chairman Clark Hunt with the selection and said Hunt was hopeful of having the choice made before the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl will be played Feb. 1.

Wow earth-shattering stuff there, Adam.

And the KC Star wonders why they are near financial ruins?

The Star couldn't get the scoop if all the details were laid right out in front of them in a timeline...friggin' inept morons over there.

If Clark is hiring a GM he would likey only do it if he knows exactly what the GM has in mind for coach, assistants, etc. This will all be lined up before there is a final agreement.

He's been with Belichick since forever. Started out at the Giants as a player, then went to join him at the Browns to help turn that team around. Was a de-facto player coach apparently. Then when he came to the Pats he joined him here as well.

Pepper started as a DLine coach the shifted to LB. I was wondering whether he was a DC candidate when Romeo left, but BB brought in Dean Pees from outside the system, somewhat to my surprise.

My sense is that Pepper is a go-between between coaches and players, and a rah-rah kind of coach. "Run through that wall" BOOM! "Do it again!!" BLAM! I'm not sure he's an X's and O's, film nut, etc. that is primed for DC.

But I could definitely be wrong. He's played/coached the game his whole life, and BB clearly thinks highly of him. None of his other former players are coaching for him...

Boston sports media are usually pretty damn good.

kinda the way i looked at it. I remember some of us on the board thought of him when GRob got canned and we brought Gun back. Maybe he's topped his ceiling as a postion coach.

thanks for the input.

Even with the Spygate story ;)

Obviously the former, but that doesn't mean I or anyone else cannot be disappointed when a head coach candidate that was high on our personal list goes to another team.

I really like Schwartz and hope he's our head coach, period. If I get upset when he is hired by Detroit or another team, that doesn't mean I don't care about the GM, or want us to follow the Cleveland plan, or anything else.

I don't get what waiting until after the SB has to do with anything.

Clark can interview these guys if he wants (he might have already done so).

Pioli has to be the guy. This team needs instant credibility in the front office after years of being run by a clown.

PIOLI PLEASE!!

Anybody else would be a let down to me.

This guy is just an absolute dream. It's the equivalent to signing a 25 yr old Lawrence Taylor in my mind.

or drafting DT????

Works for me.

I really hope we get the guy, but I'm honestly getting really tired hearing the name "Pioli." It's just being drawn out way too long for me to keep interesting.

I oughtta set up a filter to change the name Pioli to something else.

That is true... but it is not hard to look good compared with the KC sports media.

"Football Jesus"?

Nah... personally, I wouldn't screw with it.

It's been 20 years. It's a pretty big deal.

Can we get a MFing decision already?

So who's to say Bowlen won't go after Pioli now to be the Broncos GM, after he just hired one of Pioli's possible choices of head coach?

If the Chiefs were going to hire Pioli, today should've been the day. What the hell could be drawing this out? This is just like the Browns flirtation with him in that just when you thought he would be named GM, all of sudden, things go quiet and the Browns are suddenly looking in other directions.

I fully expect that when I get on the internet tomorrow morning, there will suddenly be an announcement that the Chiefs will be having a press conference later tomorrow to name Mark Domenick as GM.

At this point I just want Clark to make a hire. I would love to have Pioli but for ****s sake hire somebody.

amen

Fans that want a thorough search for GM are in the minority?

Huh, big surprise.

This is a twenty year decision, if the past is any indication. Clark must get this right.

Agreed.

Just just get it right. I'm in no big hurry.

I'm not in a hurry for the search overall. I'm in a hurry to get the "Pioli" portion of the search done with, one way or another.