What to expect from Pioli: Explaining the "Patriot Way"
 

Since there's been so much talk about what to expect from Pioli, especially regarding the draft, I thought I'd share some excerpts from the book "Patriot Reign" in which author Michael Holley is given 2 years of access to all parts of the organization.

It's a really good read for those of you who want to see how a championship organization is built.

Belichick and Pioli have a "manual" that they abide by regarding the organization.

Part of this manual is expectations for their QB:

Regarding the combine:


Regarding the draft:

More on the draft:

If Herm is retained for even a little while, this is going to get him all flustrated, trying to keep the "Patriot way" straight, from how they "did it in Tampa."

Really?

I thought this would at least interest the draftniks...

This is quite a bit different from, "It's my birthday. Can I have Brandon Carr as my birthday present?" type bullshit we've been exposed to the last few years.

EDIT: I am happy with Brandon Carr, it's the selection methodology I am disimpressed with.

A perfect and more recent example of combine scores vs football smarts is Gholston vs. Mayo.

Thanks for the quotes OTW. If you run across anymore, post them up. I will probably not buy this book.

The QB part is really intresting. Sanchez and Stafford both fit all of those qualities.

Oh if he is here, he will smuggly rub the Tampa Bay crap in our faces, you can count on it... He knows the fanbase cant stand him and nothing will bring out the pompous ass more than getting an extension...

Which if Herm is here, he has to have an extension, otherwise we are wasting ANOTHER year rebuilding with Herm...

I will.

I picked up this book on Amnorix' recommendation, and it really is a great read.

Honestly, there's a ton in this book I could post, it would take forever. Those couple of quotes were just kinda stuck in my head, and were easy to find in the book.

I like the quote about Leaf. Someone told me yesterday that Leaf was a bust because he came out a year too early. ROFL

You know I agree Herm is an ass, Clark gave him the whole show last year and he screwed it up big time. What do you think he's gotta be thinking now. I mean there is no way even in his little pigeon brain that he can think he's got any clout right now. So, heres what I'm getting at, if Pioli gives the dog a bone and sais I'll keep you around but we are going to fire a lot of your position coaches, don't you think thats herms out to say if you do that you'll have to fire me. That way he looks like he's being loyal to his guys when all he is really doing is getting out with a little bit of moxy. It allows him to use loyalty as an excuse when interviewing for his next job as apposed to saying "Scott new I was incompetant but was gonna let me hang around for a year as long as I didn't screw it up."

Post 'em all. where did you purchase the book? Amazon or locally?

Locally.

There's a Barnes and Noble right down the road.

Was like $12.

i disagree here. i think pioli should make it clear that it's about the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, not tampa! so shut the **** up about tampa. better yet that should be the another reason to tell herm to GTFO

Actually it's exactly the same. They list the few players they really want - and regardless of others' opinions (all the idiots thinking they're smart by screeching "reach") they make sure they get him. That's just what happened with Herm and Carr.

Boy that sure puts a big punch to the face to anyone that thinks any QB will get hurt behind a bad line....

he said be able to take a hit not take a have to take a hit

****ing great shit, OTW. Keep it up.

By the way, speaking of the QB.

I remember when Tom Brady had to lead the Patriots on a final scoring drive in the last 30 seconds of last year's Super Bowl.

He obviously wasn't able to do it, but one thing stunned me when he tried.

On that monumental play when the rookie DT for the Giants broke through and planted Brady on his ass for a sack, Brady was literally thrown to the ground and pancaked by this 300 lb. assassin.

Brady immediately sticks his hands up, with the DT still on top of him, and calls a timeout.

That's just outstanding focus and intelligence in the most heated moment imaginable, and it's why he's perhaps the greatest of all time.

Yea and we just dealt with people running the team that felt a guy who frankly couldn't take a hit was our franchise QB...

Even QBs behind the best lines will get hit...

I also like that the Patriots built their Oline outside of the 1st round outside of 1 guy taken with the last pick of the 1st so hopefully I'll never have to hear about taking 5 lineman with 5 1st round picks again.

Oh come on you know you'll hear it again. Some guys on this board think we should spend the next 5 or 6 years putting together the best o and D lines in the history of the league and then and only then begin the process of finding a QB. Because you know that makes so much since. By the time that QB is really ready to play those guys on the lines will all have 1 more year to play.

From the book:

One of my favorites, regarding the day following their 2001 SB win:

A lot of it is flat-out too much to type, because some background is needed.

But I'll post what I can.

In regards to Klecko, Koppen, Samuel, and countless others, did they go into detail on what they saw in those players that made them look past their measurables? That's great that they found some gems, but I wonder what specifically they saw that convinced them they were going to be great NFL players. For instance, Koppen had short arms, so what else did he bring to the table that made them think his short arms were being discounted too heavily by scouts?

I'm sure BB and Pioli don't go around telling their secrets on personnel evaluation, but any info on that aspect from the book would be appreciated.

Yep, and the fact that Herm keeps getting credit for our great draft, yet he has said himself that Carr was the only guy that was really "his" pick.

In a word, attitude.

Pioli:


I know your looking for something more concrete, but shy of posting the entire book, this will have to suffice.

Let's be honest, it's entirely possible, maybe likely, that KC will never have an OLine as good as you had in 2003'ish in the next 25 or 50 years.

That's not the goal. You don't have to have the greatest freaking OLine in history to win the SB... In fact, you mgiht spend so much effort on that that you're weak elsewhere...

You can't be GREAT at EVERY position...

I know that, it's just some people on this board look for any excuse not to draft a qb in the first round. I can tell you if we had pro bowlers at LT,LG,C and RT there would be more then a few guys on this board that would be pissing and moaning that we can't take a QB in the first cause we HAVE to get that RG with the 1st rounder. Its really really silly. I can't tell you why they are so afraid of first round QBs but they are. It seems to have worked out pretty well for every team that made the playoffs from the AFC this year though.

Good stuff. I have a Borders gift card burning a hole in my pocket, so I'll probably go pick up the book this weekend.

Anyone else have more books or resources like this? I will have a book report to do in one of my classes this semester and these Front Office types of books are perfect.

Well, you'll just have to excuse some of us, since you obviously can see what a lack of common since we have....

BUT DAMN....that'll be a great year eh? haha

The article that I read incinuated that it was an out of the blue pick. Not one that was maticulously broken down and chosen on merit. It sounded like he had seen this kid play and was taking a flyer. It has been documented that Herm doesn't watch much game tape. I really REALLY don't think it is the same.

Great work OTW!

I like this one:

2) Be able to take a big hit, and then walk into the huddle and call the next play.

Well, that rules out Croyle! ROFL

Did other teams predict Leaf would be a disaster, or it is more along the lines the Leaf fiasco changed the way a lot of teams evaluated quarterbacks?

Curry sounds like a guy Pioli will love.

It is not a front office book and may not be as interesting to KC fans because it is about BB and doesn't have much on SP. But "The Education of a Coach" by Halberstam is a great read if you want to know more about the smartest coach in the NFL.

IIRC, there were a lot of people talking about Leaf's personality problems and how there were red flags. However, there were a lot of teams completely enamored with his physical skills. I do believe that it changed the way most teams evaluated players psychologically after he blew up.

Greyhoodie is right, it really covers all aspects of the team, but focuses on BB. The good thing is, BB and SP have this vulcan mind-meld thing going on, so most of what applies to BB applies as well to Pioli. There are two chapters that feature Pioli and the scouting department prominently.

As for other books, I HIGHLY recommend "Next Man Up" by John Feinstein.

He follows the Ravens for a year, and it's MUCH more in-depth than Patriot Reign, IMO.

I've got quite a bit to post today...

Regarding the "Patriot Way"

Regarding picking the "right guys" and how they fit into the chemistry of the organization:

Regarding player evaluations:

More on Pioli:

Does this dude ever sleep?

Pioli?

Doesn't seem like it.

80-100 hour work weeks seem to be the norm.

Yeah.

This sets the bar high for everyone in the organization. I like it.

I hope not.

Where?

The perception does not match reality at all.

I wonder how long Carl was typically in the office, especially during the last 5 years or so?

What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in the Chief's war room during draft day...
















and then morph back into human form and yell, "GENTLEMEN, YOU CAN'T FIGHT HERE! THIS IS THE WAR ROOM!"

Regarding Pioli, and one of the rare times he didn't trust his instincts:

sounds to me like he'll be one of those guys who works harder than the other guy. that gets results most of the time, IMO.

There was an article that quoted a scout that said he wasn't patient enough to sit and watch film. I'd dig it up, but it is most certainly not worth arguing about.

This is one of my favorite excerpts, speaking about Pioli and the scouting department:


Former Patriots scout Jason Licht:

that's the way it should be. there's no room, in a successful organization, for bullshit. and we've been swimming in it for twenty years.

Damn right.

Great compilation OTW.... very informative. And the thread isn't even watered down with BS rumors... Nice break from the girl's locker room mentality around here lately.

I have to say though, the more I learn about Pioli, the more I'm convinced that Herm isn't smart enough to keep up with him. It's pretty clear that Pioli is incredibly professional and very meticulous. And I can't see him finding those qualities in much of the current coaching staff.

Agree, 100%

Speaking of Herm, here's the coup de grâce as far as I'm concerned. Herm can't come close to this:

Sounds like there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth on the Planet as marquee FAs get passed by Pioli. I expect a few Hugh Douglas meltdowns until this franchise gets turned around.

Yep.

That's what I've been trying to say, while everyone else is focused on Suggs, Peppers, etc.

Even Clark said in his interviews this week that they'd be more active in FA, but not necessarily Tier 1 FA's, more like Tier 2/3 FA's.

Pioli made a comment in his presser too, something about signing 20 FA's one offseason, but only giving out $2.5M in signing bonuses, combined.

screw it. if it gets us a super bowl, they could run around in nun outfits playing with legos as far as I'm concerned.

Fans, by their nature, love the big names, and remain stubborn and committed to their preconceptions. Countless Patriots fans still don't get the BB/SP approach at all. Get used to beating your head against the wall endlessly as fans drool over the biggest names in free agency, even if they are over the hill and almost certain to be overpaid by some other team.

Doesn't bother me a bit.

I think most Tier 1 FA's are a terrible investment.

I expect something similar this off-season, and, frankly, in some ways this would be the ultimate slap in the face to those that claim that Herm is a shrewd evaluator of talent.

If an organization is so depleted that the new GM has to start throwing numbers at the situation and hoping to hit on a couple with upside, that's ****ing embarrassing.

don't get me wrong. I want us to sign suggs. but some team will throw the world at him, and it won't really be worth it. not to MENTION that I read today that his shoulder injury was so bad that the doctors said 'they hadn't seen one that bad ever.' (paraphrasing).

feels like kendrell bell v. 2.0.

Exactly. Euphemism for:

Most fans don't know a ****ing thing.

I'd love to be a fly in the room when Pioli is interviewing Krumrie..... I can imagine something along these lines...

Pioli: So Tim, tell me about your coaching methods.

Krumrie: WELL I LIKE TO GET PHYSICAL WITH THE PLAYERS! I HAVE THIS GRAPPLE TEST SEE WHERE I-

Pioli(Interupting): Yes, actually I've seen that. But how do you actually coach the players? What are your methods? How do you encourage improvement? What's the first thing you teach the rookie linemen?

Krumrie: ?

Pioli: OK, let's try a different method here. Tell me what you said to Glenn Dorsey when he first got to camp. How did you handle his conversion from college to the NFL? I know that can be tough on defensive linemen.

Krumrie: HE GRAPPLED GOOD!! STRONG KID!

Pioli: I think we're through here.

Krumrie: YOU WANNA WRESTLE?

That's the thing.

I don't think Pioli "hopes to hit" on anyone.

He has a systematic approach that almost ensures "hits." If they don't fit the system, they're ignored.

I think his success rate might be down the first year or so, until it's established what the "Chiefs Way" is, but I'm with Amnorix on this one.

People here are going to be asking, "who the ****," and the guy becomes a solid starter for us.

The guy is like David ****ing Copperfield, and no one else in the league can seem to figure out how he's doing the trick.

Yep.

I mentioned Bell the other day.

There are too may teams like Washington that will throw money at guys that makes it financially irresponsible to get in a bidding war with.

ROFL

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aX5Sz4ilY6w&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aX5Sz4ilY6w&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

When he made the 20 player reference, what year was he alluding to? I assumed that most of these players were high-upside guys who ultimately became camp fodder. No way these 20 made the final 53, right? No way...

But as you just stated, some did and went on to become very solid players. The difference obviously being that Pioli is able to bring in more and bigger hits than the average bear because he is committed and meticulous when it comes to his overall plan.

I took his comment as a veiled reference to the imminent explosion at Arrowhead that was going to result in the shit canning of many a Gunther/Herm/Carl acquisition.

IIRC, 2001.

at this point krumrie gives pioli a purple nurple, and security escorts krumrie out kicking, screaming, and frothing at the mouth.