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

[OnTheWarpath15]

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:

1) Be the mentally toughest and hardest working player on the team.

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

3) Have his head screwed on straight enough to handle all the pressure and scrutiny to which all NFL QB's are subjected. (A Ryan Leaf fiasco can cripple a franchise for years - "You couldn't get anyone to say anything nice about Leaf when he was leaving," Pioli said. "His teammates were happy to see him leave Washington State. He was an asshole.")

4) If you want to know who the good QB's are, watch the passes they complete under a heavy rush. Watch the 1st downs they get on 3rd and long, passing into heavy coverage. Listen to what their teammates say about them.

Regarding the combine:

The Patriots were getting a feel for the players they wanted in the draft. None was a workout star.

They liked a center from BC, Dan Koppen, who had short arms and whose forty-times averaged 5.26. They needed help on the DL, that wasn't news. But who would have guessed they were falling for the shortest lineman there? A kid from Temple named Dan Klecko that wasn't quite 5-11?

They were eyeing Asante Samuel, who was one of the lightest CB's at 185 pounds. On his strength reps, Samuel bench-pressed 225 pounds nine times, which tied for the fewest among DB's. Not good.

It wasn't about numbers and stats. The Patriots said it, and they lived it.

Regarding the draft:

They love picks. Lots of picks. They had traded Tebucky Jones to New Orleans for picks, the night befor the draft, they took one of those picks from the Saints and made a swap with the Dolphins: The Patriots 3rd round pick for the Dolphins 2nd round pick the following year.

They were going into this day with 13 picks, and the plan was not to use them all. Those picks are your passport, allowing you to go wherever you wanted. You could stalk the board, getting who you wanted, and where you wanted them.

More on the draft:

Belichick and Pioli apply a theory to the draft. Write down the names of 25 college players they wanted to see on the Patriots. Put them into two categories, 1st day draftees and 2nd day draftees. If they needed to move up they had enough capital to control the board. They had a plan to strengthen the Patriots with draft choices.

[HemiEd]

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."

[OnTheWarpath15]

Really?

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

[Buehler445]

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.

[greyhoodie]

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

[Buehler445]

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

[ChiefsCountry]

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

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

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."

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...

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

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

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.

[Frosty]

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

[MGRS13]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

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...

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."

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

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.

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

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jesus

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.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

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 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

[Zouk]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

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.

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.