Chiefs The myth of Pioli - Page 14

B_Ambuehl · 12-07-2009, 01:12 PM

LOL I wonder if he's sharing that loaded contract he got from Clark with Bellichik.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/c...148&position=0

This time it’s personnel
Building to collapse
By Ron Borges
Monday, December 7, 2009 - Updated 4m ago
+ Recent Articles

MIAMI - Slowly but inexorably they are dissolving in front of our eyes. It is a process that didn’t begin this year for the New England Patriots [team stats] but way back in 2004, when nobody was paying attention to much else but the lifting of another Super Bowl banner.

That season they won their third Super Bowl in four seasons but also began a widely ignored decline that manifested itself emphatically the past month and came to a sad head yesterday at Land Shark Stadium when they lost for the third time in four weeks, blowing a 14-0 lead to be beaten at the buzzer by the Miami Dolphins [team stats], 22-21.

Five years ago, the Patriots draft garnered two starters, both on the first round. Not another player drafted in April of 2004 is still in uniform. That fallowness continued in 2005 when they again picked only two current starters. In 2006, they got only one, running back Laurence Maroney [stats], plus kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Then came the disaster of 2007, when only first-round pick Brandon Meriweather was good enough to still be in pro
football.

It is a bit early to know about 2008 but other than linebacker Jerod Mayo it again appears to be a sad lot. Second- and third-round picks Terrence Wheatley and Shawn Crable seldom see the field (Crable never has) and it is becoming increasingly more disastrous that cornerback Jonathan Wilhite sees so much of it. In those five years, the Patriots drafted 41 players and got eight starters, six on the first round. Otherwise they got what Bill Belichick kept saying was “value.” Yesterday, it didn’t look that way.

Free agency has produced similarly skimpy results. Early hits were made on Rodney Harrison [stats] and Mike Vrabel, but after that the cupboard has been bare. They paid $30 million to Adalius Thomas and promised he could cover Ocho Cinco and sack Peyton Manning. He’s done neither. Shawn Springs signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal last spring and hasn’t played a snap in a month, while poor Wilhite struggles out of position because he’s a nickel back asked to play corner and rookie Darius Butler goes out and proves that while he has potential he never saw receivers at UConn like the ones catching balls behind and in front of him now, as Greg Camarillo did on fourth-and-6 on the game’s most critical play yesterday.

While there were fruitful trades for Randy Moss and Wes Welker, they have netted big numbers but no championships, which is the same amount Moss’ teams have won since he first came into the NFL.

These facts led New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton to tell his team before last Monday night’s game to be stout hearted and unafraid because “this isn’t the team that accomplished all that stuff.” Although his language was more colorful, his point was clear. These Patriots aren’t those Patriots.

“It’s not for lack of effort,” center Dan Koppen said not long after Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter nailed a 41-yard field goal and Tom Brady [stats] responded by throwing his second interception of the day with :35 to play as Cameron Wake hammered him.

Koppen is right. The Patriots’ problems are not from lack of effort or lack of planning. They are from lack of talent. Not so lacking that they aren’t competitive, but lacking enough that most every game is a struggle now.

Today everyone will say, “They need a better pass rush.” From whom?

They will say, “They need better pass coverage.” From whom?

Some will say they need to run the ball more to take pressure off Brady and his ailing ring finger, sore shoulder and aching ribs. By whom?

Years ago, Chuck Fairbanks said it best. “It’s not about X’s and O’s. It’s about Jimmys and Joes.” For half a decade with the Pats people believed otherwise. In Bill We Trust became the motto, but does anyone honestly believe Bill Belichick forgot how to coach? A guy who has been watching game film since he was 6 now can’t break down film and discover a team’s weaknesses?

That’s not the problem. The problem is he can’t ask people to do what they are not capable of doing. Or, worse, he does and you end up with Sam Aiken, a guy brought here to replace Larry Izzo [stats] on special teams, as your third receiver making one great catch for a touchdown and dropping two key ones. Did he have a great game or a disastrous one? Probably both, which is A) not his fault because he’s playing a role he was never supposed to, and B) not something Belichick can change.

“We’ve got to find a way to play better football for 60 minutes in all phases,” Brady said. “Everyone has to focus on what they need to do better. I think that’s the most important thing. And be mentally tough to overcome adversity and if things don’t go your way, you’ve got to fight back. That’s a challenge for all of us. At times I think we do, and other times, I don’t think we fight very hard.”

The latter is a damning statement, but it’s also part of what separates the 2001 Pats from today’s. Remaining undaunted is a skill too and not everyone has it.

“We have leads in the second half, and leads in the fourth quarter,” Brady continued. “We’re just not closing the game out when we have the opportunity to. We’re searching for the answers, too.

“Coach always says, ‘You get what you deserve.’ In too many ways, you don’t deserve to win when you make as many mistakes as we do.”

That’s true whether you make them on the field or in the front office.

**SAUTO** · 12-07-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

You are going to argue with Jason, I hope you have brought a helmet.

why dont you take another extended absence. it's comical to think that BB did it all. comical

**OnTheWarpath15** · 12-07-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

why 3 years? we already had this discussion, ask bigrock for the numbers again

Because they won't admit their mistake after 2.

Hell, for sake of conversation, let's say they do.

So we're at 2 years of growing pains with a 27 year old, and 2+ years with a rookie QB.

Sorry, but 4 years wasted doesn't excite me much more than 5.

Titty Meat · 12-07-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

I'd like to know how anyone that has watched Cassel this year can be remotely excited about him. I didn't want the guy and I'm even less thrilled now than I was before the year started.

I'm not excited about this years Chiefs but like i've said, it'll be this off-season where I judge Pioli.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 12-07-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billay

I thought leaders were overrated?

Not leaders who lead.

Flipping the bird to the O who is whipping your ass and slamming your helmet isn't leadership.

keg in kc · 12-07-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

I'd like to know how anyone that has watched Cassel this year can be remotely excited about him. I didn't want the guy and I'm even less thrilled now than I was before the year started.

I don't see anybody talking about Cassel but billay. And you.

Titty Meat · 12-07-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Because they won't admit their mistake after 2.

Hell, for sake of conversation, let's say they do.

So we're at 2 years of growing pains with a 27 year old, and 2+ years with a rookie QB.

Sorry, but 4 years wasted doesn't excite me much more than 5.

This is a valid point.

**SAUTO** · 12-07-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Declining defense.

Cassel was NOT responsible for the Pats missing the playoffs. 11 wins *should* get you in the tournament (high fives Carl).

11 should, and you are right the defense is what lost them 4 of those games

Hammock Parties · 12-07-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billay

Yea and if the Chiefs win next week you'll write about how good Haley is. Sorry you're kind of irrelevant.

But it's the truth.

Why do you think Cassel's play has gone down while the rest of the team improves?

Titty Meat · 12-07-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Not leaders who lead.

Flipping the bird to the O who is whipping your ass and slamming your helmet isn't leadership.

haha Vrabel flipped the bird?

**SAUTO** · 12-07-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Because they won't admit their mistake after 2.

Hell, for sake of conversation, let's say they do.

So we're at 2 years of growing pains with a 27 year old, and 2+ years with a rookie QB.

Sorry, but 4 years wasted doesn't excite me much more than 5.

sorry i forgot you can read minds. we'll see how everything plays out

Titty Meat · 12-07-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

But it's the truth.

Why do you think Cassel's play has gone down while the rest of the team improves?

Dropping 2 Td's is improvement? This offense hasn't imrpoved Claythan, the line is still ass, we have a RB who can't hold onto the ball. The teams best player has missed 4 games and we've still won more then last year.

Marcellus · 12-07-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I personally haven't seen that Frank.

My argument for Dorsey is that he was mis-used his rookie year, and now moved to a position that he really doesn't fit at, but could make work because of his overall talent level.

I think both Jackson and Dorsey will be serviceable players and have long careers.

I expect more than serviceable out of two Top-5 picks we have over $60M invested in, however.

Now Dorsey (who was not drafted by this group as we all know) and Jackson have been relegated to never going to be better than serviceable and then the $ is thrown in there to prove they must be better than good to be a success.

Yet when the $ was discussed when draft time came around and some people thought it was too risky to throw that much $ at a rookie QB the answer to that was why the hell do you care, its not your money.

Now Cassel is the $60 Million failure. The money seems to be a pretty hot topic now, though it sure wasn't in April.

Hammock Parties · 12-07-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billay

Dropping 2 Td's is improvement? This offense hasn't imrpoved Claythan, the line is still ass, we have a RB who can't hold onto the ball. The teams best player has missed 4 games and we've still won more then last year.

The production from the running game has improved. Chambers is a massive upgrade. Pope is an upgrade. The pass blocking has improved quite a bit. It was very solid yesterday.

Cassel has not improved. His completion percentage and touchdown to interception ratio have taken nosedives in the last six weeks.

Are you blind? These things are obvious.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 12-07-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

but all we heard was that cassel lost 5 games and the year before they went 16-0, all that was on cassel. Why this year is it not on brady? hypocritical IMO

First, they are playing a much tougher schedule, and second, their defense isn't playing to expectations with the loss of Seymour and the injury to Mayo.

The numbers look comparable, but they've gone from facing Favre, Pennington and Edwards twice a season to Sanchez, Henne and Fitzpatrick.

The passing offense, however, has improved.

Marcellus · 12-07-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

But it's the truth.

Why do you think Cassel's play has gone down while the rest of the team improves?

Isn't this a bit hypocritical considering the article you wrote after the game?
Which is it? Are they getting better or not. You are really confusing me.

12-07-2009, 01:12 PM
B_Ambuehl Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Casino cash: $9705405	The myth of Pioli LOL I wonder if he's sharing that loaded contract he got from Clark with Bellichik. http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/c...148&position=0 This time it’s personnel Building to collapse By Ron Borges Monday, December 7, 2009 - Updated 4m ago + Recent Articles MIAMI - Slowly but inexorably they are dissolving in front of our eyes. It is a process that didn’t begin this year for the New England Patriots [team stats] but way back in 2004, when nobody was paying attention to much else but the lifting of another Super Bowl banner. That season they won their third Super Bowl in four seasons but also began a widely ignored decline that manifested itself emphatically the past month and came to a sad head yesterday at Land Shark Stadium when they lost for the third time in four weeks, blowing a 14-0 lead to be beaten at the buzzer by the Miami Dolphins [team stats], 22-21. Five years ago, the Patriots draft garnered two starters, both on the first round. Not another player drafted in April of 2004 is still in uniform. That fallowness continued in 2005 when they again picked only two current starters. In 2006, they got only one, running back Laurence Maroney [stats], plus kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Then came the disaster of 2007, when only first-round pick Brandon Meriweather was good enough to still be in pro football. It is a bit early to know about 2008 but other than linebacker Jerod Mayo it again appears to be a sad lot. Second- and third-round picks Terrence Wheatley and Shawn Crable seldom see the field (Crable never has) and it is becoming increasingly more disastrous that cornerback Jonathan Wilhite sees so much of it. In those five years, the Patriots drafted 41 players and got eight starters, six on the first round. Otherwise they got what Bill Belichick kept saying was “value.” Yesterday, it didn’t look that way. Free agency has produced similarly skimpy results. Early hits were made on Rodney Harrison [stats] and Mike Vrabel, but after that the cupboard has been bare. They paid $30 million to Adalius Thomas and promised he could cover Ocho Cinco and sack Peyton Manning. He’s done neither. Shawn Springs signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal last spring and hasn’t played a snap in a month, while poor Wilhite struggles out of position because he’s a nickel back asked to play corner and rookie Darius Butler goes out and proves that while he has potential he never saw receivers at UConn like the ones catching balls behind and in front of him now, as Greg Camarillo did on fourth-and-6 on the game’s most critical play yesterday. While there were fruitful trades for Randy Moss and Wes Welker, they have netted big numbers but no championships, which is the same amount Moss’ teams have won since he first came into the NFL. These facts led New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton to tell his team before last Monday night’s game to be stout hearted and unafraid because “this isn’t the team that accomplished all that stuff.” Although his language was more colorful, his point was clear. These Patriots aren’t those Patriots. “It’s not for lack of effort,” center Dan Koppen said not long after Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter nailed a 41-yard field goal and Tom Brady [stats] responded by throwing his second interception of the day with :35 to play as Cameron Wake hammered him. Koppen is right. The Patriots’ problems are not from lack of effort or lack of planning. They are from lack of talent. Not so lacking that they aren’t competitive, but lacking enough that most every game is a struggle now. Today everyone will say, “They need a better pass rush.” From whom? They will say, “They need better pass coverage.” From whom? Some will say they need to run the ball more to take pressure off Brady and his ailing ring finger, sore shoulder and aching ribs. By whom? Years ago, Chuck Fairbanks said it best. “It’s not about X’s and O’s. It’s about Jimmys and Joes.” For half a decade with the Pats people believed otherwise. In Bill We Trust became the motto, but does anyone honestly believe Bill Belichick forgot how to coach? A guy who has been watching game film since he was 6 now can’t break down film and discover a team’s weaknesses? That’s not the problem. The problem is he can’t ask people to do what they are not capable of doing. Or, worse, he does and you end up with Sam Aiken, a guy brought here to replace Larry Izzo [stats] on special teams, as your third receiver making one great catch for a touchdown and dropping two key ones. Did he have a great game or a disastrous one? Probably both, which is A) not his fault because he’s playing a role he was never supposed to, and B) not something Belichick can change. “We’ve got to find a way to play better football for 60 minutes in all phases,” Brady said. “Everyone has to focus on what they need to do better. I think that’s the most important thing. And be mentally tough to overcome adversity and if things don’t go your way, you’ve got to fight back. That’s a challenge for all of us. At times I think we do, and other times, I don’t think we fight very hard.” The latter is a damning statement, but it’s also part of what separates the 2001 Pats from today’s. Remaining undaunted is a skill too and not everyone has it. “We have leads in the second half, and leads in the fourth quarter,” Brady continued. “We’re just not closing the game out when we have the opportunity to. We’re searching for the answers, too. “Coach always says, ‘You get what you deserve.’ In too many ways, you don’t deserve to win when you make as many mistakes as we do.” That’s true whether you make them on the field or in the front office.
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