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

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

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.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Does this dude ever sleep?

I hope not.

[DeezNutz]

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

[Nightfyre]

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!"

[OnTheWarpath15]

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

In the Jabari Holloway case (who Pioli pushed for) Pioli says he should have trusted his instincts. The TE from Notre Dame made him nervous as soon as he realized why he had been late for practice.

Chemistry class.

"By your Senior year, football had better be a priority if you're going to be a NFl player," he says. "And i don't care about chemistry labs. You know what? You can come back and get your grades. To me that explained that something larger was going on. That there weer other things in life clearly more important than football. He could have done it some other way where it didn't interfere with football. That bothered me.

[Ebolapox]

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.

[Fish]

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.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

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:

The team was smartly built, with one eye on the cap and the other on the field. They were good at figuring out how much better one player was than another, and seeing if the price matched the production. Jonathan Kraft is amazed at their ability to do that.

"Let's say there's a player who has a 100 rating, with really no upside beyond that. He's a solid 100, he'll be here a few years, he's making $4M. They can see another player who's a 75, making $500K, and has upside. They know they can put that kid in a system where the deficiencies between a 75 and 100 can be protected."

"They're never going to get into salary cap hell chasing that last elusive guy, or believing that one person makes your team. They are completely focused on team."

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Agree, 100%

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

The team was smartly built, with one eye on the cap and the other on the field. They were good at figuring out how much better one player was than another, and seeing if the price matched the production. Jonathan Kraft is amazed at their ability to do that.

"Let's say there's a player who has a 100 rating, with really no upside beyond that. He's a solid 100, he'll be here a few years, he's making $4M. They can see another player who's a 75, making $500K, and has upside. They know they can put that kid in a system where the deficiencies between a 75 and 100 can be protected."

"They're never going to get into salary cap hell chasing that last elusive guy, or believing that one person makes your team. They are completely focused on team."

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.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

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.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

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.

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.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

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.

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.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

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.

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.

[Fish]

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?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

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: ?