My analysis of Scott Pioli and his Interview

[Amnorix]

I just watched the full interview on KCChiefs.com where Pioli was introduced. As a close Patriots' watcher and expert (well moreso than you guys, for now anyway) in the ways of the Patriots and Mr. Pioli, I saw several things that were very interesting and figured I'd share them. I see everyone is creating separate threads on Pioli, so this is legit I guess.

First, I think Herm is likely gone. I strongly suspect that one reason for the delay in announcing Scott (I'll suggest another below) is the status of Herm Edwards.

Scott praised Herm, but when asked to give his assessment of his strengths as a coach, all he could come up with is that he liked him personally and that his players played hard for him. While that's clearly important, he didn't say ALOT of the buzzwords that I would expect him to say if he were giving a coach high praise.

I noted, correctly, in a prior thread that you could expect to hear Pioli say that he would build a "big, strong, tough, smart, disciplined" football team. None of those buzzwords came through. The phrases Belichick uses to praise the coaches he highly respects, such as Shanarat, were not used.

Then Clark Hunt went on to say that Scott would basically investigate and then report to him with a recommendation. What I strongly suspect is that Clark didn't want to fire HErm, but wants to keep him. Maybe because he feels a sense of obligation to him for handing him such a young roster, or perhaps just to save the $4MM. But what Scott and Hunt agreed on was that Scott would "give him a chance" -- i.e. have discussions iwth him and get to know the players/personnel better to make a better assessment, from the inside as it were, of Herm, and then recommend to Clark whether he will be kept or discharged.

I strongly suspect Herm will be gone in about 2 weeks.


Second, the last exchange, at the very end of the interview, was very telling. The reporter asked if Scott had to CLEAR trades, etc. with Clark. Scott's answer was that Clark will be INFORMED of everything that happens, before it happens. He also used a few other phrases that make it clear that Scott has complete control over all football operations.

That may well have been another sticking point that slowed this process down -- discussions over the degree of control Scott would have. He obviously wants what Parcells and Belichick always wanted -- complete control.

Other than that, I would recommend that any Chiefs fan on here watch the video. It explains that "Patriots' Way", and the modus operandi for the Chiefs going forward.

He also references some of the unique challenges the Chiefs present compared ot the Patriots team that won a SB two years after BB/SP arrived. The roster is much younger here now, and there is no veteran core of players, nor a recent tradition of winning. In some ways, his job is harder here than they had with the Patriots. However, there is plenty of cap room which wasn't the case in NE. The problem, however, is that everyone in the NFL (practically) has plenty of cap room these days, so it may not be that much of a competitive advantage.

[greyhoodie]

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

I think his scant praise for Herm was a way of firing Herm with class. That way when he lets him go it's not as obviously for incompetance and just because the organization is going in a different direction.

Well, that is the Patriots way. BB has never cut a player because he sucked. Player are released because they do not fit into the current system.

Patriots fans have master the art of trash talking. But the team never talks bad about anyone, current players, cut players, fired coaches, opposing teams, etc. I would expect Scott would continue this simple act of class.

[lazepoo]

Originally Posted by EyePod

Two weeks is wayyyyy too long for Herm to stay (if he's going to be fired). The Senior Bowl stuff starts next week. If it gets done, it's done before then. I'd say tomorrow at the latest.

Dude, wtf is your fixation on the senior bowl? Pioli will just make do with what he has until he's ready to make a move. He's probably sitting in a hotel room right now mulling his options and enjoying a hot cocoa.

In all seriousness, would you not take the time to assess the situation and figure out what you had on hand before hacking away like an American Psycho? He's too calculated an individual to just fire away without taking stock of just how bare the cupboard is compared to what's available, especially since he knows the importance of his first decisions here setting the tone and the possible implications that his moves will have on the chemistry between the coaches and the front office. The Senior Bowl is pretty insignificant on Scott Pioli's plate right now, so saying that he's gotta make the most important decision he's had thus far as a Chief (and possibly ever as a professional) because the senior bowl is coming up is completely irrational.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by lazepoo

Dude, wtf is your fixation on the senior bowl? Pioli will just make do with what he has until he's ready to make a move. He's probably sitting in a hotel room right now mulling his options and enjoying a hot cocoa.

In all seriousness, would you not take the time to assess the situation and figure out what you had on hand before hacking away like an American Psycho? He's too calculated an individual to just fire away without taking stock of just how bare the cupboard is compared to what's available, especially since he knows the importance of his first decisions here setting the tone and the possible implications that his moves will have on the chemistry between the coaches and the front office. The Senior Bowl is pretty insignificant on Scott Pioli's plate right now, so saying that he's gotta make the most important decision he's had thus far as a Chief (and possibly ever as a professional) because the senior bowl is coming up is completely irrational.

isnt herm a senior bowl coach?

[greyhoodie]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

isnt herm a senior bowl coach?

Nope, Bengals and Jaguars.

[lazepoo]

I've heard that he isn't on the boards, and even if he is... it's one game. It's not like Pioli's draft day options are going to live and die by this one meaningless game. He has an entire season's worth of film to judge against as well as the opinions he's doubtless formed over the course of the season. He probably already has quite a list of guys in mind that would fill roles here depending on the kind of schemes he'd like to see executed.

[melbar]

I Think He needs Herm to get both sides of the story about the players and why they performed the way they did. If Herm says a guy didnt give effort that goes into account. If said player says Herm wanted him to play too close, far away, look at the QB's eyes, etc. that goes into account when he watches film and talks to other coaches. He also see's whos full of it or not pulling their weight. It just helps him make a more informed decision about everyone.

[greyhoodie]

Originally Posted by lazepoo

Dude, wtf is your fixation on the senior bowl? Pioli will just make do with what he has until he's ready to make a move. He's probably sitting in a hotel room right now mulling his options and enjoying a hot cocoa.

In all seriousness, would you not take the time to assess the situation and figure out what you had on hand before hacking away like an American Psycho? He's too calculated an individual to just fire away without taking stock of just how bare the cupboard is compared to what's available, especially since he knows the importance of his first decisions here setting the tone and the possible implications that his moves will have on the chemistry between the coaches and the front office. The Senior Bowl is pretty insignificant on Scott Pioli's plate right now, so saying that he's gotta make the most important decision he's had thus far as a Chief (and possibly ever as a professional) because the senior bowl is coming up is completely irrational.

There is another very valid reason to give Herm hope he will be retained -- to get his help.

As SP indicated you can't evaluate a player unless you know what he was told. Me and you can watch a player and speculate he is playing too aggressively or too soft or missed or an assignment or made a bad pass or ran a route wrong. But unless we know exactly what play was called an the directions given to the player it is just a guess.

What ever your opinion of the overall talent of Herm is the fact is he know way more about the KC players at this moment than SP. If SP fires him on day one he has no shot at any of that info. If he interviews Herm for 16 hours over three days and then fires him he will have considerable more insight on the players he has to work with.

[el borracho]

Keeping Herm for a few weeks to pick his brain about players is about the only legit reason anyone could conjure at this point. Outside of that, there couldn't be any interview questions since Pioli says he and Herm have a long-standing personal relationship and there is plenty of data with regard to Herm's head coaching (in)abilities.

[el borracho]

Darn... I'm one minute too slow.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by melbar

I Think He needs Herm to get both sides of the story about the players and why they performed the way they did. If Herm says a guy didnt give effort that goes into account. If said player says Herm wanted him to play too close, far away, look at the QB's eyes, etc. that goes into account when he watches film and talks to other coaches. He also see's whos full of it or not pulling their weight. It just helps him make a more informed decision about everyone.

Problem with that, would you want to get information from Herm, who has shown us over and over that he simply cannot coach?

I wouldn't....

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by greyhoodie

There is another very valid reason to give Herm hope he will be retained -- to get his help.

As SP indicated you can't evaluate a player unless you know what he was told. Me and you can watch a player and speculate he is playing too aggressively or too soft or missed or an assignment or made a bad pass or ran a route wrong. But unless we know exactly what play was called an the directions given to the player it is just a guess.

What ever your opinion of the overall talent of Herm is the fact is he know way more about the KC players at this moment than SP. If SP fires him on day one he has no shot at any of that info. If he interviews Herm for 16 hours over three days and then fires him he will have considerable more insight on the players he has to work with.

Then I would think you would keep Gailey and Gunther around. I doubt Herm knows the complete ins and outs of the offensive and defensive playbooks.

Besides, I am pretty sure that this is broken down on film after every game. Pioli shouldn't need anyone to hold his hand.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by penguinz

I read on here that it was 8.6.

I believe what you read is that the difference to sap would be $600, 000.00.

If he's on the roster, his cap number is 8.2 mil.
Cut or traded it would be 8.8 mil.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Here's how the Patriots run their draft, generally.

1. they compile the usual, ridiculous list of all players coming out of college. They then SEVERELY whittle it down. Every player that doesn't fit their system gets kicked out, REGARDLESS of talent. They just ignore players that don't fit their system -- whether because they're a bad fit (that 285 lb DE that is too small for DE and too big/slow for OLB or whatever). It's my understanding that the Patriots "board" is much smaller than the average team.

2. Everyone left is graded. A point value is given.

3. Then they're sorted by grades.

4. Then adjustments are made and players are ranked based on team need and other factors. A CB and a OL might both have a hypothetical value of 6.8, but if we need CBs more than OLs, then the CB gets the higher ranking.

What is left is the draft board for the Patriots. It's VERY team specific. Player X, who was great at DE at College ABC, but projects at OLB for the Patriots, is graded AT OLB. They do not give a crap how good a DE he was. If they have serious concerns about him dropping back to cover, then he will get a lower grade. They do not give a rat's ass how he might do for some other team.

They obviously have some kind of system for figuring out what other team's needs/desires/draft history is, because that is important in trackign what other teams might do on draft day. They have moved up before to steal players that they thought might go very soon to a team one or two spots behind where they move up to.

On draft day, if the team has a number of players with very close grades left, and someone offers them a pick if they slide back a few slots, then they move back and say "well, out of all these 6.7 and 6.8 grades, we'll get one of them, and they're so even ti hardly matters."

If one guy is head and shoulders above the rest, and within a "few" ("few" being relative by round -- moving up 3 picks in the first half of the first orund might be more expensive than moving up by 10 picks in the third round) picks, then that guy is "sliding", according to their board. If they're worried another team might pick him up, then they will trade up to grab him, because he's much more valuable than whoever will be left at their original pick once it comes to them.

Sounds like a complicated way of saying you have to take the best player available, with an eye on need and positional value.

Which is what I've said for a while now.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by greyhoodie

I think you left out a lot. As I understand it the Patriots also do an analysis of all current players and compare every draftee to who they would cut/bench to make room for him. While the Patriots don't draft "on need" the score assigned to a nose tackle would be based largely on how he compares to Wilfork and Smith. As Smith would almost certainly be cut to make room for a new nose tackle.

errr....yeah, I left out alot. Did you want a full book on the subject? Yeesh...

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

I watched it this morning, and that last exchange you mentioned kind of bothered me.

Your take will hopefully shed some light.

It left me feeling like Clark is carrying a heavy hand over Scott, and Scott needs to get approval on everything. He actually said that, that Clark would know everything and be involved before anything was done. In fact, Scott kept looking over to Clark for approval signals on things he was saying.

Scott is the expert here, not Clark, Clark just has the money. Lamar sure never operated that way.

Nah, I got the opposite sense in terms of the final answer he gave.

These guys are just starting out on a partnership here. Sure there will be some tough moments, etc., but the final answer was clear -- Pioli runs teh show, and all Clark gets is to know what is going on.