Rebuilding Strategy Discussion | Page 6

Karma · 2017-03-11T10:54:19-08:00

Every fan, save the younger generation of Patriot followers, knows what it is like to watch your team bottom out and decide to blow it up and start over. New staff, new philosophy, and new players. As the rebuild starts, every fan has his or her own theories about how it should be done. They often cite recent turnarounds other clubs have made as evidence for their own theories. Ultimately, fans just have to sit back and watch the new regime create and implement a plan. January becomes the worst month as we look for any clue as to the direction the rebuild will take. February brings rumors and a few early signings, but little can be read into these early moments. Now, FINALLY, the rebuild has taken form. The guessing games can stop and interpretation can ensue. It got me thinking about rebuild strategies and the pros/cons for each. I thought I would take a crack at naming these strategies and defining our current trajectory. 1. Serving Youth: Many people wanted us to follow this path. Teams that choose this path set about selling off any veteran asset the team has in an attempt to gain draft assets or cap space. Anyone over the age of 26 is seen as expendable. The team focuses on bringing in as many young players as it can through the draft, UDFA, or even young free agents from around the league. The teams that are likely to choose this strategy are teams that have hit bottom because of age, lack of athleticism, and a lack of excitement for fans. Bring 90 of the fastest, most athletic, young players into training camp and hope that you have standouts in each positional group to build around for the future. Pros: Young players come cheap. Good ones outperform their contracts. Young players are also easier to imprint on, so coaches can establish culture easier. Cons: Drafts are a crap shoot. If a team can bring in three quality starters from a draft, it is considered a huge success. Banking the team's future on one generation of young players depends more on luck than on effort. 2. Compete ASAP: This plan is only possible if the rebuilding team has a decent amount of cap space or is able to purge many of the bad contracts that led to the rebuilding need. The team then uses that cap space to over pay for free agents who are in or just leaving their prime. These contracts are based on performance up to that point and the signings are intended to improve the team as quickly as possible. Sometimes that means bringing in players who have attitude issues or off the field problems. These teams will often even trade away draft assets in an attempt to bring in players who can help immediately. Think Washington Redskins. Pros: Fans see an immediate return on investment, at least from an excitement perspective. If the team happens to be in a particularly weak division, the playoffs could be a one year goal. Cons: If any of the signings don't work out, the team can find itself in cap trouble with nothing to show for it. It is also difficult to establish an enduring culture with "mercenary" type players. 3. Take The Long Way Home: *(What I see us doing) The Patriots have set the standard that every franchise wants to match. Of course, it's easy to do so with Tom Brady, but the real success they have been able to achieve comes from creating and establishing a culture that is passed down from veteran to rookie in a self-perpetuating cycle. The "Patriot Way" of doing things is legendary and has taken on a life of its own. Players come in and are focused on what they can do to help the machine run rather than the other way around. As much as I hate seeing them win, it is a glorious sight to see a machine run so effectively. They are like the German National Soccer Team in that way. Now, how can this be achieved? It begins by having a clear vision for the culture you want to create. This is John Lynch's job and the reason I believe he was hired. Lynch has enough experience to identify talent, but he has scouts to do that. His job is to help craft a vision for how the machine will operate. He cannot waver from his vision. He must be firm and know that this will take time. Next, you need an engineer to design the components of the machine. Shanahan needs to define the gears and how each will work in syncopation to make the machine run. Now, sticking with the "Machine" metaphor, any engineer will tell you that you need to build the machine before you can improve upon it. When Lynch and Shanahan took over, this team was just a pile of scrap metal. Right now they are going about cleaning out the pieces that are useless to their vision and importing "gears" for the first version of the machine that they have in mind. The free agents that are being brought in now will undoubtedly make this team better, create more wins, and even make this team competitive for the playoffs, but that is not the end goal. They are bringing in players for each unit who can show their younger counterparts how to be a gear in this particular machine. If this plan is successful, the machine becomes self-sustaining. Pros: This rebuild strategy is intended to create long-term, sustainable success. If one gear starts to fail, the machine won't fall apart, so it is difficult for one or more player to bring this down. Cons: Every machine needs an engine. Tom Brady is the central component to the Patriot machine. Ray Lewis was it for the Ravens. These types of players are generational and difficult to find. So, this rebuild will require patience, but I think we are on the right path! Thoughts?

Mar 2, 2018 at 6:08 PM

#76

Giedi
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Posts: 34,324

Originally posted by plummerfan:
I feel like all three scenarios are happening in some type of way. This to me feels like the Mike Nolan Era. Developing the young players, coach rocking out to a suit on the field, bringing in vets that are cheap and serviceable like Walt Harris (solid, excellent player) and making big splash signings. Horrible deals like Nate Clements who always got abused liked Robinson and had lil moments of glory.

Well those were pretty good offensive drafts when Nolan was here, ironically. One thing I'm impressed with, is Kyle's ability to take journeymen offensive talent and actually win games with them. Granted there are 37 new faces since the last Head Coach, but still, that's impressive to me. It could have been 2-14 easy, instead it's 6-10 because they were able to get a QB. I can see Kyle developing a lot of solid future O Line and Wide receivers that he can turn into draft capital in the future. I also hope that CJ is Jimmy 2.0 and we can get a 2nd rounder for him in about 3 years.

Mar 2, 2018 at 7:12 PM

#77

Jeepzilla
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Posts: 6,720

Originally posted by English:
Don't agree. Elway is a prime example of a one-and-done build. I don't think that is what the plan is here.

You don't think we could have a quick turnaround like philly, rams, or jags just did and be in the playoffs this year?

[ Edited by jeepzilla on Mar 2, 2018 at 7:13 PM ]

Mar 2, 2018 at 7:20 PM

#78

lamontb
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Posts: 33,239

Originally posted by English:
Don't agree. Elway is a prime example of a one-and-done build. I don't think that is what the plan is here.

How could it be a one done build when they went to 2 super bowls? Elway has just drafted some garbage at qb.

Mar 2, 2018 at 7:21 PM

#79

lamontb
Veteran
Posts: 33,239

Originally posted by jeepzilla:
Originally posted by English:
Don't agree. Elway is a prime example of a one-and-done build. I don't think that is what the plan is here.

You don't think we could have a quick turnaround like philly, rams, or jags just did and be in the playoffs this year?

If we can get a pass rush like Philly then I'd say hell yea

Mar 3, 2018 at 4:15 AM

#80

Arsenal2004
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Posts: 213

Originally posted by English:
Don't agree. Elway is a prime example of a one-and-done build. I don't think that is what the plan is here.

He has delivered an elusive Super Bowl that we have been searching for which can't be understated. Also, his eye for talent on defense has kept the team relevant and our defense is far from from title winning level.

[ Edited by Arsenal2004 on Mar 3, 2018 at 4:17 AM ]

Mar 3, 2018 at 4:22 AM

#81

English
Moderator
Posts: 41,413

Originally posted by lamontb:
Originally posted by English:
Don't agree. Elway is a prime example of a one-and-done build. I don't think that is what the plan is here.

How could it be a one done build when they went to 2 super bowls? Elway has just drafted some garbage at qb.

Amd the one they won is the one I referred to. And now they are on the decline.

Mar 3, 2018 at 5:28 AM

#82

illinois9er
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Posts: 6,163

Originally posted by Arsenal2004:
He has delivered an elusive Super Bowl that we have been searching for which can't be understated. Also, his eye for talent on defense has kept the team relevant and our defense is far from from title winning level.

His 1st couple drafts were very good but he's really been mediocre here lately. They pretty much bought their SB win, which is fine, but now it seems to be crashing down imo.

Mar 3, 2018 at 8:48 AM

#83

pasodoc9er
Veteran
Posts: 21,040

Originally posted by mojave45:
Originally posted by English:
Don't agree. Elway is a prime example of a one-and-done build. I don't think that is what the plan is here.

Mar 3, 2018 at 8:54 AM

#84

pasodoc9er
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Posts: 21,040

Originally posted by GolittaCamper:
Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
Golitta, at first glance , this looks pretty darn close. It was interesting later in the yr, signing a guy, and two weeks later we were working someone else out at the same slot, then signed him instead. As i recall we had at least one and maybe more guys who we signed, cut and then signed again. So you very well may be right.

Still, if we do not get good pass blocking interior OL (OG C OG) this yr i will think this season a failure...and incredible stupidity for not protecting the one guy we have all been waiting for these last 22 yrs. So whereas i agree with you, it with this one caveat. This is a failed yr if we do NOT get our QB protected. That is one thing , no matter the cost, that has to be part of this season.

I can see your scenario play out at EDGE, CB, maybe 1 or 2 LBs, but not all...but i cannot see it happen on the interior OL.

Right, remember Kapri Bibbs, and Hightower? traded for one, signed another, drafted two more, and when with the best talent!

I hope we take this approach again this year, a few salty vets, some draft picks, and let the dust fly in camp.

Just like to add along this line, Day and Marsh. Both magically appeared here late in yr about same time jimmyG makes his appearance. We all saw guys come in one day, signed, then cut 2 days later. Well on Day and Marsh i think John got some very good talent...perhaps better than what we already had at those slots. And late, too. Can you even imagine Baalke continuing to bring guys in thruout the season? Man i sure can't. And john brot in a ton of them. Some were overniters, but some, like DAY and MARSH....they look to be playing a lot of reps this yr. Did he by chance bring in our EDGE? IDK, but am anxious to find out.

Mar 3, 2018 at 2:41 PM

#85

GolittaCamper
Veteran
Posts: 7,277

Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
Originally posted by GolittaCamper:
Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
Golitta, at first glance , this looks pretty darn close. It was interesting later in the yr, signing a guy, and two weeks later we were working someone else out at the same slot, then signed him instead. As i recall we had at least one and maybe more guys who we signed, cut and then signed again. So you very well may be right.

Still, if we do not get good pass blocking interior OL (OG C OG) this yr i will think this season a failure...and incredible stupidity for not protecting the one guy we have all been waiting for these last 22 yrs. So whereas i agree with you, it with this one caveat. This is a failed yr if we do NOT get our QB protected. That is one thing , no matter the cost, that has to be part of this season.

I can see your scenario play out at EDGE, CB, maybe 1 or 2 LBs, but not all...but i cannot see it happen on the interior OL.

Right, remember Kapri Bibbs, and Hightower? traded for one, signed another, drafted two more, and when with the best talent!

I hope we take this approach again this year, a few salty vets, some draft picks, and let the dust fly in camp.

Just like to add along this line, Day and Marsh. Both magically appeared here late in yr about same time jimmyG makes his appearance. We all saw guys come in one day, signed, then cut 2 days later. Well on Day and Marsh i think John got some very good talent...perhaps better than what we already had at those slots. And late, too. Can you even imagine Baalke continuing to bring guys in thruout the season? Man i sure can't. And john brot in a ton of them. Some were overniters, but some, like DAY and MARSH....they look to be playing a lot of reps this yr. Did he by chance bring in our EDGE? IDK, but am anxious to find out.

Yeah, Jonny Lynch is a hard working GM, I like that.

Mar 11, 2018 at 4:21 PM

#86

pasodoc9er
Veteran
Posts: 21,040

Well, the rebuild continues, with RS at corner. If his Achilles is healthy this is a terrific deal, with a contract i didn't think possible . That may mean his Achilles is a problem, but i don't know that. For some reason his health got dinged by SEA , altho that could have been totally financial. Nonetheless, not having to take a CB with our 1st pick is a huge reliief. Now we need a CB backup but who could start. Plus we still will need one in draft and maybe another UDFA.

Mar 15, 2018 at 3:13 PM

#87

pasodoc9er
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Posts: 21,040

Four mocks across the bottom of NFLN screen just a few minutes ago, and two of them had Nelson being there all the way til 10 and after. One of those had us taking Ward instead of Nelson which i think is just dumb. If there we take him . This is firs time i have seen more than one mock that has Nelson there at 9. No way if he is there that we don't take him. We then could legitimately claim a top 5 OL.

and for the record, the other two mocks had us with Tremaine and Roquan.

[ Edited by pasodoc9er on Mar 15, 2018 at 3:14 PM ]