How did the Patriots maintain a top team for 17 years?

[ProcessTruster]

On 2/6/2023 at 11:00 AM, Success said:

I thought it might be interesting to put our loathing aside and really analyze how they pulled it off.  What they did is what I want the Bills to do - dominate for many years, and as long as they have Allen at QB.

 

They didn't have the ebb & flow that a team normally has, even w/ a top QB.  Their window was wide open for most of those 17 years. They made 9 SB's, and probably should have made 1-2 more.  My own thoughts:

 

1) Obviously, Brady took less pay so the team could afford better players.  I still don't see that being as impactful as it's made out to be - he was still paid a lot.

2) Aging vet stars took pay cuts just to play w/ Brady. Will we see that w/ Allen?

3) The Patriots made very few investments in bigtime skill players.  Moss was the exception, not the rule.

4) One of the hallmarks of Belichick was letting players walk before they started to decline.  Almost exactly what we're looking at w/ Poyer.

5) Their biggest priority, year after year, was making sure the O-line was strong.  That's just what you do when you have a top QB.

 

Still, the run is somewhat mystifying.  Belichick was not a great drafter, which is usually needed once a QB gets past the rookie contract.  Superior coaching clearly played a part. I think BB got the best out of his players (which is something we aren't doing right now - we see players leave the Bills and perform better than they did here).

 

Thoughts?

The rest of the AFC East was poorly run for 17 years.  

[JohnNord]

On 2/6/2023 at 11:00 AM, Success said:

I thought it might be interesting to put our loathing aside and really analyze how they pulled it off.  What they did is what I want the Bills to do - dominate for many years, and as long as they have Allen at QB.

 

They didn't have the ebb & flow that a team normally has, even w/ a top QB.  Their window was wide open for most of those 17 years. They made 9 SB's, and probably should have made 1-2 more.  My own thoughts:

 

1) Obviously, Brady took less pay so the team could afford better players.  I still don't see that being as impactful as it's made out to be - he was still paid a lot.

2) Aging vet stars took pay cuts just to play w/ Brady. Will we see that w/ Allen?

3) The Patriots made very few investments in bigtime skill players.  Moss was the exception, not the rule.

4) One of the hallmarks of Belichick was letting players walk before they started to decline.  Almost exactly what we're looking at w/ Poyer.

5) Their biggest priority, year after year, was making sure the O-line was strong.  That's just what you do when you have a top QB.

 

Still, the run is somewhat mystifying.  Belichick was not a great drafter, which is usually needed once a QB gets past the rookie contract.  Superior coaching clearly played a part. I think BB got the best out of his players (which is something we aren't doing right now - we see players leave the Bills and perform better than they did here).

 

Thoughts?

I think the biggest eraser of any issue was Tom Brady himself.  Yes he took a lot less which helped with the roster,  but he was so good and with the exception of a Gronk and Moss for a one-season, he never really had top-tier talent to throw to.  
 

Good point about the OL.  Many have said OL Coach Dante Scarnecchia was an unsung hero.  Again though, when your QB can process the game so quickly…

 

Belichck was very good at finding guys to run his system on defense.  It seemed that he could always find some lowly FA on the scrap heap and plug him in to play well on defense. 

[dpberr]

Two thoughts:

 

BB is one of the very best, if not the best coach in the modern era to change his strategy half to half, game to game, season to season. He isn't a slave to any particular approach.  

 

The Patriots always prioritized the experienced, smart football player.  The Patriots invested in true football players who had a high IQ for the game.  The complete opposite of say, the Raiders, who stocked their team with legitimate Olympic athletes who understood little, or had a difficult time, understanding the details of the game of football.  

[frostbitmic]

They had been fined, lost draft picks and had a suspension for cheating. I'm guessing they got away with a few others.

Edited March 24, 2023 by frostbitmic

[HugeHeffner11]

On 3/22/2023 at 8:30 AM, Gregg said:

I wish Bill was the Bills HC. Nine Super Bowl appearances with six Championship wins with an elite level franchise QB. He would definitely bring a Lombardi to Buffalo with Allen.

Yes, and you know Bill with Allen at QB would have won a super bowl already (two years ago for sure).  McDummy screwed that playoff game away.  A high school coach could have won that game against KC.  McDummy and the Beaner will never win the big game. I will guarantee that in writing.  They already proved that when they were in Carolina.  I feel bad for Josh.  He better get traded or whatever it takes to get OFF the Bills team or he will go his entire career without a ring.

[stuvian]

they studied a lot of film