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Bill Belichick’s brilliance is not news to anyone. As a head coach or as a general manager in pro football, Belichick seems to know exactly what to do at the right time. In fact, there are some criticism regarding Belichick’s “standard of game”, that cost some important players to the Patriots in the past, like Chandler Jones, for example. However, we have to accept that every system created by Bill Belichick – you like it or not – has been a certainty in the National Football League. And it is not from today.
The authority earned by Belichick in New England, in his 18 seasons with the franchise, can be described as scared for the opponents, even in a simple game decision. In other words, we can call it intimidating. It is possible to state that basically all the trades Patriots have been involved recently, were a good shot, even knowing that the team didn’t acquire any super star. By the way, Bill Belichick’s accuracy is indeed what is under discussion right now – and it was in evidence this offseason.
Is Brandin Cooks a top 10 wide receiver in NFL? No, he is not. Thus, why Patriots’ fans are that much excited about his arrival? Because Belichick knows how useful he will be for the offense conduct by Tom Brady. The small, dynamic, and big play-type receivers are everything Robert Kraft has been looking for in past seasons. It is a must to say that it would not happen if it wasn’t for Belichick’s presence in the sideline.
Cooks, surely, is only an example in a very interesting process organized by Bill Belichick this offseason. The idea of adding young talents to the NFL was not a priority in New England’s 2017 Draft, so the franchise’s picks gave rise to veterans. Names that have a better chance of reaching positive results in a short term – and that is exactly what Pats aim at this moment.
Belichick opted for recruiting sharp veterans, not college prospects
Brandin Cooks for a first round pick. Kony Ealy and Dwayne Allen worth, respectively, a second and a fourth round choice. Mike Gillislee, himself, got there in a trade involving a fifth round pick. Having this in mind, the New England Patriots added a poised wide receiver, a solid defensive end that apparently is on track to find his best form in pro football, an above average tight end and a running back that for sure was a good deal.
In other words, before the 2017 Draft officially starts, the Patriots went to the market, took advantage of their solid roster, and recruited in a different way. Instead of picking names that have just left college football, New England, accordingly to its needs, acquired players that already have some good experience in the league. Something similar to what George Allen did in 1971 and 1972 with the Redskins. And this is simply genius.
Here is why it makes sense: It is a fact that Tom Brady might be in his best form, but all the care is not enough to build the best roster for an almost 40-year old quarterback and have a good chance to win it again now, isn’t it? So Bill Belichick apparently noticed that in this situation it would be better to recruit interesting veterans than long-term prospects. In general, the final results of the transactions that have been done now will come earlier than the “Draft-type” ones, putting New England in a stronger position as NFL’s best team.
Is Dwayne Allen a good tight end? Yes, especially if you consider him as a second option in a depth chart. For a comparison, I will mention Jake Butt here, a tight end selected in 145th overall pick this year. The problem with the former Michigan is all the injuries he has faced; but if he can stay healthy there is a bright future waiting for him in National Football League, maybe even better than Allen’s. Nonetheless, what would have been better for this New England Patriots team: to choose a veteran tight end ready to play right now (perhaps more times than we think, depending on Gronkowski’s injuries) or a brand new TE that clearly needs more time to learn about and to prepare for the NFL game? The immediate impact is what Belichick want to see in Foxborough. One should keep in mind that perhaps Allen may play more than we think, depending on Gronkowski’s injuries issues.
Patriots, however, made some Draft choices as well, and they showed us, again, the intelligence behind this entire project. With the 83rd pick overall, Pats called Derek Rivers (DE). With the 85th, the name was Antonio Garcia (OT). Later, respectively in 131st and 211th overall picks, the prospects selected were Deatrich Wise Jr. (DE) and Conor Mc Dermott (OT). With that in mind, we conclude that Belichick wanted, at least, one pass rusher and one offensive lineman for the future – and he made two tries for each of those functions.
It’s been a while since Patriots reunited too much talent around
Recently, I saw a lot of articles reporting that this New England Patriots is the best New England Patriots ever on paper, and one of the greatest rosters in the past years in pro football. It may sounds like baloney, but I have to agree it makes sense.
So right now Tom Brady (one that needs no comments) will have Dion Lewis and James White as his running backs, a duo extremely dynamic and capable of playing in multiple functions. Among the tight ends, there is Rob Gronkowski, the best in the world. The receiver group, although, has Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, and now Brandin Cooks! And please do not forget Danny Amendola and Malcolm Mitchell. Finally, the offensive line, that has no reasons to deteriorate from last year.
On the defensive side of the ball, the pass rush received a great name in Kony Ealy and was able to keep most of last year’s best names. Besides that, the great news for the team was the permanence of Dont’a Hightower, who should create a great front seven playing aside Rob Ninkovich for one more year. Lastly, the secondary is still having Malcolm Butler and signed Stephon Gilmore, one of the best defensive backs available in free agency.
All of that for a team that had the most solid defense in NFL last season, a fact that was only an addition for a team that won the Lombardi Trophy in last February.
So, what is the limit for this team?
In this Patriots team, with the exception of Tom Brady and one or another, it is hard to find an All Pro and future Hall of Famer. Moreover, we cannot say even that they are the best players in their respectively positions nowadays. However, the Patriots’ group, organized by Belichick, at the same time makes each one of these players a perfect option for the team. Apparently, each type of offense, each individual matchup, each offensive innovation, can be executed by this group. Really.
Therefore – and it is amazing the fact this is becoming a tendency for Patriots, relevant suspicions of a new perfect season are around New England. What was already good became even better in theory; and the back to back title for the franchise, something that does not happen for the Patriots since 2003 and 2004, is a reality.
The New England Patriots is the perfect example of a franchise that organization and talent combined generate positive results. Generate wins. Generate tittles. To this end, you only need something built with brilliance, necessarily from someone who knows exactly what is being doing, without take other facts into consideration. To this end, you only need Bill Belichick.
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