NFL 2015 Approaching the Quarter Pole - Team Building in the Free Agent/Salary Cap Era

Team Building in the Free Agent/Salary Cap Era

Team building in 2015 is so far removed from what it was 24 years ago when Bill Belichick got his first Head Coach gig in Cleveland, before the onset of Free Agency 22 years ago and the subsequent Salary Cap in 2011. Prior to free agency, once players were drafted, signed or traded for they remained with their team until that team was done with them. This resulted in teams staying good after getting good for extended periods of time, the San Francisco 49ers from 1981 to 1991 (the Joe Montana Period) being the longest running example (followed two years later by the Steve Young period) being the longest running one. Since free agency however, no team has had a dominant run that was longer than the standard four-year contract save for one: Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

While it takes an entire team effort, solid in all three phases of the game, to win championships, each team is made up of components. An often overlooked component is coaching. Belichick has a constantly changing assistant coach cast who, knowing what to look for (being a very good coach himself) are a big part of his success. Tom Brady often speaks of how well the team is coached. Consider that in Brady’s 15 seasons a very large number of Offensive Linemen have come and gone however the position has never been one of concern for an extended period. Contrast that with Indianapolis, where ever since Andrew Luck was drafted the Offensive Line has been a big problem. Playing Offensive Line is not rocket science (even though New England actually drafted a rocket scientist from Stanford last season).

 When looking at the Patriots success for the past 15 seasons, while various components have dominated in different seasons, it appears that Belichick has settled on a method for keeping the troops fresh and relevant and, most importantly, in a position to win it all in any given season. The Patriots have been to the Super Bowl 6 times and the AFC Championship 9 times since Tom Brady took over from Bledsoe in 2001 with an average annual record (including playoffs) of 13 2/3 - 4 1/3. How do they do it? It has been alleged that they cheat (which is nonsense). Often you will hear about a team “rebuilding” but the reality is that New England rebuilds every season. Belichick succeeds by maintaining the discipline to move on from players before it is absolutely necessary thus keeping young, fresh talent rotating in so that they are ready to take over when required. They tend to draft position groups in bunches and seem to make more trades than any other team.

Components

The Patriots work on specific components each year ensuring that different parts of the offence and defence dominate while the other ones finish their on-the-job training over the regular season so that come the post season, barring extreme injury problems, no one part is a large enough of a liability that it derails the whole process. On offence there is: Quarterback, Running Backs, Tight Ends, Wide receivers and Offensive Line while on defence there is: Safety, Defensive Backs, Linebackers and Defensive Line. From there the different positions for sub-components such as: Offensive Tackles, Interior Offensive Linemen, Slot Receivers, Wide Outs, Defensive Ends, Interior Defensive Linemen, Outside Linebackers, Interior Linebackers, Slot Cornerback, Left and Right Cornerback, Free Safety and Strong Safety. Let’s look at the 2015 squad in this way and we shall see how simple it actually is (and wonder why no one mimics what Belichick does, given his success).

Quarterback – The Patriots are very fortunate here that Belichick thought enough of Brady to carry four (4) quarterbacks his first season and that he has worked out so well. New England has gone through a number of backup QB’s over the period, some of whom (Matt Cassel, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett etc.) are still either starting or at least in the conversation. Last year they again rotated the backup, drafting Jimmy Garappolo in the second round, and it looks like they have a keeper this time (we shall see).

Running Back – They Patriots seldom draft running backs (we only consider the first four (4) rounds of the draft) however they draft Vereen and Ridley in 2011 and got a solid 4 years out of them. Belichick prefers to let other teams develop his running backs who he then acquires and teaches how to do their job correctly. This year’s group includes power back LeGarrette Blount (extremely underrated) and newcomer Dion Lewis, both of whom were acquired for nothing or next-to-nothing and neither of whom has a cap charge of 1 million. New England always has a solid running game.

Offensive Tackles – The Patriots always have very good tackles. The methodology is incredibly simple. They draft incredibly intelligent great big huge guys and teach them the position from scratch. The ones that work out become starters in due course. They then keep them until age almost catches up with them and then trade them while they still have value. They always have one or two reserves and one more on their practice squad. Presently, Volmer and Solder (drafted 17^th overall in 2011) are as good a pair as there is in the league as Brady throws a lot of passes and seldom gets sacked. Volmer is now 31 and after missing on Cam Fleming last year they will likely draft a left tackle next year in the early rounds.

Interior Offensive Linemen – It is generally accepted that the interior guys are much less skilled than the tackles. New England gets these guys any way they can but also drafted a couple and signed some rookie free agents in 2015. When a good center is available for next-to-nothing they will sign him. Presently they are using a trio of rookies who managed to protect Brady (zero sacks against Buffalo who is rated near the top) who are learning as they go. By the time the weather gets nasty they will be up-to-speed on their run blocking technique so that when it is time for the LeGarrette Blount show they will be able to open enough of a hole for him to get going and let inertia take over. Superior coaching allows the Patriots to save money here in a big way.

Tight End – New England took a chance on Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in the 2010 draft and, in addition to the position coach, also brought in Alge Crumpler to teach them exactly how he played the position when he was one of the best in the game. This is another recurring theme where Belichick brings in guys for one season to teach the new guys. Hernandez is in jail but Gronk worked out. This year they managed to acquire twin tower to Gronk, 6’8” Scott Chandler whom Rex Ryan deemed expendable after the Bills spent a fortune on Clay. That allowed Belichick to then trade incumbent tight end Hooman to the Saints for yet another young pass rusher in Akiem Hicks (more on him later).

Wide Receivers – The Patriots revamped the wide receiver position in 2013, letting Wes Welker and most of their wide receivers go, signing Danny Amendola and a bunch of rookie free agents and drafting Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce but it turned out that former part-time receiver, specialist Julian Edleman, developed into maybe the best slot receiver in the game. Amendola has found a spot as a bit player, Brandon LaFell (free agent 2014) was great in the playoffs last season although is currently injured along with Brian Tyms. Boyce is gone and Dobson will be when LaFell returns due to the fact that he can’t catch the ball under game pressure. Presently Dion Lewis out of the backfield and tight end Gronk are running the deep ball routes while Edleman and Amendola are great in the intermediate area. The Patriots don’t spend high draft picks or top dollars on free agents at wide receiver as Tom Brady is so good frankly they don’t need to (Brady currently leads the league without a true WR1).

Safety- - Devin McCourty, drafted as a cornerback, is much better suited to his free safety role and is one of the top ones in the league. The Patriots drafted and signed (as rookie free agents) a number of strong safety candidates in 2014 and 2015 and are using Patrick Chung there as well. Chung was a disaster when he went to Chip Kelly in Philly in 2013 yet in New England, where they play a scheme tailored to his strengths, he is more than serviceable. Duron Harmon has also looked good at times.

Cornerback – Cornerback is another position where New England drafted and signed (as rookie free agents) a number of candidates in 2014 and 2015. They brought in Revis and Browner in 2014 not just to help win a Super Bowl but to also teach the new guys how to star at the position. Malcolm Butler is a direct result of this tutelage and could be a top ten CB1 by the end of this season. The Patriots currently lead the league in interceptions and are only going to get better in the secondary with more playing time and coaching. Rookies and second-year players have already pushed out most of the veterans.

Linebacker – It seems that Bill Belichick never met a linebacker hr didn’t like. Despite three solid, indeed perhaps the league’s top starting trio, in Collins, Hightower and Mayo, New England is constantly bringing in new talent who, after about a month, go on to play extremely well. They drafted a couple of young guys in 2015 and added Jon Bostic from the Bears just this week via trade.

Defensive End – Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich were joined this year by free agent Jabaal Sheard,  Akiem Hicks via trade, 2015 draft picks and rookie free agents. A big reason why the Patriots lead the league in interceptions is because opposition quarterbacks are running for their lives. The unit also leads the league in sacks.

Interior Defensive Line – New England used their first round picks in 2014 and 2015 on defensive tackle Dom Easley and Malcolm Brown. Easley has been injured a lot but has played in all three games so far this year and Brown already has a sack.

Specialists – The Patriots always seem to have the best kicker in the league and signed Gotskowski to a new long-term deal this season in an area so important they are willing to spend what they have to. Punter Ryan Allen is decent. All of the rookie and second-year guys not playing positions much are very good on special teams.

As you can see, each year New England brings in fresh blood at the various position groups, going around the team. 2010 was Tight Ends, 2011 Offensive Tackle and Running Back, 2012 Defensive End, 2013 Wide Receiver and Linebacker, 2014 Quarterback and Interior Defensive Line, 2015 Interior Defensive Line, Interior Offensive Line. New England signs free agents in the $4 million range (at the most) and turns them into stars and trades for guys with the skills they are looking for, teaches them how to do what is needed and win. A lot.