2020 Pats Off-Season: Coaching Staff & Front Office Discussion

[Shaky Walton]

Why exactly do we want Nick Caserio back?

So this question may look, and even be, quite reactionary. The timing certainly makes it appear to be so.

But we know that the Patriots' drafting has been subpar at times. There are numerous easy and recent examples. One can look at the WRs taken after Harry. Or Michel versus Chubb (if not Lamar Jackson). Or the black hole in the second round.

Now one answer to the question might be that the buck stops with Bill so training our eyes on Caserio isn't fair. Another answer might be that he's done a fine job with NFL players off waivers and free agents, and UDFAs. And another might be that he's part of Team Belichick and who are we to question how the pieces fit together given all of the collective success.

But as I contemplate the many issues and challenges facing this organization, and the Texans prior and possibly current pursuit of Nick Caserio, I wondered if losing him would really be all that bad, particularly given the draft issues.

And make no mistake, I get that the drafts have not been uniformly bad.

Anyway, thoughts are welcomed.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

It has to be questionable that he's really part of Team Belichick, in that he tried to bolt to Houston.

The waivers and low level trades and FA signings have been the team's specialty, and Caserio may or may not deserve credit for those. Jamie Collins, Lawrence Guy, Kyle Van Noy, Jason McCourty, Rex Burkhead, numerous others -- that's not nothing.

We want him back so long as there is a good layer of bench support in the Pats front office. If there isn't, no crying over spilt milk.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Were there any of those waiver and low level trades this year that worked out?

 

[Mystic Merlin]

Not sure it really matters which specific year a contributor was found. But Justin Bethel - who the Ravens cut midseason in a roster crunch - was a fine opportunistic signing. Top special teams gunner on a very reasonable contract.

Newhouse is also perfectly fine as a bargain basement swing tackle, though he was unfortunately forced to start a ton of games at LT and pinch hit at RT.

Unfortunately they had several whiffs in low level acquisitions, Elumeanor being the biggest and without obvious hope for improvement.

 

[tims4wins]

It’s interesting. Scott Pioli was a huge part of dynasty v1.0 and it was a real loss when he left. But that said the talent had gotten stale especially the drafting. It seems we might be in a similar situation with Caserio. Maybe it is a role that needs to turn over every 8-10 years or whatever.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Bethel certainly is a good answer to my question.

 

[Red Averages]

It’s interesting. Scott Piolio was a huge part of dynasty v1.0 and it was a real loss when he left. But that said the talent had gotten stale especially the drafting. It seems we might be in a similar situation with Caserio. Maybe it is a role that needs to turn over every 8-10 years or whatever.

maybe. The flip side would be that it’s really tough to identify and develop talent consistently. Even the top people that do it can have a cold streak or bad injury luck. Maybe it’s a roll that needs to be turned over every decade, maybe we should give the benefit of the doubt to the people that 75% of the time dominate their field.

 

[RetractableRoof]

It could also be a case where the various offshoots of the BB influence are after some of the same players. There aren't a whole lot of players with combination of the physical skills, football IQ, passion for the game, etc that the Pats value. As Pioli, Demetriof (sp?), Bill O'Brien (before he melted down), and others are out there, doesn't it make sense they'd value many of the same players? Even going forward, you have Flores, Vrabel, Patricia, maybe Caserio, maybe McDaniels all looking for some of the same type of players as well. I just think you can't have everyone searching for that diamond (or many looking for your preferred one) and always expect your team to find it. I'm not excusing poor drafting but think that the competition has gotten tighter for the smaller pool of BB desirable players.

And one thing we've heard about the Pats (or BB more specifically?) is they eliminate a larger percentage of players from their board than other teams. Guys they just know won't be able to play for them. I think that is partially why BB has been able to trade up and down the board all the time - as he knows when there are players that other teams want and are likely to go, and he doesn't have anyone in that draft slot grouping based on his valuation.

I think I would grade Caserio this way: he is still here, and the Pats tried to keep him at least once, maybe twice when they've let others go. If BB/Kraft didn't highly rate his performance would he still be with the team? I can't imagine BB being dissatisfied with his contributions to the draft/waivers/UDFA processes and him having such longevity with the team.

 

[Buck Showalter]

It’s interesting. Scott Piolio was a huge part of dynasty v1.0 and it was a real loss when he left. But that said the talent had gotten stale especially the drafting. It seems we might be in a similar situation with Caserio. Maybe it is a role that needs to turn over every 8-10 years or whatever.

Bingo - if Caserio leaves (and he's obviously well respected) I think we upgrade if Pioli wants the job.

 

[Super Nomario]

Caserio came up the Pro Personnel route, so while I imagine he gets his hands dirty with the draft picks, he's probably deferring the bulk of the college scouting to Monti Ossenfort (whose contract is also up, by the way). But we don't know when people are getting overruled either.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Were there any of those waiver and low level trades this year that worked out?

Jamie Collins and Justin Bethel, for two?

But, yeah, then there's the mystery of Russell Bodine. Traded a sixth-rounder for him and cut him before he even suited up.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Acknowledged Bethel. I think Collins was a known quantity. To be honest, so was Bethel. Everyone scratched their heads when he was released and pretty much everyone knew it was a good pickup for the Pats.

There weren't any Van Noys or other "who?" guys they picked up this year, though, who panned out.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Note: updated thread title to expand discussion to other members of the coaching staff/front office personnel.