Personally I think Bellichick has a great football mind - probably the greatest of all time - I know you're all going to chip in with Belli-cheat etc, I really don't agree with all of that - ALL teams bend the rules and if you believe the Rams and the other teams aren't guilty of this then you are seriously blinkered. Brady has now proved on all stages that he is the GOAT QB. There shouldn't be any discussion anymore - to mastermind that sort of come back in the 4th quarter, showed greatness, a calm head, composure AND belief in your guys. Brady took a lot of hits in the SB, he was under immense pressure up the middle, but he still managed to get the ball out. The guy can read defences and can play to weaknesses - sometimes he has a lot of time, but I think DCs think you're better off marking his WRs and TEs 1 maybe 2 on 1 rather than rushing the QB and exposing a target, because he CAN make THAT throw under pressure - look at the time Aaron Rodgers gets ( If memory recalls correctly there were some throws he did against the Giants this year where he had 12 seconds to make the throw) DCs can't afford to lose numbers in the backfield against GREAT QBs.
OK so on to the OP.
I think the Pats have not gone for the best player available at each position - END OF.
They have gone for the best player that fits THEIR UNIT. They treat the O-line as one unit, and that unit works its asses off TOGETHER. Stick any of their guys in any other O-line and they wouldn't be as successful. It's the same argument that I've been chirping about when the Rams cut Chris Long. Long and Quinn were a double act. BTW - I believe the turning point in the S came from Chris Long (and Hightower) on that Sack fumble recovery in the 4th with 8:24 to go. How many times did we used to see that with Long and Quinn!
We need an O-line coach that can create a UNIT - coach a scheme to THEIR strengths not try and mould them into something they're not.
But until we have a QB that can make THAT throw under pressure they're going to get their asses blitzed all day long and have to rush a throw. Force an interception.
It all comes down to picking the BPFYT (Best Player For Your Team) and not BPA (Best Player Available) - obviously if you have an athletic freak fall your way then you have to take a look, but I think the Pats, always look to improve on their scheme with better players - and that's through FREE AGENCY as well. Look at their WRs - none are divas. Amendola for instance is the type of Dog that Bellichick loves, he's a fighter, punches way above his weight and hallway goes for that extra yard - that 2pointer in the fourth being proof in case.
