Breaking Down What Makes Patriots Coach Bill Belichick a Football Genius

The New England Patriots enter their fifth Super Bowl under Bill Belichick since he started as head coach in 2000. Here's a man who has climbed the Mt. Rushmore of NFL head coaches and planted his flag firmly atop the mountain as the greatest head coach in the game today—if not ever. 

Some will tell you Belichick has lost his touch. Their arguments are weak.

Here's one from Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News. You almost can't tell he's writing in Giants-friendly NY.

"

His giant football brain has shrunk somehow to mortal size these past seven years. Bill Belichick hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 2005, his draft picks have flopped and his defense this season gave up the third-highest total yards in NFL history.

 

"

Yes, Belichick's genius has clearly shrunk to the point that his team is playing for another Super Bowl title. And yes, that's sarcasm. 

Mr. Bondy correctly points out that Belichick's draft picks have flopped, and yet they are still playing for a Super Bowl title. Doesn't that alone speak to the genius of Belichick as a coach? The fact that converted wide receiver Julian Edelman can replace first-round draft picks at cornerback and this team still wins enough games to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC and make the Super Bowl is a genuine credit to Belichick's genius. Nothing else.

Personnel aside, when the 2011 season was threatened by a lockout, Belichick did the smart thing and shifted his defense to a very classic, very basic 4-3 scheme. As the team has progressed through the weeks, the Patriots are shifting to more of a 3-4 and other hybrid sets. Belichick didn't force his schemes on a young roster, he fit his schemes to a roster that was young and inexperienced with limited time to develop.

Take a look at where the Patriots' starters have come from in the draft and you'll see a coach and personnel director who has picked his spots and found a unit that can win him games.

Position	Player	Round Drafted
QB	Tom Brady	Sixth
RB	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	UDFA
WR	Wes Welker	UDFA
WR	Deion Branch	Second
TE	Rob Gronkowski	Second
TE	Aaron Hernandez	Fourth
LT	Matt Light	Second
LG	Logan Mankins	First
C	Dan Connolly	UDFA
RG	Brian Waters	UDFA
RT	Nate Solder	First
DE	Brandon Deaderick	Seventh
DT	Kyle Love	UDFA
DT	Vince Wilfork	First
DE	Mark Anderson	Fifth
LB	Rob Ninkovich	Fifth
LB	Jerod Mayo	First
LB	Brandon Spikes	Second
CB	Devin McCourty	First
FS	Patrick Chung	Second
SS	James Ihedigbo	UDFA
CB	Kyle Arrington	UDFA

Belichick's genius was cemented when the team drafted Tom Brady with pick No. 199 overall and then had the foresight to keep him in as the starter when Drew Bledsoe went down with injury. His genius has been increased by winning three Super Bowls, guiding his team to an undefeated regular season and now taking them to five Super Bowl appearances in 10 seasons. Fan or not, what Belichick has done is unprecedented.

Team	Defensive Rank	2011 Result
Steelers	No. 1 Overall	12-4, lost in Wild-Card Round
Texans	No. 2 Overall	10-6, lost in Divisional Round
Ravens	No. 3 Overall	12-4, lost in AFC Championship
49ers	No. 4 Overall	13-3, lost in NFC Championship
Jets	No. 5 Overall	8-8, missed playoffs
Patriots	No. 31 Overall	13-3, AFC Champions

The Patriots may not have the best defense statistically, but they have one of two defenses still playing football this season. At the end of the day, that's all that matters.