« Offensive participation |
Main
| Positional groupings »
October 8, 2007
Bill's follow-up
By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick held his Monday press conference (11:45 a.m.) and opened with his recap of the team's 34-17 win over the Browns:
"After looking at the game this morning, I think it was pretty obvious that what we saw yesterday was validated on the film. We certainly had a lot of problems with some of the things the Browns did schematically, and I thought they did a good job game-planning wise. They created several problems for us. They have a lot of good players. They created some matchups that we had trouble with. Fortunately, we were able to make enough plays. The turnovers were a big part of it, to be able to come out with more points than they did. I thought that was a big drive that we had in the fourth quarter. They had a lot of time of possession in the [third] quarter and we were able to try to regain control of the game from a score standpoint. From a competitive standpoint, without the turnovers, it was obviously very competitive, with both sides making their share of plays, and I guess you could say both sides giving them up. Fortunately, we were able to have those turnovers, and not give the ball away, which I think was ultimately the difference in the game.
"Now we're looking ahead to Dallas. We know what kind of football team they have. They're very good at everything. That will be a big challenge for us, going down there and competing with the Cowboys. They're doing an outstanding job of pretty much everything from the tapes that I've seen so far this year. That's where we're at today."
A few other nuggets from Belichick:
On how close Rodney Harrison was to being back to his old form. "I think Rodney did some good things. I think there are things he needs to work on. You could say that about the whole team."
On the performance of center Russ Hochstein, right guard Stephen Neal, and the offensive line. "I thought Russ did a good job. Could have done without the [holding] penalty, but I thought Steve did a solid job, too. I thought overall the offensive line did a pretty good job. We had time to throw, ran the ball OK, wasn't perfect but it wasn't bad. Quarterback didn't get hit a whole lot and we made some yards in the running game. Should have made more. Certainly had more opportunities to make plays in the passing game that we didn't make for one reason or another. But I thought overall it was a decent job by the offensive line."
On if the Browns losing Jamal Lewis affected the Patriots' game-plan. "It was just a different style of runner, between Lewis and Wright. I don't think they changed their plans, or their formations. I don't think there was a lot of fundamental changes. He's in the game in all passing situations anyway. The way the game went, we played almost 40 plays of sub defense, so I think he probably would have been in there for a lot of those plays as the back anyway. Maybe not all of them, but quite a few of them. So we didn't really change much in terms of game-planning, but what we had to do was be more aware of his kind of loose play, speed on bounce-out plays, and things like that. Not that Lewis doesn't have speed to bounce it out but he's just more of a downhill runner."
Posted By:
mreiss | Time: 12:10:03 PM |
E-mail |
Link
Your comments
(6)Does Belichick ever say anything informative in press conferences?
Never. But certainly is a master at using a great number of words to say nothing. Or perhaps I should say "It is what it is."
that is what is great about all of this. I feel B.B. sees all of these press conferences and media sessions an insane waste of time; so he truly turns them into an insane waste of time. He could in effect give the same exact responses every week; in fact i think he should just put up a tape recording and a poster size photo of himself.
B.B. for Presidential Press Secretary
Bill Belichick is one of the elite coaches in the National Football League. He is a class individual. You gotta tip your hat off to him. Sometimes he holds good press conferences, and sometimes not-so-good press conferences. You like to hope that there are more good press conferences than bad. But all that is in the past now, and we're only concentrating on the next game, which will be a tough one. They always are.
If you want to hear belicheck say something meaningful or informative then listen to him on the "big" o's show......it's the only place he seems to open up and reveal anything....he seems to really like those guys on that show.
Please remember one thing, there is a purpose for everything that Coach Belichick says and does. They are by far not a waste of time, but are very calculated and can be insightful if you really listen.
Coach Belichik has respect for both Smerlas and Deossie and thus does open up a bit.