Patriots coach Bill Belichick held his regular Tuesday conference call with reporters today (3 p.m. EDT) and here were a few items of note:
1) Page has been turned to San Diego. Belichick explained that preparations are underway for the Chargers and it almost “feels like a division game” because of how often the teams have played each other. Belichick said he expects the team to be “running into a hornet’s nest” in terms of energy and excitement for a Sunday night game.
2) Short yardage running in focus. Belichick was asked about the team’s ability to pick up short yardage in the running game, as that is often a measure of one’s running attack. Belichick said it was better against the 49ers – with the two touchdown runs of 2 yards by Kevin Faulk – but he also pointed out that the team was stopped on one goal-line run and that it couldn’t run out the clock on a third-and-1 in the fourth quarter. Still, “it was good on the road to knock out a few of those short yardages and convert on third down.”
3) Tight ends add flexibility and balance to the offense. Belichick noted that it was one of the first times of late that both Benjamin Watson and David Thomas have been available for action at the same time, and that the two – sometimes lined up side by side – were part of combination blocks that aided the running game. “It was those two blocking a linebacker and a safety, or a linebacker and a defensive lineman – and the same thing in pass protection – and I thought they worked well together for the most part.”
4) Challenge talk. Belichick reflected on his decision to challenge the spot on Kevin Faulk’s 7-yard screen catch-and-run in the fourth quarter. He went through the process that led to his challenge, and explained that he thought he initially saw that Faulk had reached the first-down marker. With two timeouts left and the feeling that they wouldn’t be needed, and time to review the play upstairs because of the officials calling for a measurement, he threw the flag (and was ultimately correct).
5) Wheatley & Wilhite. Asked why Jonathan Wilhite was the choice in the dime package (six defensive backs) over Terrence Wheatley, Belichick said Wilhite has been working more at the inside position of late – which was the position the team needed to fill. Belichick pointed out that all cornerbacks need to learn both spots, and that will continue to evolve as the rookies progress. Wheatley played less than Wilhite Sunday. “Terrence and Jonathan both gave us some good quality snaps against San Francisco, and hopefully they can build on that and keep improving, and if they do that, maybe there is a chance to find more of a role defensively for us,” he said.
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hey Mike you realize the entry is all messed up right? there's a bunch of random question marks in it.
Im not really a fan of Oneal this season im really hoping that Wheatley can step it up and take over his stop by mid season then we could have Wheatley and Wilhite contributing alot to get them ready to become differences makers next year or atleast see how much of a need cb will be in the draft next year. I still feel that LB is our most glaring need in the draft with safety possibly being second.
Andrew:
How in the HELL could LB still be a glaring need at this point?
LB? That ight be the weirdest comment that I have read this week! Haven't we already gotten younger at LB and we have not even seen all of them play on Sunday do to the 45 man roster rule for games.
we need better D. more sacks from seymour and the gang. a shutdown corner would be nice.
hopefully matt gets more comfortable and we're good lol
Maroney is pathetic... wouldn't it be nice if we had an all-pro running back at this point? I'd take a majority of the rookies this year over him... Jonathan Stewart, Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Felix Jones, I'd even take Ray Rice! Maroney can be such a force if he just hit the line of scrimmage like he meant it... Never mind Cassel's learning curve, why should we have to deal with an underachieving waste of a number 1 pick in Maroney?!?
I'm all for drafting a back next year, I'll take Donald Brown out of UConn (if he leaves early, and that's not a joke because Matt Forte came out of Tulane). MARONEY IS PATHETIC!!!!
Teddy is on his way out and Mayo has obviously been amazing this year and i expect him to get better. From what i Remember Vrabel is a free agent after next season and crable may be able to take his spot but im mostly saying it in regard to a replacement for Teddy. Just imagine the chaos the patriots would cause with another player like mayo at linebacker im pretty much looking at Spikes in that spot if he was there, but Dline could also be if Seymour doesnt step it up and they trade/cut him and if they cant resign Wilfork. Also a S to replace Rodney because i dont think sanders is good enough.
My Basic thought process is positions of need/Depth are:
Oline-needs help we all know
LB-replace teddy
DB-lockdown corner/rodney replacement
RB-maroney replacement
WR-3rd wr/person for moss to groom
TE-Watson replacement/help for him being injured all the time
Dline-Depth/replacement for seymour/wilfork if cant resign
I would love another draft with focus on defense
I can see the need for an LB. Bruschi isn't going to be around forever, and it's a little too hopeful to think that Guyton should start alongside Mayo next year. It would have been nice if the Pats had grabbed David Harris instead of Meriweather. That would have been a formidable duo inside. If they grab his 2009 equivalent, that could really be something...
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