Invoice Belichick hinted at adjustments after newest Patriots loss, mentioned in-game determination to bench Mac Jones

Patriots

Belichick was additionally requested why he thinks he is nonetheless the best coach to guide the Patriots “beginning over.”

After the Patriots’ 34-0 defeat at house in opposition to the Saints on Sunday, Invoice Belichick remained somberly dedicated to his postgame pronouncement that the staff shall be “beginning over.”

Precisely what meaning for the 2023 Patriots — now 1-4 after dropping to New Orleans — stays to be seen.

“We’ll simply check out every little thing. Clearly we didn’t do something nicely sufficient yesterday,” Belichick stated on Monday in response to a query about beginning over throughout his weekly interview with WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Present.”

As for the temper of the staff following the most recent loss, Belichick acknowledged the fact.

“Annoyed, however we’ll simply need to work our method out of it,” he replied. “That’s all there’s to it.”

Mac Jones was benched within the second half of the loss. It was the second week in a row that the third-year quarterback was changed by backup Bailey Zappe, although (as he stated Sunday) Belichick seems to nonetheless be dedicated to Jones because the starter.

Belichick famous that regardless of benching Jones in consecutive weeks, he believes he has an honest rapport with the staff’s 2021 first-round decide.

“I’ve acquired a superb relationship with Mac since he’s been right here,” he stated. “Meet with him regularly and we’ve got a superb line of communication. He works exhausting and I’ve a variety of respect for what he does.”

As for the remainder of the offense — a unit that has now failed to attain a landing in a number of video games — the query was put to Belichick on if he thinks the “present roster is sweet sufficient?”

“Properly, we have to play higher than we’re enjoying,” Belichick stated in response. “Play and coach higher.”

In a follow-up, the Patriots’ coach was requested if the staff would possibly make one other commerce (following final week’s transfer to reacquire cornerback J.C. Jackson). May there be an equal addition to the offense?

“Proper now I’m targeted on getting our staff to carry out higher than we’ve carried out,” stated Belichick.

Considered one of Belichick’s extra expansive feedback got here on the subject of whether or not or not there’s a particular space the place the staff might enhance in its preparation.

“All good performs include good fundamentals, so we should be a greater basic staff in each space,” Belichick defined. “Once more, between schemes, coaches, gamers’ consciousness, situational consciousness, we have to do a greater job than what we’re doing. I imply I don’t suppose there’s anyone factor that’s going to vary it, or one participant. We simply all need to do a greater job.”

In direction of the top of the interview, testomony to the staff’s present place, Belichick was requested why he’s the best particular person to “restart the group with proper now”?

“I’m going to do the most effective to assist our soccer staff,” Belichick replied. “That’s my job.”

He reiterated the response in a follow-up query about whether or not or not his message is getting by way of to the present staff.

Shortly after the radio interview, Belichick answered questions from reporters in a press convention.

With only one win by way of 5 weeks, New England’s already considerably distant playoff hopes look like all however gone. Does Belichick suppose this might nonetheless be a staff that may make the postseason?

“Our targets are brief time period,” he stated. “It’s this week, prepare for Vegas, and go on the market and play the most effective we are able to.”

The upcoming recreation in opposition to the Raiders (in Las Vegas) presents yet one more probability to start turning the staff round.

To realize that, Belichick admitted that there is likely to be adjustments within the depth chart, or presumably even the teaching employees.

“We have to make some enhancements in the place we’re,” he advised reporters. “We’ll see what all that entails. We haven’t gotten into it but, however we are going to.”

Ultimately, questions circled again round to Jones, and the choice to bench him as soon as once more.

After providing that a part of his rationale for eradicating Jones was as a result of stopping him from being damage in a recreation that was out of attain, Belichick took subject with a query about if he considers Zappe a viable various.

“I’m certain if I left Mac within the recreation and he acquired injured, you’d ask why I left him within the recreation when it was 31-0,” Belichick replied. “It’s what it’s.”

As for what the staff can do to enhance, he cited an across-the-board strategy.

“We simply must do a greater job in each space. That’s all of us.”