Patriots
Belichick was additionally requested a follow-up query about his golf sport after making a joking reference to it on Sunday.
The Patriots have been in a position to snap a three-game dropping streak and defeat the Payments on Sunday to provide Invoice Belichick his three hundredth profession common season win. However as he did in his postgame soundbites, Belichick shrugged off his newest profession milestone throughout his media availability on Monday.
“We’re centered on Miami proper now, so we’ll cope with that later,” he instructed WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Present” throughout his weekly interview.
Requested when “later” may be, Belichick laughed however declined to supply specifics.
Turning to his workforce’s efficiency within the 29-25 house win (enhancing the workforce’s document to 2-5), the Patriots’ coach praised his offense as a gaggle. He positioned quarterback Mac Jones — who accomplished 25 of 30 passes and threw two touchdowns, together with the game-winner late within the fourth quarter — in the identical class as the general group.
“Offensively one in all our higher performances,” mentioned Belichick. “Had some consistency, moved the ball, scored some factors. These are all good issues, and Mac’s a giant a part of that.”
On the opposite aspect of the ball, the Patriots have been in a position to restrict — although not utterly include — the Payments’ offense.
An enormous a part of defensive success was countering the menace posed by gifted Buffalo vast receiver Stefon Diggs. Belichick referenced the plethora of succesful items the Payments function on offense, however acknowledged that a lot of the main focus fell on the 29-year-old Diggs.
“Diggs is clearly the primary drawback, second most focused participant within the league,” he defined.
Belichick even supplied a fast glimpse at how the Patriots designed their protection.
“There have been instances the place we took him away,” Belichick mentioned of Diggs. “There have been different instances the place we tried to make it appear to be we have been taking him away however actually weren’t, hoping that we may discourage the quarterback from throwing over there after which attempt to get the protection some place else and tighten it up there. Combine up some man [coverage], combine up some zone [coverage], and simply attempt to make it as troublesome as potential for him to get cleanly into the discharge and into his route.”
Diggs completed with six catches for 58 yards and an unorthodox landing.
“These guys did an excellent job on him, however in the end he acquired a pair on us,” Belichick admitted. “He’s an important participant.”
The weekend was additionally a time for remembering Patriots legends, with the workforce’s Corridor of Fame just lately inducting former linebacker Mike Vrabel and longtime offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia.
On Vrabel — now the pinnacle coach of the Titans — Belichick mentioned that it was at all times obvious how multi-talented he was, and {that a} teaching future appeared very potential.
“I believe everyone that coached Mike or was round Mike may see [him] being a coach,” mentioned Belichick. “He was a really sensible participant, not simply at his place but additionally general situationally. In fact he performed tight finish in brief yardage conditions. Performed within the kicking sport, however he at all times had an actual, pure thirst for data about situational soccer and schemes and issues like that.
“I believe you would see it with Mike and it didn’t take him lengthy to complete enjoying and go to Ohio State, then Houston, after which Tennessee,” Belichick added. “So I imply I believe he’s acquired an important benefit with the enjoying expertise he has plus his general soccer data. He can put all of it collectively and I’m positive he does an important job at Tennessee. I’m positive he’s an important coach.”
And following up on a humorous second from Sunday’s postgame press convention — when Belichick in contrast a missed Payments area purpose to his wayward golf sport — the Patriots’ coach was requested if he’s a “sizzling canine on the flip kind-of-guy” whereas enjoying an 18-hole course.
“Certain, by no means cross up an excellent sizzling canine,” Belichick joked.
After the radio interview, Belichick sat down for a digital press convention with reporters.
Amid the backwards and forwards conflict of division rivals, Sunday additionally produced a spike in penalties from each groups. Officers, led by head referee Clete Blakeman, flagged the Payments and Patriots a mixed 17 instances (9 on Buffalo, eight on New England).
Belichick was requested if coaches and gamers attempt to adapt within the second to officiating is looking a sport.
“Yeah, completely,” he responded. “I believe you will get a really feel for the way that goes, and generally it goes in that course, generally it goes within the different course.”
“I believe you see that in all sports activities,” added Belichick. “Balls and strikes, or fouls in basketball, or soccer, no matter it occurs to be. There’s a sure manner that the sport is being performed that individual [day], and it may be a little bit completely different from one other sport.”
An fascinating twist on the officiating was that various flags have been initially thrown solely to be picked up.
“You’d must ask Clete about a few of these,” Belichick mentioned of the calls that have been ultimately known as again. “Throwing flags, selecting them up, throwing them late and no matter. It was simply form of an uncommon sport the way in which among the penalties have been known as all the way in which round.”
“The plain query if it will get picked up is why did you throw it within the first place?” Belichick requested. “I don’t know. You’d must ask them that.”
One of many profitable developments for the Patriots on Sunday was the improved play from the offensive line.
A notable change was that Michael Onwenu, usually a proper guard, shifted to proper deal with.
“There have been various issues concerned,” Belichick mentioned of the choice to maneuver Onwenu. “Had an excellent dialog with Mike after the Raider sport and in the end I believe everybody thought that was one of the best factor for us to do presently, so we went with it, had an excellent week and thought he did an excellent job for us.”
“He’s a wise child that most likely understands all of the completely different positions on the offensive line,” Belichick added of Onwenu. “Fairly good basic participant and clearly has good energy.”
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