Invoice O’Brien laughs off notion that Patriots are ‘interrogating’ Will Grier for information on Cowboys’ offense

Patriots

“I don’t suppose we’re making an attempt to drag a light-weight over anyone and say, ‘Inform me what you probably did on July 20 of 2023.’”

Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and the remainder of his employees have a tall activity forward of them getting into Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Patriots.

Not solely does the Patriots’ protection provide up its fair proportion of challenges, however the Cowboys’ teaching employees can be within the course of of adjusting up the crew’s hand alerts and calls earlier than Sunday’s Week 4 showdown.

Why is that?

As a result of the Patriots might need the within intel on the Cowboys’ offensive schemes, particularly with a pair of former Dallas gamers in Ezekiel Elliott and Will Grier on their roster.

“We’re at all times conscious of it,” Schottenheimer advised reporters Tuesday of the Patriots leaning on Elliott and Grier for perception. “These are issues we monitor each week. However we all know Will is aware of the place a number of the bones are buried. Zeke does as properly. So these are belongings you speak about and also you suppose, ‘OK, let’s modify this.’ We actually have multiple hand sign for many of our core ideas.”

At the moment the third-string QB on the depth chart, Grier seemingly received’t determine into New England’s gameplan out on the gridiron on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. 

However Grier spent two full seasons in Dallas’ system, and was solely a late minimize from the Cowboys roster in August after the crew acquired QB Trey Lance from the 49ers.

Together with doubtlessly being utilized as a scout-team QB throughout practices this week, Grier ought to have loads of information on the Cowboys’ offensive schemes.

“You should utilize it to your benefit as a result of they suppose they know what’s coming they usually hear one thing they usually suppose, ‘It’s this’ and we’re good sufficient to regulate these issues,” Schottenheimer stated. “All people does it, you get a participant that’s been someplace, you speak to him about various things, and you then’re very selective about how a lot you set into it.

“Excited to see Will, it’ll be nice to see him, however I’m certain he’s undoubtedly being interrogated and spending a number of late nights with their defensive teaching employees.”

Talking with the media later that morning, Patriots offensive coordinator Invoice O’Brien acquired a kick out of Schottenheimer’s remark relating to New England’s in depth conversations with Grier.

“Interrogating!” O’Brien stated. “Schotty is an effective man. I’ve identified Schotty for a very long time. I believe that’s the best way it’s each week on this league, yearly on this league. … I don’t suppose we’re making an attempt to drag a light-weight over anyone and say, ‘Inform me what you probably did on July 20 of 2023.’ We’re not doing that. We’re not interrogating anyone. We’re simply making an attempt to place collectively one of the best sport plan we probably can.”

Though the Patriots will make the most of no matter info that each Grier and Elliott have mined over their years in Dallas, O’Brien pressured that the true determinant in Sunday’s sport will come right down to the execution and play out on the sector.

“There’s going to be guys that come into your group off of groups that you simply’re about to play, and it goes each methods,” O’Brien stated. “You recognize, it’s at all times going to occur. So on the finish of the day, you’ve acquired to check movie.

“All people’s going to be on the identical web page with what we’re doing. I’ve by no means thought in my years within the league that any of that was an actual overriding think about a win or a loss. It comes right down to the gamers on the sector and the coaches placing the gamers in the suitable positions to make performs, and that’s what we’re making an attempt to do.”