New England Patriots Links 9/09/09 - Defending the Defense Without Seymour

Bill Belichick answers a question about the changing complexion of the roster and what concerns he may have going into the first game without missing the leadership of Bruschi, Seymour, Hobbs and Vrabel.

There's a change every year on your team. That's part of the National Football League. It's part of every football team, really, and so we always deal with that. I think we have a lot of good leaders on our team and especially on the defensive side of the ball. Those players - even though some of them are young players like Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Brandon Meriweather - guys like that, as well as some of our more experienced players like [Adalius Thomas], Vince [Wilfork] and Ty [Warren], [and] players like that.

Each team has its own chemistry, its own dynamics, and I think ours is very good. It's different, but I think that our players, especially some of the players that have not only been here longer, but have a significant role on our team, have done a excellent job with their ability to lead and set a positive example for our football team, regardless of what side of the ball they've been on. No doubt about it. It's different, but I think it's good.

Nick Caserio defends the defense without Richard Seymour.

I think we have good players on this football team. I think we realize there are definitely challenges that we face that the Buffalo Bills offense provides. This is the first year kind of this no huddle, up-tempo style. They've been productive during the preseason, so I mean we certainly have our hands full preparing for them offensively. But having said that, we feel good about where the club is, where we are. I know that coach Pees can probably speak a little more as it relates to the defense, but I just think where we are as far as heading into the game against Buffalo, we're going to prepare the best we can. We're going to prepare our players the best we can and we're going to put ourselves in the position to hopefully go out there Monday night and be successful, and hopefully we end up on the right side of the ledger.

Dean Pees talks about the leadership torch being passed.

Well I think like always, when Tedy Bruschi and all those guys that you just mentioned came here at some point in time; they took over the leadership role from somebody else and that's what'll happen again. Somebody's got to step up and be the leaders and we'll find out who those are. No disrespect to anybody who retired or [is] gone from the team or anything else, but things change. Coaches change, players change. It presents new opportunities for other guys to become leaders. The torch always gets passed on good teams to somebody else and now it's their opportunity, the guys that are in the locker room right now, to step up and be those guys. And I'm actually looking forward to finding out who those guys are going to be.

TEAM TIDBITS

• Erik Scalavino writes about how the departure of Richard Seymour will affect New England's defense.
• Patriots signed rookie TE Robbie Agnone to the practice squad yesterday, filling the remaining open spot.
• Patriots Today: More moves; Wilfork's thoughts and more.  (8.07 min. video)
• Tuesday Conference Calls:  Audio plus Transcripts of Bill Belichick (15.29 min.), Dean Pees (12.22 min. ) and Nick Caserio (11.18 min. ).  Richard?  Seymour?  Who?
  

LOCAL LINKS

• Karen Guregian likens this season to back in 2003 when the Patriots had to find a way to survive without Lawyer Milloy who was released five days before the opening game.
• Christopher Price reports details of how the Seymour deal came about are starting to surface.
• Bill Reynolds notes Pats' trade of Seymour was strictly business.
• Michael Vega talks with defensive coordinator Dean Pees about preparing the team for the first game of the season against Buffalo.
• Ian Rapoport says Dean Pees will have his hands full preparing for an unknown Buffalo offense, without Richard Seymour (although he won't talk about that.)
• Robert Lee notes the Patriots will be carrying five running backs to keep everyone fresh and productive.
• Michael Vega Patriots Notebook: Celtics head coach Doc Rivers addressed the team yesterday; Nick Caserio called the release of Alex Smith and Greg Lewis unfortunate; Nick Caserio said Isiah Stanback will get consideration as team's 3rd QB.
• Dan Guttenplan analyzes the Seymour trade.
• Robert Lee discusses what life lessons Celtics coach Doc Rivers passed on to the Patriots yesterday.
• Mike Reiss updates us on the new jersey numbers of our most recent Patriots. Some players numbers have changed since preseason.
• Mike Reiss answers a mailbag full of questions regarding the Seymour trade and lots more. Terrific insight here.
• WEEI Patriots Monday:  Tom Brady (27.03 min.)  Sammy Morris (12.58 min.), Ty Warren (9.59 min.), Kevin Faulk (17.01 min.), Bill Belichick (33.14 min.)
  

NATIONAL NEWS

• Tim Graham (ESPN) Belichick doesn't expect Bills to run wishbone.
• Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Why Patriots acted quickly on Seymour trade.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Jets expect O'Connell to be more than a spy.
• Tom Curran (NBC Sports) Brady's back -- how do Pats keep it that way?  Prepare for constant blitzing.
• NBC Sports A timeline of Tom Brady's injured season.
• Adam Schefter (ESPN) Richard Seymour is unsure about reporting to Oakland. 
• Mark Kriegel (Fox Sports) It's NFL's season of comebacks.