Bill Belichick talks about the Patriots running game against the Bucs.
I think what happened in the game was that they played us a lot of eight-man front. They dropped Piscatelli down in the box a lot and they were chasing hard off the backside. They gave us some problems coming from the backside sometimes. We started with a reverse, and ran another one fairly early and thought that that would slow them down a little bit, and we also tried to play-action them a little bit to try and take advantage of their aggressiveness in the running game.
So on a lot of those runs, they kind of had one more guy than we had blockers. There wasn’t a whole lot of room to run, to be honest with you, and we felt like the reverses and the play-actions would be able to take advantage of their aggressiveness in the running game, and we got something out of the reverses and we hit some play-actions. We could have probably hit a few more play-actions. But we didn’t. That was kind of the idea. It wasn’t more to take it off the running backs, as it was to try and slow down the pursuit. And they were coming hard off the backside.
Bill Belichick offers a strong defense of Laurence Maroney, when asked if he gets frustrated with him.
Not really. Well, every player can improve, but Laurence has done a pretty good job of running the ball for us," Belichick said. "I really don't have a lot of problems with Laurence. What I'd like to see is for us to open bigger holes to create some space for these guys and allow them to run... He can do a better job but we can block better and hopefully design more plays to get some space and get some yards."
TEAM TALK
- Ask PFW: Good bye London.
- WEEI Patriots Monday [on Tuesday]: Tom Brady (27.10 min.), Vince Wilfork (12.55 min.), Chris Baker (7.15 min.), Bill Belichick (32.30 min.)
- Patriots Today: Looking back on London. (8.49 min. video)
- The New England Patriots and Special Olympics Massachusetts Team Up to Host First Annual Special Olympics Flag Football State Games on Nov. 1.
- 2010 Pro Bowl balloting begins now on NFL.com.
LOCAL LINKS
- Kerry Byrne takes a pretty thorough pulse of the Patriots at the Bye and predicts game-by-game how the rest of the season will unfold.
- Shalise Manza Young offers her analysis of the Patriots saying this is a team that at its best can likely beat any opponent, but needs all phases to be functioning at a high level for that to be possible.
- Monique Walker reports the true test lies in the next stretch of games: Miami at home, Indianapolis on the road, Jets at home, and New Orleans on the road. There aren’t any winless teams in that bunch.
- Christopher Price offers some highlights from Bill Belichick on The Big Show.
- Albert Breer notes Vince Wilfork, like most players, won't be happy if he gets tagged. How hard will it be to lock him up? Harder now.
- Jeff Howe praises the professionalism, character, talent and durability of run-stuffer Vince Wilfork.
- Glen Farley focuses on WR Sam AIken, stepping up big time to help the Pats.
- Mike Reiss notes the Patriots have gained 204 yards on short passes; Also, the four-man rush is getting the best results.
- Christopher Price reviews the Pats-Bucs game to see what was missed the first time around.
- Albert Breer wonders if the Patriots' 2007 records are in Jeopardy. Patriots' level of offensive excellence from 2007 is being matched by this year's Saints.
- Michael Hurley notes the Saints are on pace to break Patriots' single-season scoring record.
- Albert Breer reports on the injuries around the AFC East.
- Christopher Price answers his weekly reader mailbag. Breaking down the Bye week, Brandon Tate, and the Safety dance.
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag.
- Globe 10.0: Bob Ryan and Bob Powers debate whether Wes Welker is the key to the Patriots offense. (2.30 min. video) He is the best possession receiver in the NFL. Period.
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Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Belichick says he doesn't have a problem with Maroney. He could do better but so could the O-Line; Butler has done well with his increased playing time; Pats blitzed more than usual against the Bucs and came away with 3 sacks; Wilfork enjoyed how the London trip brought the team closer together. [Maybe that's what happened to the 2007 Giants too.]
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) How I see it: AFC East Stock Watch.
- BBC reporter and CHFF contributor Mike Carlson files again from New England's Friday practice in London. Bill Belichick opens up about leadership and why he has the league's smallest coaching staff; Bob Kraft talks salary cap.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: Tuesday Mail. Common denominator among five bad NFL teams.
- Don Banks (SI) Top 10 revenge games in NFL history. Two Patriots games included.
- Jerome Bettis (SI) Bus Stops: Benson can move on now; Why L.A. doesn't need team.
- Gregg Easterbrook (ESPN) Tuesday Morning Quarterback says it matters little who calls the plays for an NFL team. Coaching is overrated. Where's the sarcasm font?