New England Patriots Links 9/30/09 - Belichick & Crew Ravin' About The Ravens

Ian Rapoport catches some stories from Comedian Lenny Clark on Bill Belichick

"Being with Bill is such a treat for me," Clark said.  "Because when we go places, people look at me and they usually recognize me.  And then they look at him, and they recognize him.  And then they look back at me.  And usually the first question they ask is usually to Bill is, 'What the hell are you doing with him?'  And Bill just smiles."

"We're so far apart," he said, "we're so different and we really enjoy each others company.  Bill likes to talk movies, and I just like to talk about him.  Not so much football.  I never ask him anything about football.  He gets that all the time.  And if he ever wanted my expertise, I would gladly give it to him.  (Laughing, but serious.)  I don't think that's going to happen.  I tell you what, I'm so happy he's the coach, but I'm even happier he's my pal.  I really dig Bill Belichick."

Bill Belichick addresses how similar the Jets defense is to Baltimore, and if playing the Jets already helped in game-planning and getting ready for this week's game.

Maybe a little bit. But I think the more important factor - the overriding factor - is the players and dealing with the Ravens' players, and the talent they have on the defensive side of the ball. They have [talent] everywhere, but particularly on the defensive side of the ball. That's what really makes them a good defensive football team. And they have a good scheme, I'm not saying that, but they have real good players and those players cause a lot of problems. I mean, look, scheme is important every week. You want to know what the other team's doing, and how to attack it, and all that. But in the end whoever's up there on the line of scrimmage, you have to block them, and whatever pass patterns you're running, they're going to have somebody cover them, and you're going to have to figure out a way to block them long enough and get open. In the running game, you're going to have to block them and find some holes to run in. Some plays are better than others, but in the end if you can block them and your backs run well, you are probably going to make yards. If you can't block them, it doesn't make a difference what the play is, you're probably not going to do too well.

TEAM TALK

• Ask PFW: Galloway struggles.
• Patriots Today: Wrapping up Pats-Falcons.  (11.09 min. video)
• Tuesday Conference Calls: Bill Belichick (14.30 min.), Dean Pees (9.20 min.), Nick Caserio (8.31min.) Plus Transcripts.
  

LOCAL LINKS

• Chris Gasper points out that statistically speaking, the no-name Patriots Defense have one of the most miserly defenses in the NFL so far this season.
• Ian Rapoport notes S Ed Reed and LB Ray Lewis anchor a formidable Ravens defense that will remind the Patriots of the Jets in many ways Sunday.
• Jeff Howe is concerned about the Patriots Red Zone inefficiencies.
• Jim Donaldson says that whatever his past, Randy Moss has given the Patriots nothing but his best.  Amen!
• Ian Rapoport catches Tedy Bruschi lauds the Patriots defense in the wake of veteran departures. 
• Christopher Price opens up his Mailbag and answers reader questions.
• Ian Rapoport reports from Matt Light's Celebrity Shoot-Out, a charity fund-raising event for the Light Foundation.
• Chris Gasper & Monique Walker Patriots Notebook: Ravens defense familiar to Pats; It's still unclear how the Patriots will use new DT Terdell Sands; Nick Caserio noted the WRs the Pats worked out were already scheduled and not a reaction to Galloway's play; Matthew Slater is wearing a plastic brace on his elbow so it might be a while before he's catching kickoffs again; Matt Light held his 5th annual Celebrity Shoot-out for charity yesterday.
• Kerry J. Byrne tells Patriots fans that it's time to let go of expectations that this will be another 2007, and offers plenty of reasons to still be excited over the Patriots win over the 2-0 Falcons.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Reiss (ESPNBoston) Patriots work out five players; Belichick addresses the signing of Terdell Sands and Details of Sands' contract; Rookie DT Myron Pryor has been a surprise for the Pats; and Mailbag questions and answers.
• Mike Reiss looks at where the Patriots stand in key statistical categories.  Top ten on defense.
• Vic Carucci (NFL.com) One month into 2009 season, Steelers and Cardinals not so super. Week 4 rankings put Moss in top 5 offensive players and Belichick in top five coaches.
• PFW Staff (Pro Football Weekly) Belichick adapting scheme to personnel.
• Don Banks (SI) Evaluating the 16 NFL teams with winning records through Week 3.
• Dan Parr (Pro Football Weekly) MVP Meter: Youth movement. Brady listed 7th.
• Gregg Easterbrook (ESPN) Untouched touchdown run of the week: Fred Taylor.  He also lauds Belichick's going for it on 4th down.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) AFC East Stock Watch.
• NFL Playbook (nfl.com) Week 3: Patriots Ups and Downs.  Can the offense bounce back?  (4.30 min. video)
• Peter King (SI) MMQB: Tuesday edition Mailbag
• DJ Gallo (ESPN) Which teams should throw in the towel after three weeks of NFL action.
• DJ Gallo (ESPN) Imagining how Bill Belichick's life would be if his coaching career ended in Cleveland. Stupid.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) T.O. wallowing in his own martyrdom.
• Paul Fitzmaurice (Pro Football Weekly) Week 4 Player Rankings.

VIEW FROM BALTIMORE

• Ron Fritz (Baltimore Sun) How the Ravens got to 3-0.
• Sarah Ellison (Baltimoreravens.com) Let the Ravens-Pats analysis begin.
• Mike Duffy (Baltimoreravens.com) Defensively, the Ravens are utilizing ST ace Brendon Ayanbadejo’s speed and agility by subbing him in for LB Tavares Gooden in their nickel and dime packages.