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New England Patriots Links 10/14/10 - Wilfork On Ravens: "Last Year Was Last Year"

By Marima

Vince Wilfork says "last year was last year" and the team isn't using the playoff loss at home to the Ravens as motivation to beat them on Sunday.

It's a good film to pick out a few things to go over and cover, just to see the way the Ravens play football. But as far as dwelling over it? No. We're way past that. This is a different Ravens team; they added so much firepower on offense, and then their defense is always one of the best in the league. And I think hands down, they're probably one of the best teams in the NFL right now. So, we've got our work cut out for us, but at the same time, hopefully we can get to work on Sunday and walk away with a ‘W.'"

"We're playing well. Everything's not perfect, but guys want to play, guys are willing to play. They want to learn and get better each week, so we've just got to do... Every week we have to go in and keep grinding - keep grinding. We can't ever just get relaxed and think we're done with getting better, because every week you can learn. I think this group of guys, they understand that. So, practice hard. I mean, it's everything that you want in a team. It's a long season. It's a long season, and hopefully, we can continue to get better and get things after it."

Bill Belichick responds to a question from the media about how the linebackers are coming together around Jerod Mayo as a unit.

I think our defense is coming together a little bit each week: better communication, guys getting more experience, more playing time together going through different situations. Even though we talk about them and walk through them and practice them, it's always a little bit different in the game. We've learned from each one of those situations, each one of those experiences. We have a long way to go. We need to keep getting better. We need to accelerate the pace, but I think they are gaining experience as a group and individually. Hopefully we can continue to head in the right direction and play better defense.

Tully Banta-Cain says there's no question Bill Belichick is in charge of the defense.

"He's always had influence, obviously, over the defense.  It's his defense. But now he's a little more hands-on in meetings.  We're getting more coaching tips in our face because he's in front of the meetings.  That's a little different from other years 'cause we had Romeo Crennel and Mangini and defensive coordinators like Dean Pees that were basically delivering the message from Bill. 

So now we're getting it straight from the horse's mouth."

TEAM TALK

LOCAL LINKS

  • Shalise Manza Young notes the Ravens will be the first team since Indy (2006 AFC Championship game) to face a Moss-less Patriots offense.
  • Karen Guregian feels the fans are waiting to see if the old Brady to Branch connection will still be there.
  • Ian Rapoport catches up with Brandon Tate, who feels he's ready for whatever opportunity the coaches call on him to do.
  • Mike Reiss says the shotgun is a prominent part of the Patriots attack.
  • Karen Guregian talks about how impressed Bill Belichick was with Devin McCourty's knowledge and understanding of the game.
  • Tom E. Curran sees Ray Lewis and Haloti Ngata as the biggest challenges so far for the Patriots offensive line.
  • Tom E. Curran explains how all the Pats' undersized receivers will still be able to get the job done this season. (1.36 min. video)
  • Dan Shaugnessy isn't buying either the Moss-Brady hair fight or the sudden notion that the Patriots are better off without Randy.
  • Ron Borges points out that "playing Patriot football" was always more about defense than offense, and now the Pats D seldom holds up in a close game.
  • Tony Massarotti looks at the tough six game stretch ahead and says the Ravens should provide a test to see if the Patriots have improved with all their changes.
  • Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Tully Banta-Cain acknowledged that Belichick is serving as the defensive coordinator this season; Logan Mankins has set his reporting date; Ray Rice readily remembers his TD run last year against the Pats; Ray Lewis says it's a relief not having to worry about Randy Moss; Injury update.
  • Boston Globe Patriots Notebook: A disorderly conduct charge against Bret Lockett has been dismissed; ESPN is reporting that Logan Mankins has been advised to report to the Patriots no later than Nov. 16th; Brady and Belichick are happy to have Branch back; Dean Pees is respected in Baltimore; Injury updates.

NATIONAL NEWS

VIEW FROM BALTIMORE

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