Bill Belichick responds to media questions about Gary Guyton filling in for Jerod Mayo.
We had our moments. There were some good things [and] there were some other things we need to do a better job of. Gary [Guyton] basically replaced Jerod in our regular defense and then we had some other guys in sub defenses. So we had some different packages in there, it wasn't a Ferris wheel of guys. There was actually a plan there, believe it or not.
Yeah, [it helped that Gary Guyton had been in that situation a few years back] well Gary and Jerod came in together. They're very close, personally and [they] play well next to each other. They have great communication and both guys kind of can do what the other one does. They flip assignments and positions regularly on the defense just to change up the looks, just to have a different guy doing it - within the structure of the defense, having different guys doing it to make the offense read it differently and so forth. I think Gary has good experience and he knows all the positions - any inside linebacker part of the defense, regardless of what our front is and so forth, he's pretty adept and he's a real sharp guy.
Well, we'll see what the game plan is going forward here. But certainly Gary has had a big role in our defense over the last three years and I'm sure he'll continue to. He's a key guy for us and he's done a good job. He's done various things: played in sub defenses, played in regular defenses, played our middle linebacker spot, played our other inside linebacker spot, what we'll call the Will. He's done a lot of things.
Ian Rapoport notes Wes Welker is on pace to shatter the NFL record for most yards gained in a season.
“I feel like this is the best I’ve ever felt, this is the best I’ve played in my career,” Welker said. “So I think just my attitude towards the game and the work I put into it on a daily basis, and understand that this is my job and taking it very seriously, and training and everything that I’ve been able to do has helped out this year. We’ve just got to keep it going and understand that it’s just the first quarter of the season, and we have a long ways to go.”
“I don’t know what I’ve averaged to this point or anything like that, but I feel like my speed is definitely something I’ve worked on this offseason,” he said, “and my dieting and everything I’ve tried to do to be the best football player I can be out there.”
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino focuses on Gary Guyton and Dane Fletcher stepping up immediately to fill the significant void left by the injured Jerod Mayo.
- Monday Press Conference: Bill Belichick (17.27 min. video plus Transcript).
- Patriots Today - Zolak's take on the win. (3.04 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Pats balance things out. (2.25 min. video)
- Locker Room Uncut - Thoughts from Ridley, Fletcher. (2.37 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Ian Rapoport reports the Patriots went back to basics in their run game Sunday, choosing power over spread, ramming Green-Ellis and Ridley down Oakland’s throats.
- Ian Rapoport explains how the Patriots ran the ball so efficiently in Oakland. Twenty two out of 29 times the RBs ran behind Rob Gronkowski.
- Mike Petraglia notes Stevan Ridley's genuine praise of the Patriots O-Line and rookie Nate Solder who's "playing well over his head right now."
- Christopher Price touches on the versatility of Dane Fletcher and Thomas Welch.
- Chris Forsberg shares some quick hits from the Patriots locker room Monday. It's throwback week - Jets will be seeing red.
- Mike Reiss & Stuart Steinberg serve up some final leftovers from the win over the Raiders. Belichick called that Tom Brady's best game of the season.
- Tedy Bruschi believes the Patriots' defense is still a cause for concern.
- Christopher Price reports that Bill Belichick sees Gary Guyton as the natural fit to fill Jerod Mayo's role , considering they regularly flip assignments and positions.
- Chris Forsberg analyzes the Jerod Mayo injury situation and Gary Guyton steppping into his big, important shoes.
- Julian Benbow says Jerod Mayo will likely be out six weeks with a sprained MCL, and wonders how his play-calling, tackling and leadership will be replaced.
- Chris Forsberg notes Thomas Welch earned a few reps as a TE Sunday and talks about the offensive lineman's versatility.
- Mike Reiss breaks down the Patriots positional groupings, noting the change from multiple TE packages to having three or more receivers on the field.
- Mike Reiss looks at the defensive snaps in Sunday's win and analyzes what it means. Chung, McCourty, Wilfork and Arrington were the top four.
- Christopher Price breaks down the Patriots penalties through four games. Sergio Brown leads the pack with two DPIs for 51 yards.
- Mike Reiss reports Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will call Sunday's game against the Jets.
- Mike Reiss catches up with former Patriots and tracks how they're doing with their new teams through Week 4.
- Mike Rodak re-watches Sunday's game and offers some insightful observations: First Quarter - Second Quarter - Third Quarter - Fourth Quarter.
- WEEI highlights Boomer Esiason's guest appearance Monday morning: Wes Welker is "a freak."
- Bob Ryan reviews the exciting first quarter in the NFL.
- Julian Benbow Patriots Notebook: Stevan Ridley got the Jets week warning message from Belichick, to not get caught up in the talk and just play ball; BenJarvus Green-Ellis is prepared for a physical game; Belichick talked up Vince Wilfork's 'really good hands'; Patriots stopped the Raiders on 8 of 13 third downs.
- Dan Duggan Patriots Notebook: Stevan Ridley could have an even bigger role Sunday, with Danny Woodhead out of the lineup; Dane Fletcher and Thomas Welch both have moonlighted at different positions; Injury updates; Brady didn't have his best stat line of the season but drew high praise from Belichick.
- Jeff Howe grades the Patriots in his Week 4 Report Card.
- Kirk Minihane grades the Patriots in his Week 4 Report Card, with Welker and Ridley at the head of the class.
- Ron Borges has the paddle ready for the defense in his Week 4 Patriots Report Card.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Chase Stuart (NY Times) Different but brilliant: Wes Welker and Calvin Johnson.
- Jason Whitlock (Fox Sports) Rules change, so Patriots follow suit. "Belichick and Brady are having mind sex with the entire league."
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Hnding out the Week 4 Sunday game balls. Wes Welker gets one.
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots stock report: Week 4.
- James Walker (ESPN) Here are seven notes and observations from Week 4 in the AFC East.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) On second thought: Jets will go back to "ground and pound" approach. Rex Ryan on Patriots: "This is huge. This is the team we have to beat."
- Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) AFC division re-sets: Texans will hold off Titans.
- Jonathan Comey (Cold Hard Football Facts) Ten things we learned: Week 4 edition.
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) NFL grades: Week 4.
- Brian Billick (Fox Sports) Look who's back in the running.
- NFL Total Access (NFL.com) The crew hands out awards to who they think are the best players through Week 4 on both sides of the ball. (4.09 min. video)
VIEW FROM NEW YORK
- Brian Costello (NY Post) Gang re-committing to running game.
- Gary Myers (NY Daily News) Jets coach Rex Ryan talks around Super boast as test vs. Patriots awaits.
- Ben Shpigel (NY Times) Losses turn up heat under Ryan's collar.