Jerod Mayo, on WEEI yesterday, talks about the four turnovers and goal line stand.
"When training camp started, we always said we’ve got to be tough on the goal line," Mayo said. "I think it really paid off us yesterday — and the week before."
Mayo said the defense benefits from practicing against the Patriots’ high-powered offense.
"Just going against our offense I think really helps us out," Mayo said. "We’re still a young defense, and going against [Tom] Brady and Deion and those tight ends is good practice for us each and every day."
Bill Belichick talks about the defense giving up a lot of passing yards for the second week in a row.
I'd say the big problem we had yesterday was we had our chances to get off the field and we just didn't do a good job of it. We had several plays we could have made on third down that I think were pretty makeable plays and we just didn't make them. So we have to do a better job with our pass rush, with our coverage, with our overall execution of the defense against the passing game than we did yesterday or than, really, we have in the last two weeks. I don't think it's any one specific thing or one particular player or position or anything. We just collectively need to do it better.
Chris Forsberg reports Dan Gronkowski is ready to ramp up his role with the offense.
"There were some instances in the [first two games of the season] where I actually had to go in there with [the staff] coaching me up on the sidelines," said Gronkowski. "I was going in there and running plays that I'd never run before. I gotta keep getting in the playbook, getting everything down and be real comfortable."
"They expect me to know everything now," said Gronkowski. "I’m at that point. I'm ready to get in there and just help out the team however I can."
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino says New England's passing defense isn't passing its initial tests.
- Monday Press Conference: Bill Belichick (16.36 min. video) plus Transcript.
- Monday Locker Room Interviews: Dan Gronkowski (2.16 min.) and Mark Anderson (2.29 min.)
- Patriots Today - Wilfork's big moment. (2.43 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Thoughts from Barrett, Anderson. (4.03 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Hall of Fame weekend recap. (2.51 min. video)
- WEEI Patriots Monday: Tom Brady (25.42 min.), Deion Branch and Jerod Mayo (12.35 min.)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss reports Jerod Mayo hosted his well-attended annual "Mayo Bowl" at Kings last night. Proceeds benefit Pitching in for Kids and Boston Medical Center.
- Mike Reiss writes that as great as Tom Brady's career has been, he somehow continues to amaze.
- Christopher Price says the Pats offense is succeeding because of the little things.
- ESPNBoston notes the scariest play of Sunday's Patriots game came when Chargers DL Antonio Garay launched himself into the back of Brady's left leg.
- Tom E. Curran says Aaron Hernandez' MCL sprain could keep him out for a month.
- Jeff Howe points to how quickly Brian Waters has contributed to the Patriots O-line after his late signing.
- Ian Rapoport notes the group focus on turnovers at practice really paid off for the Pats defense.
- Ian Rapoport breaks down each of the four turnovers the Patriots created, not even counting the goal-line stand.
- Jackie MacMullen says the Pats defense gives up too many yards and too many points but came up with enough big plays to win.
- Chris Forsberg shares some quick hits from the Patriots locker room on Monday.
- Tom E. Curran gives us 17 thoughts on the Patriots.
- Shalise Manza Young updates us on the Patriots injuries, and sees an opportunity for other players to step up with Aaron Hernandez out.
- Jeff Howe mentions Patrick Chung is the latest victim of the thumb-injury epidemic spreading across the Patriots locker room like a flu.
- Rich Levine knows the Pats defense is struggling, but they're not the only ones.
- Mike Reiss takes a look at snaps played by Patriots defenders on Sunday. Mayo and McCourty played every one.
- Tedy Bruschi thinks taking out Antoinio Gates on Sunday was a vintage Bill Belichick move.
- Christopher Price writes about the the 'funky looks' the Patriots showed San Deigo's Antonio Gates.
- Mike Reiss notes Nate Solder lined up as tight end 18 times Sunday vs. San Diego.
- Mike Reiss mentions some things that caught his eye when re-watching the Patriots-Chargers game.
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Mike Rodak re-watches Sunday's game and offers some observations: First quarter - Second quarter - Third quarter - Fourth quarter.
- Mike Reiss looks at the players who appeared on multiple special teams units Sunday. James Ihedigbo and Tracy White played on all four.
- Christopher Price breaks down the Patriots penalties through two games, by player and by position.
- Tom E. Curran looks at some head-scratching penalties on Carter and Bodden during Sunday's game against San Diego.
- WEEI offers the transcript of Tom Brady's Monday morning Q&A with Dennis & Callahan.
- WEEI highlights Jerod Mayo and Deion Branch on the Mut & Merloni show Monday.
- WEEI highlights Boomer Esiason's appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show yesterday.
- Jeff Howe grades the Patriots in Week 2. Offense gets an A.
- Ron Borges grades the Patriots with his Week 2 Report Card. "Tom Brady once again was ridiculous..."
- Kirk Minihane grades the Patriots in his Week 2 Report Card.
- Boston.com grades the Patriots in it's Week 2 Report Card.
- Shalise Manza Young Patriots Notebook: Tom Brady defends Chad Ochocinco against ex-Pats' comments, saying they have "no clue" what goes on in the locker room; Belichick praised the play of Vince Wilfork; Belichick said Vince Wilfork instinctively created the turnover play on his own; Chartgers TE Antonio Gates was held without a catch; Brady was glad he was wearing his knee brace, as it took the brunt of the force of a big hit in the third quarter.
NATIONAL NEWS
- James Walker (ESPN) Report: Pats TE Hernandez out 1-2 weeks.
- Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Chargers start slow ... again; Patriots capitalize ... again.
- Sean Deveney (Sporting News) Tom Brady's secret weapon is once again Deion Branch.
- James Walker (ESPN) Comparing Tom Brady of 2007 and 2011.
- Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Week 2 judgments: The more I see of Tom Brady the less Eli Manning reminds me of him.
- Brian Billick (Fox Sports) Week 2 Review: Going coast to coast as hard as ever.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Week Two Monday 10-pack: So much for protecting quarterbacks.
- Jonathan Comey (Cold Hard Football Facts) 10 things we learned: Week 2 Sunday edition.
- Kevin Braig (Cold Hard Football Facts) With Belichick, NFL, it's all about the film.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Nate Burleson calls himself "the black Wes Welker."