New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick knows how to disrupt the opposing team's biggest strengths in order to tip the scales. His defensive plan for the Giants against the Bills in Super Bowl XXV is in the Hall of Fame, and his plan for the Patriots against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI launched him into stardom.
The plans centered on removing the big play (Bills K Gun offense) or the big player (Rams running back Marshall Faulk), but the core was the same: commit to the disruption for the entire game.
One man has a different take on Belichick's strategy.
"You always hear, ‘Bill Belichick takes away what you do best,' but, well, every defensive coordinator does that," former Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said via the Kansas City Star. "He's not the only one. The difference is, he's willing to go to more extreme measures. His looks will be even more unorthodox than what you might get somewhere else, and you have to know that going in, and you have to have a plan of attack based on your strengths, that allows you to attack him where he's vulnerable because of that adjustment."
Gilbride boats an 11-7 record when facing Belichick and he boils his success down to the preparation. He always had an idea of how Belichick would want to break down his offense, so he would build in contingency plans so his team could adjust in the middle of the game according to Belichick's game strategy.
Gilbride also has an idea of how the Patriots will face the Chiefs.
"The Chiefs need to figure out: Who is it that would scare [the Patriots]?" Gilbride said. "I would suspect [the Patriots] are going to beat the living tar out of [Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce]."
With wide receiver Jeremy Maclin banged up, Kelce becomes the top option in the Chiefs passing attack. The Patriots would love for Kansas City to become one dimensional running the ball, so the New England defense will remove the opposing passing attack.
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