Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addresses the media during his press conference at Gillette Stadium on Monday, September 20, 2010.
BB: After watching the tape [and] going through the game, there're obviously a lot of things we need to do better. [I] feel like we can do better - should do better. So we've just got to get back to work this week and get ready for Buffalo and also get things straightened out on our end - just things we need to do better. It's pretty much across the board and all three phases of the game: playing, coaching, offense, defense, special teams, you name it. It's just not as efficient as what it needs to be.
Q: I know you mentioned everything, but what would be on the top of the list?
BB: We're going to play a full 60-minute game this week, so first down, second down, third down, fourth down. We just need to do a better job in all areas.
Q: Can you put your finger on what happened in the second half of the last two games this year? I know it's only been two games, but it was an issue last year as well.
BB: [We] didn't do well enough. If there was some switch, I would flip it. But we just didn't do well enough.
Q: It seemed in the second half they blitzed less. How did that affect things Xs and Os wise?
BB: They still mixed it up. I couldn't give you the exact percentage, but they still mixed it up. They covered some in the first half and they pressured, and they pressured and covered in the second half. They did a good job; we just have to do better job.
Q: Sometimes games come down to two plays and if they go the other direction it could be a different result. When you went through the game, where did you see it turn in a couple of plays?
BB: I couldn't put it on one play. We looked at the tape. We had a lot of corrections on everything - just things we needed to do better: offense, defense, special teams [and] all four downs. A lot of times there're good things on the play and one thing messes it up. Sometimes there're some bad things on a play and one good thing saves it. Overall, we need to do a better job.
Q: Do you feel as though Tom Brady was forcing the ball to Randy Moss in the second half once Darrelle Revis left the game?
BB: I think overall, our passing game just needs to be a little more efficient, that's all. We had some good plays. We just need more of them and we need to eliminate the bad ones. That's obvious, but that's what it is.
Q: Do you have a sense now of Kevin Faulk's injury is serious or not?
BB: They're doing some tests on Kevin and then we'll know more when they tell us.
Q: The Bills announced today that they are moving to Ryan Fitzpatrick. What do you remember about facing him and how will that approach your preparation?
BB: [He's a] good quarterback from what we've seen in Cincinnati. [We] saw him last year. [He's a] strong-armed guy [and] can throw it down the field. [He] seems like he has good presence, good leadership in the huddle. The team rallies around him and that kind of thing. We'll be ready for everybody, whoever they put in there at quarterback, running back or wherever else and we'll have to prepare for everybody and whatever decisions they make, they make. We'll prepare for all of them.
Q: Technique-wise, what's the best way for a defensive back to defend when the quarterback throws it up into the end zone, kind of like a jump ball?
BB: That could be a 45-minute meeting, but it depends on the situation and what the coverage is, whether you're in man coverage, zone coverage and the different passes you have to defend depending on how close you are to the sidelines and how far away you are and all those kind of things. The bottom line is in the red area and in the end zone, there're a lot of tight throws and less space to throw in and it's hard to get interceptions because usually the quarterback doesn't throw the ball right to the defender; he throws it where he can't get it and so a lot of times you're trying to break up the pass more than you're really trying to intercept it - on fade patterns, back shoulder passes and things like that. Playing defensive back is a position that really goes for a long time relative to other positions. You're playing technique and playing technique on the release and the route then the finish of the route and ball in the air and throw and all that. So it's not like offensive and defensive lineman that line up this far away from each other. It's a much more extended thing, so there is a lot of technique involved in a defensive back's play, from the snap until the ball arrives at the receiver.
Q: When a defensive back can't get himself turned around, does he just watch the guy's eyes and use that to judge when the ball is going to come or where does that reaction come from?
BB: If the defensive back can't see the quarterback then he has to watch the receiver and play the ball based on what the receiver's catching motion is.
Q: What are your thoughts on the touchdown catch by Randy Moss?
BB: It was a terrific catch, but we've seen that play in practice probably a dozen times.
Q: Does he make plays like that routinely in practice?
BB: I've probably seen a dozen of them, but it was a great catch. But it's all plays we've all seen before.
Q: Are you surprised anymore when something like that happens?
BB: I'm just saying that I've seen him do that a number of times where he's running full stride and the ball is out in front of him and he reaches out with one hand and grabs it. The first time it happened, it was like, 'Oh, my God.' Then you see it again. I'm not saying it's a routine play, I don't mean it that way. I'm just talking about those of us who are in practice and watch Randy. I've seen him make that play a number of times.
Q: Brandon Meriweather was talking about not seeing as much time as he had been on the base defense, he kind of put the finger on himself in his practice habits. Since that happened have you noticed an improvement in practice?
BB: I think really all the players are working hard in practice, Brandon included. I think we had good practices last week. I think we had them in the first week for Cincinnati. I don't think we had a lot to show for it in the game yesterday, but I think our practices have been good and I think everybody is trying to work hard and get better and improve. Hopefully that will continue and we'll see better results as a team. We have to take practice and obviously turn that into game performance - coaching, playing, everything. I think Brandon has been working hard. Really, I think all the players have. [At] practice, I think everyone is trying to get it right, working hard, get the game plan, get it executed. We've just got to do a better job of it on Sunday.
Q: Did you see anything from Jermaine Cunningham that caught your eye?
BB: I'd say [he's] a little further along than last week against Cincinnati. It's almost like his second preseason game really. He hasn't had a lot of opportunity to play, but Jermaine is working hard and he's coming along. He's doing things better in practice. Some of those show up in the game. Some don't because the opportunities aren't there and all of that. We'll see how it goes.
Q: The first play he stayed home pretty nicely on that route. Is that how you're supposed to do it and is that how you teach it?
BB: Yes, that was his responsibility - part of his responsibility. [He] made a nice play on it.
Q: Ron Brace starts at left defensive end and that allows to flip Gerard Warren over to the right side. What did you see with Brace in the run defense? The run defense seemed competitive early.
BB: I'd say overall, for the most part, the run defense was competitive. We gave up a couple of sub runs. There were times where we were a little softer than what we want to be. Ron's gotten some time. He got a little bit of slow start there in training camp but he's picked it up and gotten more reps and more playing time. I think he's done all right over there at left end.
Q: It seemed like you were pretty involved in conversations after the Eric Smith penalty to Wes Welker's head. Was there a message you were delivering to the officials?
BB: No, we were just talking about the play and the call and how they saw it.
Q: Was that different from how you saw it?
BB: Well, I don't know. I think we both kind of saw the same thing. I mean, they threw a flag on it. I don't think that's really what the league is looking for - those kind of plays. I can't imagine that they are. We'll see what they want to do about it.
Q: So you thought maybe an ejection would be appropriate?
BB: No, I was just asking about the play and what the ruling was, what they saw and all that. That's their call and not mine.
Q: Your first instinct on that obviously is to protect your players, right?
BB: Well, they threw the flag. They called the foul.
Q: Was there anything you liked when you looked back at the game?
BB: Not enough. Not enough.
