Los Angeles Chargers coaches and players comment on their upcoming game against the New England Patriots.
On facing the Patriots...
"They beat us really bad in all three phases last year. Everybody knows that. We are aware of what happened last year. We've got to try to stop them because they are going to try to do the same thing."
- Chargers Defensive Back Chris Harris Jr.
On Bill Belichick...
"He's an outstanding offensive coach. I think that's something he doesn't get enough credit for. He's an outstanding offensive coach, defensive coach, and special teams coach. That's why they've played the way they've played up there for so long; because he's a complete coach. That's something I'm trying to be. If I had to say the biggest takeaway from him, for me, is that he's a complete coach."
- Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley
On Mac Jones...
"I see a guy that's an outstanding decision-maker. I think his processing is at a premium for a young quarterback; you can really see that he can see the game. I know the way they play on offense, they ask a lot of that position. You can tell that he can process at a high level because of the type of plays they're running. They're running a lot of premium-type offensive plays that you would think a more experienced quarterback would have.
"He has that kind of command over their system, and I think he has really good anticipation as a thrower. I think that's a big asset of him just as a pure passer — he has great anticipation and his ball placement is outstanding. He's got real toughness for the position. You can see when he's in tight pockets that he's willing to hang tough and play the way you're supposed to play."
- Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley
"I feel like Mac has played great. For a rookie to come in to learn this offense is very difficult and to be able to make the checks and make the throws. He's been able to do that. I'm impressed by how he is playing as a rookie quarterback. It's definitely going to be a challenge."
- Chargers Defensive Back Chris Harris Jr.
On the Patriots defense...
"It's just the discipline they have over there. I know that is Coach Belichick's standard that he has for his entire team. They funnel everything inside to their help. They are very disciplined in that. That allows them to make you have to make plays. You have to break tackles to get any type of big explosive plays. It comes down to one-on-ones. You have to win your man on man opportunities and make a play. That's what it all comes down to. Players got to make plays."
- Chargers Running Back Austin Ekeler
"They're well coached obviously. Bill [Belichick] has been there forever and they have always been good. They have always been smart. They don't beat themselves. They are very specific to each team they play. They've got a structure and a philosophy, but there are a lot of nuances to how they play each defense. They are heavy up front. They've got big edge setters. They are going to funnel your run game inside. They know how to play their coverages and where they need help. The hard part is trying to predict how they are going to play you. You have to be flexible against this team because the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. They are just a smart football team that forces you to play smart, and if you don't play smart they are going to expose you real fast."
- Chargers Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi
On the Patriots offense...
"We've got to have good eyes, great discipline and everybody just needs to do their job. That's the best thing you can do. They have a lot of screens and a lot of trick plays. That's always been in Belichick and McDaniels tool box."
- Chargers Defensive Back Chris Harris Jr.
On facing former Charger Hunter Henry...
"That's going to be lit. Obviously, he was a big part of our team in the past. It's going to be good to see him. We are going to try to make some plays against him, so we'll see how that goes."
- Chargers Wide Receiver Mike Williams
