DefenseRules

It Is What It Is Bill Belichick Q&A, 4/23

I thought that BB's answer to this question was very interesting.

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AKA "Ladypatsfan"

robertweathers

Don't recall him ever emphasizing the leadership aspect of a draftees makeup as much ever before.

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“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

DarrylS

It certainly indicates that the poor chemistry of the Patriots last year was not overstated...

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

Uncle Rico

Good stuff. There's another thread questioning whether BB relying on his network of allies clouds his judgment -- but I think this is a good articulation of why that network is important. It's easy to get other people's opinions, but we always have to assess "do I trust this person's judgment."

I also think the Patriots have so far picked five "football players" -- not "athletes", but "football players."

patfanken

Perhaps overstated is too harsh a description relative to the rest of the league. However it IS clear that the Pats lockerroom in 2010 was not as good as in previous years.

bucky

I was just thinking the same thing. He specifically wanted to point our that Spikes and Cunningham were the leaders of that Florida defense (long with Haden) and McCourty was definitely a leader in the Rutgers locker room. So the emphasis on bring in leadership skills is pretty obvious.

jeffbiologist

I'm not sure how good the locker room could be given the circumstances. Seymour is traded, Bruschi told that he wont make the team and retires, Harrison gone, Wilfork mad about his contract and team union rep Vrabel given away in the Cassel deal. I'm not sure what kind of message the team was sending to the players that were there, the new FAs and the ton of rookies.....how could it not be different? Different could be assumed to be bad, but sometimes different is just different.

Leave No Doubt

Awhile back Bru had commented that the lack of lockeroom leadership was one of our biggest holes. Obviously BB saw that as well. Bring back some of the basics; chemistry, leadership, and camaraderie.

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edit...2012 BABY!

zoostation

That's because he hasn't had a locker room fall apart like it did last year with the losses of TB, RH, MV etc..

Again, the new theme (same as the old theme). Players who bring enthusiasm, smart play, and leadership.

Indeed! In past drafts Bill didn't necessarily have to look for leadership because it was already in place. But now he obviously knows he needs to get that back into place.

xmarkd400x

Is Brandon Spikes dating Doc Rivers' daughter or something?