BB Gives Team Fri-Sat-Sun Off

[Fencer]

The captains' role

On Wednesday, Wilfork was quoted saying

"I’m looking forward to another good practice today and hopefully that will be enough with the guys that are banged up. At this point in the year, you have a lot of guys with all types of injuries and bumps and bruises so we need to make sure that we can get those taken care of."

Wilfork: 'Good work done yesterday' - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

On Thursday, he got his wish.

Players earn long weekend off - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

I don't know the exact sequence of events there -- whether he was reflecting something BB had already indicated he was leaning toward or whether Vince was being even more proactive than that -- but whatever happened, it shows some meaningful involvement in the coaches' decision & communication process.

In general, I've gotten the impression that the captains are -- along with the assistant coaches -- a second group of "middle managers", passing communication two ways between players and coaches, and having some substantive input into decisions along the way.

My guess is that captains are more involved in the non Xs & Os stuff like scheduling, while game planning is more strictly done by or with coaches (i.e., when a player has input into Xs and Os, it's usually at a position group meeting with the coach or something like that).

It's my further guess that BB makes better and more serious use of his captains than most coaches do.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: The captains' role

That's a pretty safe bet, since Belichick makes better use of just about everything than other coaches do.

 

[shmessy]

Players earn long weekend off - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

"Patriots coach Bill Belichick, apparently pleased with the work the team conducted in demanding full-pads practices Wednesday and Thursday......."

I LOVE that. From some of the players' comments yesterday, it sounded like the coaching ran them VERY hard and that it was a VERY productive session.

Best of both worlds - - they got in a very intense two days, and now they can rest for 3 and be fresh and strong to hit the ground running on Monday when they know whom they'll be playing.

BTW, another reason why I'm rooting for the Jets over the Colts (other than the original three - - 1) Cromartie's comp goes from 3rd rounder to 2nd rounder if they win at Indy 2) We match up better with the Jets and 3) Like Rex, I'm into domination and humiliation - - but on the football field - - is that if the Jets win Sat night, that gives the Pats braintrust an extra day (Sunday) of prep work knowing whom they'll be facing, and not having to wait an additional 20 hours or so - - gimme BB with an extra 20 hours and I'll take it.

 

[Ring 6]

Players earn long weekend off - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

"Patriots coach Bill Belichick, apparently pleased with the work the team conducted in demanding full-pads practices Wednesday and Thursday......."

I LOVE that. From some of the players' comments yesterday, it sounded like the coaching ran them VERY hard and that it was a VERY productive session.

Best of both worlds - - they got in a very intense two days, and now they can rest for 3 and be fresh and strong to hit the ground running on Monday when they know who they'll be playing.

BTW, another reason why I'm rooting for the Jets over the Colts (other than the original three - - 1) Cromartie's comp goes from 3rd rounder to 2nd rounder if they win at Indy 2) We match up better with the Jets and 3) Like Rex, I'm into domination and humiliation - - but on the football field) is that if the Jets win Sat night, that gives the Pats braintrust an extra day (Sunday) of prep work knowing whom they'll be facing, and not having to wait an additional 20 hours or so - - gimme BB with an extra 20 hours and I'll take it.

This message made possible by the philosophy to take every game seriously and not take week 17 off just because you can.

 

[ALP]

always good news to hear that the team is having good practices....ALWAYS good news

 

[naF staP]

Re: The captains' role

BB knows best but using two days out of a full week to work? I would have liked to see them use one more day, maybe not in pads but going over previous game film looking at mistakes made.

I know, I know! I'm not a coach in the NFL. I just want the team ready to take it all!

 

[RayClay]

Oh boy, you know what that means...Pony rides, watermelon, let's pick sides for the badminton tournament fellas!

 

[shmessy]

Oh boy, you know what that means...Pony rides, watermelon, let's pick sides for the badminton tournament fellas!

Well played Ray - - good memory - - that's just about word for word how Belichick said it in his presser just after the bye week in October!

 

[Sciz]

And we all know what happened to the Jets last time the Pats played them after a (mini) bye. I hope it's the same this time.

(Hoping Jets beat Colts so pick for Cromartie goes from a 3rd to a 2nd)

 

[PatriotDynasty_12]

Godddd, that's great news.

 

[Keyser Söze]

I knew this would be a trap game.

 

[Fencer]

Captain's role

The mods made a rare misstep retitling/merging this thread.

Anyhow, returning to the original subject of the captains' role, looks like some level of game plan is included:

Perhaps captain Alge Crumpler summed it up when asked to explain the role of a leader on this 14-2 team that has the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.


“Just reiterating the message,” said Crumpler, one of five captains. “All we do is try to let (Belichick) coach. The message that he gets across, we just reiterate that all week. It’s resonating. The guys that are named captains, the older guys, when we speak, everyone listens.”

Trust in Bill Belichick key to success - BostonHerald.com

 

[RayClay]

Well played Ray - - good memory - - that's just about word for word how Belichick said it in his presser just after the bye week in October!

I hate to disappoint you, but I looked it up.:bricks:

 

[RayClay]

The idea is to get quality work in, not to work every day because it looks good. The Captains send the message, work hard, work smart and efficiently. Hard work is not rewarded, good work is.

It reminded me of something i noted when I was a vendor at Fenway. The top vendors were almost always done and cashed out and watching the last three innings of the game. The scrubs would still be wandering around, trying to sell that last box, rack, whatever.

They were working harder and longer and making less money. The hustlers knew that dad only had so much money for overpriced food and knew the closing window for each product (early for popcorn. Once they got one with the megaphone, that was about it. Hustlers got the Ice Cream and Franks, the rooks were the ones wandering around innings 7-9 with popcorn lol.).

Do it right, do it on time and you get a much needed and appreciated break. Life lesson.

 

[DarrylS]

After getting stuck after the day after christmas game, and a very brutal season.. nice to see they are getting some family time, some sleep time and some time away.

Rest sometimes means rust, but probably not in this situation..

 

[Sicilian]

The idea is to get quality work in, not to work every day because it looks good. The Captains send the message, work hard, work smart and efficiently. Hard work is not rewarded, good work is.

My old hockey coach used to say, "Practice doesn't make perfect... perfect practice makes perfect."

 

[Keegs]

BB should force the team to come in Sunday if the Jets win.

I think doing that, and then telling the players to direct their anger/displeasure towards the Jets for the upcoming game would be hilarious.