Bill Belichick's PostGame Press Conference Transcript
Here's Bill Belichick's complete postgame press conference transcript following New England's loss to the Steelers.
OPENING STATEMENT:
"That's obviously a disappointing game. Give the Steelers credit, they played well, they did a better job than we did today. They just outplayed us, outcoached us, they did a good job. Hopefully we can get back to work and play better than that going forward. But it just wasn't a real good day for us in any phase of the game, in any area. We just didn't do a good enough job. So that's really about all there is to say.
On the struggles of their pass defense:
"Gave up too many third downs, that was a big problem. If we had made some of those plays on third down we wouldn't be talking about some of the other plays."
On the fact that Bodden's release must have meant he felt the players he had were good enough:
"We make the decisions we feel that are best for the team, so that's what every decision is."
On the strategy and execution of the first onside kick:
"It wasn't very good. We called got called for offsides, the ball didn't go ten yards, so that's obviously not what we were trying to do."
On his thoughts to kick the onside kick instead of kicking it deep:
"We had confidence in the play. Thought we would execute it well, thought we'd have a good chance to get the ball. It obviously didn't work out that way."
On what Pittsburgh did differently this time to shut Brady down:
"Just what I said at the beginning. Pittsburgh did a good job today, give them credit."
On how concerned he is about the pass defense:
"We've got to have to do a better job in every area, based on today. We need to play better offense, we need to play better defense, we need to play better special teams. We need to coach better, we need to play better. That wasn't our best effort today. I'm not questioning the effort, it wasn't very good execution. We just didn't get it done."
On the move to replace Antwaun Molden with Phillip Adams, if it was based on performance:
"No, we used a lot of players on defense."
On the changing personnel in the secondary:
"I'll do what we think is best every week, whatever we think gives us the best chance to win. That's what we've always done, that's what we'll continue to do. We'll do what we think is best for the team.
On if between the pass rush and the secondary they have the talent to affect the elite quarterbacks in this league:
"We'll find out every week."
On knowing they were going to lose Ras-I Dowling and then releasing Bodden, and then not having much experience in the backfield:
"We definitely need to do a better job than we did, we had trouble the whole way through."
On what was wrong with Bodden and if there was something he did wrong:
"No, I think I've already answered that question three times."
On what the plan was to get to Roethlisberger and if they had a plan to slow him down.
"Yeah of course."
Would you mind sharing that?
"Would I mind sharing it....I mean we came in with our game plan. We hit him sometimes, there were plenty of times we didn't hit him. He had a good day. He threw the ball well, his receivers made good plays."
On whether or not he thought about challenging the Gronkowski catch at the goal line at the end:
"I thought about it, but there was no evidence to say to challenge it. I mean I certainly couldn't see it from my angle, and I don't believe they replayed the play in the box, but there was nothing to tell us that he wasn't....I don't know whether he was or not."
On Kevin Faulk's Return:
"It was good to have him back, but like I said I think we've got to do a lot better job as a team, ffensively defensively, and special teams and that's obvious. That includes everybody."
