Belichick: September may be an extended pre-season for Patriots

[Grogan14]

Building the team.

But that's not what everyone wants. Many want statistics and numbers to either be able to crow or moan about the draft. Others want to skip right to the season from the first rep in proclaiming their ability to tell the future and all the outcomes to be revealed. Some think a team is the result of just walking on the field.

Team are made of highly skilled players, but that's far from the only thing they're made of.

The only stat that matters is wins and losses. By Bill saying that the first 4 weeks of the season are really just an extension of the preseason he is devaluing those games (whether intentionally or not).

 

[Pats1971]

The only stat that matters is wins and losses. By Bill saying that the first 4 weeks of the season are really just an extension of the preseason he is devaluing those games (whether intentionally or not).

Yes he is, he is basically telling the players those games dont mean as much. The correct answer is, all games are important.

 

[mikey m]

The only stat that matters is wins and losses. By Bill saying that the first 4 weeks of the season are really just an extension of the preseason he is devaluing those games (whether intentionally or not).

Only if you choose to see it that way.

"We'll deal with that later. I think a lot of veteran players are aware of it. I've heard a lot of people comment on it. September is an extension of the preseason for your team, developing your team. I think there's some truth to that.
"But games start now so it's important to be competitive."

 

[Jim Beankie]

Why should they change their process?

They started 1-3 last year and made the playoffs.

Winning another game in Sept does not make them a better team in January.

Unfortunately, the only Pats team that made it all the way to the SB without a bye was the '85 team. Imho, that extra rest/time that comes with a bye has made a huge difference in making them a better team at the end. It's part of why (as I'm sure most can guess) #1 seeds have won 54% of the SBs (22% for #2 seeds - I know the rules are different now).

It's futile, though, to go back to last year and wonder what would happen if DHarris didn't fumble that ball in Wk1, as maybe that alternate timeline didn't have the Pats making the playoffs at all. That being said, 11-5 going into that last Miami game with the #1 seed on the line would have had a tremendously different level of urgency than 10-6 with no realistic chance to win the Division.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Unfortunately, the only Pats team that made it all the way to the SB without a bye was the '85 team. Imho, that extra rest/time that comes with a bye has made a huge difference in making them a better team at the end. It's part of why (as I'm sure most can guess) #1 seeds have won 54% of the SBs (22% for #2 seeds - I know the rules are different now).

It's futile, though, to go back to last year and wonder what would happen if DHarris didn't fumble that ball in Wk1, as maybe that alternate timeline didn't have the Pats making the playoffs at all. That being said, 11-5 going into that last Miami game with the #1 seed on the line would have had a tremendously different level of urgency than 10-6 with no realistic chance to win the Division.

Great points but I don't think it would have mattered.

Last year's team was not good enough.

 

[Brotherblues]

Yes he is, he is basically telling the players those games dont mean as much. The correct answer is, all games are important.

Is he? I don't even think he's singling out his own team, just that NFL games in general are sloppier in September as many teams are still working on new things and finding what works for them. Gotta of course always go all out for that W no matter the month, which he also clarifies.

 

[PScottman]

The only stat that matters is wins and losses. By Bill saying that the first 4 weeks of the season are really just an extension of the preseason he is devaluing those games (whether intentionally or not).

Devaluing to whom? Perception and interpretation are funny things and a lot like opinions. One guy thinks it's the end of the season - might as well just pack it in. Another perceives it simply as another aspect of the journey of an entire season. Another examines what is not said - that the extension word has nothing to do with their preparation, practice, game planning, or focus on trying to win the games and simply is in regards to building the team (who is and isn't actually on the roster, what type of team they are like running or passing or balanced or offensive reliant or defensive reliant etc).

He also has said:

"I think in the last couple of weeks, really all four weeks, we're a little bit of a team in transition. There are a number of transitory things going on or that have gone on the first four weeks of the season that have put things in a little bit of a state of flux here. They weren't what they were a month ago. Some of them aren't like they were two weeks ago. Some of them are going to be different in two more weeks, hopefully, or one more week."

NO! Not transition! That's bad right?

"My personal coaching philosophy, my mentality, has always been to make things as difficult as possible for players in practice, however bad we can make them, I make them."

He said the "D" word! Difficult. He's going to destroy team morale with that sentence!

"We'll try to use the preseason as well as training camp to help evaluate that mix, ... Not just individually, but collectively, the groups working together and kind of what looks like the best combination and that type of thing."

Belichick doesn't care about how individual players perform! He just said so! He also rigidly doesn't change in the season - only in training camp!

Yep, he's going to continue to evaluate and tweak the team in the first four games...can I tell you a secret - he'll do that all 17 games too. The Patriots are doomed!!!!

 

[Bruins29]

Why does anyone even respond to SamBam here? He is a moron.

 

[Calhoun44]

I’m not saying, hit the panic button right now. That’s ridiculous without having played a regular season game. However browsing this forum…you’d think everything was hunky dory, business as usual.

I don’t think all of the beat writers are just full of crap about the major concerns after a very bad training camp and preseason.

Definitely don't hit the panic button. They have two weeks to put in their gameplan for the Dolphins. if after that game they still look as unpolished as they have, then it might be time to locate the panic button in case we need it by week 4.

 

[Toofy]

Though we use it as preseason earlier we had the goat QB and goat TE and one of the best CBs in the game and solid talent who punched above their weight in hightower, Edelman, white . Now those players are no longer there.

We might not have the luxury to start slow and do well. We can take maybe first 2 games as preseason or expirementation.

But 4-5 games, more often than not we need to kiss playoff chances goodbye.

This is the season where bill is playing chess whilst all of us are playing checkers. If we miserably fail, then the next few years are gonna be even more tough with changes to OC,DC and potentially QB.

It's very important that we do not regress here.

 

[rochrist]

Word around the league is that Jones is no where near ready.

You plugged in around the league are you?

 

[Huckleberry1]

I don’t know why people take every time I post as an opportunity to smack talk. We’re just talking football.

No you aren’t, you just come in here to take little sh.ts on the Patriots. Go talk football with Bill’s fans.

 

[Ollie]

its implied....

It really isn't. He is just saying that you are still evaluating what you have and what sort of team you are for the first few games of the season. That isn't a bad thing and they clearly still try to be as competitive as possible in September but its obvious that the team will continue to develop and improve throughout the year.

 

[sb1]

Mac is not ready? News to me. He was scouted as the most polished and pro ready QB of the big 5 in the draft and last season he proved that assessment was spot on correct. No reason to think he would go from pro ready to not ready this season.

Seems like it’s cool these days to hate on the kid. Weird.

 

[Wozzy]

Don't panic if they lose their first game, we never win in Miami in September... even when that Timmy guy was here.

As far as the rest goes, the 2018 team was a good example of a team that improved, and that needed to improve as the season went on. They looked bad early on. It wasn't until midseason around the trade deadline when they signed two special teams aces (McClellan, Humber) who came in and made that the first of the three phases to improve consistency. Then the defense improved, and offense followed when they committed to running the ball. They won a Super Bowl that year.

The first month of football is an extension of preseason, but teams can continue to improve and get healthy all season.

 

[Wozzy]

Mac is not ready for what?

Good grief... every year the same thing.

Preseason is practice, the scores mean nothing.

 

[Triumph]

You plugged in around the league are you?

Just NFL types making statements.

 

[Triumph]

The only stat that matters is wins and losses. By Bill saying that the first 4 weeks of the season are really just an extension of the preseason he is devaluing those games (whether intentionally or not).

3 AFC conference games and 1 NFC game to see where your defense stacks up vs a HOF QB.

0 - 4 through this stretch and youre not in the post season because there are just too many good teams ahead.

 

[Bruins29]

 

[PatsWSB47]

The only stat that matters is wins and losses. By Bill saying that the first 4 weeks of the season are really just an extension of the preseason he is devaluing those games (whether intentionally or not).

Its more than that though. Gains can be made in a loss. If they can learn and and adjust from those games that can translate into wins later in the year. The teams that are clicking at the end of the year will likely be better off than the teams that aren't even thought if started of hot.