Belichick Interview With the 33rd Team

[crawhammer]

The returner gets nowhere without blocks.

No **** (generally speaking although there are more than a few returner highlights that will blow your mind).

Your argument is akin to saying OL isn’t important the running back is more important, which is ridiculous.

If I said the OL isn't important to the running back then yes that would be ridiculous. Good for me that I never said that. I also never said blocking isn't important to the returner. You're making things up.

I understand you don’t know the game, but you should have learned something by now. Your arrogance is an impediment to your education.

My arrogance? You keep assuming ownership of my comments and restating them as you see fit. WTF.

 

[crawhammer]

Larry Whigham was better

Better than who?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Better than who?

Slater.

 

[Ring 6]

No **** (generally speaking although there are more than a few returner highlights that will blow your mind).


If I said the OL isn't important to the running back then yes that would be ridiculous. Good for me that I never said that. I also never said blocking isn't important to the returner. You're making things up.


My arrogance? You keep assuming ownership of my comments and restating them as you see fit. WTF.

There are more than a few impressive plays by all players. One player dirs not get credit for what 11 combine to do because his job is the only one you are looking at, or scores the fantasy football points.

“that is akin to saying” is not saying you said it. It means that the equivalence of saying the guy who has the ball is the best player and the one responsible for success is to ignore the importance of the other players to what the shiny object you focus on did.

I watch 90% of the responses to your posts try to correct your misunderstanding of the game and your lack of knowledge and instead of learning from people who clearly know the game, you argue from your fantasy football perspective. That is arrogance.

 

[Joker]

What are the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder?

• Sense of self-importance.
• Preoccupation with power, beauty, or success.
• Entitled.
• Can only be around people who are important or special.
• Interpersonally exploitative for their own gain.
• Arrogant.
• Lack empathy.
• Must be admired.

 

[TheRainMaker]

What are the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder?

• Sense of self-importance.
• Preoccupation with power, beauty, or success.
• Entitled.
• Can only be around people who are important or special.
• Interpersonally exploitative for their own gain.
• Arrogant.
• Lack empathy.
• Must be admired.

You just described Gen Z.

 

[crawhammer]

Slater.

Well, it goes to show how useless it is debating Slater's importance. Assuming you're entirely serious, that's quite a footnote player to put above Slater. Not that I'm disputing it.

 

[crawhammer]

fantasy football points

This doesn't even make sense. How many fantasy football leagues even have a designation for a returner? Even where you gain points for return yards, it's not something you target in fantasy football (drafts). You must not play but are arrogant enough to reference it or you suck at it.

“that is akin to saying” is not saying you said it. It means that the equivalence of saying the guy who has the ball is the best player and the one responsible for success is to ignore the importance of the other players to what the shiny object you focus on did.

This doesn't make sense either... may be a grammatical error but I also doubt the logic is sound.

I watch 90% of the responses to your posts try to correct your misunderstanding of the game and your lack of knowledge

lol that's a lie. Is there a breakdown of reactions to members/posts on this site? Your 90% is yet more of your hyperbole.

instead of learning from people who clearly know the game, you argue from your fantasy football perspective

Since you keep bringing it up, apparent ff expert, what exactly is a ff perspective? Because you've already designated a ff position of importance that hardly exists/matters.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Well, it goes to show how useless it is debating Slater's importance. Assuming you're entirely serious, that's quite a footnote player to put above Slater. Not that I'm disputing it.

Why are we even discussing Slater in the first place?

Whigham was a damn good nickel/dime player people seem to overlook along with being their special teams ace.

 

[mgcolby]

Show me anywhere when I said anything close to that. I'll repeat... the returner (of any other ST player on the return play) gets the largest percentage of credit for the return (generally speaking). You disagree with that??

When it comes to special teams, the players who typically handle the football (returners, punters, kickers, etc.) are most important to the outcome of the play.


Than who for example? Seriously who is Slater more valuable than (on the field of play)? QB, WR1, WR2, WR3, RB1, RB2, TE1, TE2, LT, LG, C, RG, RT... anyone? How about the defensive starters?... DBs, LBs, DL, edge rushers? STers... returners, kickers, punters? Who?... gives me names.

I responded to you as I was reading the thread. I then realized the thread has become mostly about your statement and you defending it. I am not getting into all that.

Slater is arguably the greatest special teams player ever. The kick returners are usually starters that have a single ST duty. So I don't consider one way ST'rs "greats" unless you want to isolate them into their own category...i.e.ount returner, kick returner, punter, Adam Vinietarie, etc...but straight special teamer. Man Don Bebee might be the only one you could argue was better.

And I am bias towards Bebee because I am partial to old school ball. And that bastard would rip your skull off. He even put a Velcro alien top on his helmet so he could keep doing it.

 

[Ian]

That's a brutal take, bro. Hester ran in a straight line through a gapping hole 99% of the time. You need to familiarize yourself with NFL films. I'll give you dozens of clips of great individual return efforts. Show me one career highlight of Slater making a major block to spring a return TD. After you can't find that then move onto any BIG play career highlight.

You're clearly in the kitchen or on the way to the bathroom at kickoff and never think to worry about it because the returner is stopped, and they go to commercial.

It's not about the flashy plays by the returner.

New England has been among the better teams in the league when it comes to opposing starting field position, both in kickoff coverage and punt coverage. That's a major factor that goes unnoticed and it requires a guy to make a play.

Slater's numbers tell the story. He's consistently in the top 10 or close to it in special teams tackles and is doing it against guys who are nearly half his age, not to mention all the plays where guys let the ball go by them without even touching it because he's already there when the ball gets there.

Again, it's the nuances that you don't see that make the difference. I give you grief about various things but this one you're so off base it's honestly kind of frustrating.

So rather than ask us to go back through the film for you, go back and watch every kickoff and punt over the last three seasons, and you'll see plenty of examples. This is one of those times where it wouldn't hurt for you to do a little homework rather than insist you're right and then require everyone else to do the research (this requires a visual) to prove to you why you're not.

 

[crawhammer]

Slater's numbers tell the story. He's consistently in the top 10 or close to it in special teams tackles and is doing it against guys who are nearly half his age, not to mention all the plays where guys let the ball go by them without even touching it because he's already there when the ball gets there.

Agreed 100%...

185 career tackles

12.3 tackles per season
0.83 tackles per game
0.06 tackles per snap

Less than 1 tackle per game so if he's consistently top 10 in that category then it underscores my argument about the relative unimportance of ST players who don't touch the ball and pretty much renders ST tackles a useless statistic.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Dismissing the "contributions" of the other 10 people who do not touch the ball really shows an ignorance of football. That's an embarrassing take.

I would imagine Belichick looks at Slater being integral to stopping an opposing returner inside the 20 multiple times per game as kind of important. I would also imagine he finds that more important than a returner who might score a TD once every two years.

I am guessing you look at # of INT's to determine who are the best CB's, and # of sacks to determine who are the best DL.

Give it up. You can't argue with stupid.

 

[Tunescribe]

This doesn't even make sense.

Opening all your posts with that caveat will earn some credibility.

 

[crawhammer]

Opening all your posts with that caveat will earn some credibility.

Just concede you unconditionally defer to Bill and we don't need "your opinion" ever again. Bill said Slater is the GOAT so it must be true. Bill won a bunch of championships with Brady, and who could have done that, so he must be a genius.

Slater contributes less than 1 tackle per game and he has 1 fumble recovery in the end zone for a TD. Fact. He's a zero contributor elsewhere on the field of play. Fact. Had he ever needed to secure a spot other than on ST then he wouldn't have made it out of his first training camp.

Forget all time NFL players, we wouldn't have enough time for that exercise, I'm still waiting for anyone to tell me where Slater stacks up with the all time great Patriots. Top 10, 20, 50, 100? There are 29 players currently in the Patriots HOF... so is he top 30-35?

There are 9 former Patriots in the NFL HOF:

John Hannah
Mike Hayes
Nick Buoniconti
Andre Tippett
Curtis Martin
Junior Seau
Randy Moss
Ty Law
Richard Seymour

Brady and Gronk will add to the list. Edelman and Welker are questionable for the NFL HOF... Welker apparently can't even get into the Patriots HOF, which is completely ridiculous on its own, but now we're possibly putting Slater in there first? Laughable. And then even the consideration of adding Slater to the list of Patriots players in the NFL HOF cheapens the entire institution.

 

[Ring 6]

Just concede you unconditionally defer to Bill and we don't need "your opinion" ever again. Bill said Slater is the GOAT so it must be true. Bill won a bunch of championships with Brady, and who could have done that, so he must be a genius.

Slater contributes less than 1 tackle per game and he has 1 fumble recovery in the end zone for a TD. Fact. He's a zero contributor elsewhere on the field of play. Fact. Had he ever needed to secure a spot other than on ST then he wouldn't have made it out of his first training camp.

Forget all time NFL players, we wouldn't have enough time for that exercise, I'm still waiting for anyone to tell me where Slater stacks up with the all time great Patriots. Top 10, 20, 50, 100? There are 29 players currently in the Patriots HOF... so is he top 30-35?

There are 9 former Patriots in the NFL HOF:

John Hannah
Mike Hayes
Nick Buoniconti
Andre Tippett
Curtis Martin
Junior Seau
Randy Moss
Ty Law
Richard Seymour

Brady and Gronk will add to the list. Edelman and Welker are questionable for the NFL HOF... Welker apparently can't even get into the Patriots HOF, which is completely ridiculous on its own, but now we're possibly putting Slater in there first? Laughable. And then even the consideration of adding Slater to the list of Patriots players in the NFL HOF cheapens the entire institution.

So your position is your know more about special teams play and the history of the NFL than Bill Belichick?

 

[Ring 6]

This doesn't even make sense. How many fantasy football leagues even have a designation for a returner? Even where you gain points for return yards, it's not something you target in fantasy football (drafts). You must not play but are arrogant enough to reference it or you suck at it.


This doesn't make sense either... may be a grammatical error but I also doubt the logic is sound.


lol that's a lie. Is there a breakdown of reactions to members/posts on this site? Your 90% is yet more of your hyperbole.


Since you keep bringing it up, apparent ff expert, what exactly is a ff perspective? Because you've already designated a ff position of importance that hardly exists/matters.

Your knowledge of the game is limited to fantasy football statistics.
No I do not play fantasy football, but you seem to be an expert.

90% was being generous.

 

[Ian]

Agreed 100%...

185 career tackles

12.3 tackles per season
0.83 tackles per game
0.06 tackles per snap

Less than 1 tackle per game so if he's consistently top 10 in that category then it underscores my argument about the relative unimportance of ST players who don't touch the ball and pretty much renders ST tackles a useless statistic.

You're dismissing the number based on what you feel isn't significant. Again, he's being compared to his peers, not linebackers, and other guys at more high-profile positions etc.

And it's extremely tough to run down and contain a guy running full speed in the open field while trying to fight off blocks. If you've ever played football, you'd understand how tough that is, especially against elite athletes who even as "just special teamers" are still better athletes than tens of thousands of players who play in college but never get to the next level.

Not to mention, covering kicks is absolutely one of the most difficult things to do in the NFL, especially when the returner is typically one of the best athletes an opponent has. Those "useless" tackles, against those players, force opponents to start with a long field.

As I said, you're missing the nuances of the game that absolutely make a difference. You might not like the statistic, but what it represents is often times the difference between winning and losing a close game and that's also why this team - last season aside - has been so successful in that area over the years.

 

[Ian]

Just concede you unconditionally defer to Bill and we don't need "your opinion" ever again. Bill said Slater is the GOAT so it must be true. Bill won a bunch of championships with Brady, and who could have done that, so he must be a genius.

Slater contributes less than 1 tackle per game and he has 1 fumble recovery in the end zone for a TD. Fact. He's a zero contributor elsewhere on the field of play. Fact. Had he ever needed to secure a spot other than on ST then he wouldn't have made it out of his first training camp.

Forget all time NFL players, we wouldn't have enough time for that exercise, I'm still waiting for anyone to tell me where Slater stacks up with the all time great Patriots. Top 10, 20, 50, 100? There are 29 players currently in the Patriots HOF... so is he top 30-35?

There are 9 former Patriots in the NFL HOF:

John Hannah
Mike Hayes
Nick Buoniconti
Andre Tippett
Curtis Martin
Junior Seau
Randy Moss
Ty Law
Richard Seymour

Brady and Gronk will add to the list. Edelman and Welker are questionable for the NFL HOF... Welker apparently can't even get into the Patriots HOF, which is completely ridiculous on its own, but now we're possibly putting Slater in there first? Laughable. And then even the consideration of adding Slater to the list of Patriots players in the NFL HOF cheapens the entire institution.

You need to read this article, which shows quite a few coaches, other than just Belichick, who understand his value. It's absolutely a terrific read:

Socci’s View: Matthew Slater is still running in his father’s footsteps

The Flagship Station of the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Revolution

985thesportshub.com

 

[Sfpat]

You need to read this article, which shows quite a few coaches, other than just Belichick, who understand his value. It's absolutely a terrific read:

Socci’s View: Matthew Slater is still running in his father’s footsteps

The Flagship Station of the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Revolution

985thesportshub.com

It's obvious that Crawhammer knows more about special teams play than Izzo, Ebner, Belichick, Board, Crossman, Flipp, Tasker, et.al. Not