Belichick Interview With the 33rd Team

[FCB02062]

For all the Slater fanboys...the leader of the vaunted Patriots special teams....last year they ranked 26th in kick return coverage, were the only NFL club to give up multiple kick return touchdowns (3), 12th in kick return average, 24th in punts downed inside the 20, had a punt blocked (22 NFL clubs DID NOT have a punt blocked in 2022). They were tied for 6th in punt return yardage and had one touchdown. If Slater is so great, why were they so bad on ST last season? In 2021 they were 14th in kickoff coverage, 18th in kick return average, 17th in punts downed inside the 20, and they were 6th in punt return average yards.
For the last two seasons the Patriots have been an average at best special teams unit, and in some statistics they are a bottom third team. So riddle me this, if Bill the Coach is a special teams maven, and Slater is Hall of Famer (as some here say), why have the Patriots special teams been so bad the last two seasons.
Slater has one forced fumble, one blocked punt, and one touchdown in his entire career on special teams. Mind you, Slater also has FIVE career fumbles on special teams, three of which handed the ball to the other team. Slater is fine, makes a big play every 5 seasons...but the Patsfans Matthew Slater Defense Fund is a little nutty...
In the last two seasons the Pats have not been good in any ST category in which Slater plays a big role other than punt returns...and last season I'll go out on a limb and say that was more Marcus Jones than anything having to do with Patriots Urkel

 

[cmasspatsfan]

For all the Slater fanboys...the leader of the vaunted Patriots special teams....last year they ranked 26th in kick return coverage, were the only NFL club to give up multiple kick return touchdowns (3), 12th in kick return average, 24th in punts downed inside the 20, had a punt blocked (22 NFL clubs DID NOT have a punt blocked in 2022). They were tied for 6th in punt return yardage and had one touchdown. If Slater is so great, why were they so bad on ST last season? In 2021 they were 14th in kickoff coverage, 18th in kick return average, 17th in punts downed inside the 20, and they were 6th in punt return average yards.
For the last two seasons the Patriots have been an average at best special teams unit, and in some statistics they are a bottom third team. So riddle me this, if Bill the Coach is a special teams maven, and Slater is Hall of Famer (as some here say), why have the Patriots special teams been so bad the last two seasons.
Slater has one forced fumble, one blocked punt, and one touchdown in his entire career on special teams. Mind you, Slater also has FIVE career fumbles on special teams, three of which handed the ball to the other team. Slater is fine, makes a big play every 5 seasons...but the Patsfans Matthew Slater Defense Fund is a little nutty...
In the last two seasons the Pats have not been good in any ST category in which Slater plays a big role other than punt returns...and last season I'll go out on a limb and say that was more Marcus Jones than anything having to do with Patriots Urkel

How about the other Years he played, what are those stats?

 

[Ian]

How about the other Years he played, what are those stats?

All I'm getting from some of these posts from people is that Brady was awesome, everyone else stinks and/or was useless, no matter how good they are/were. It makes behind my right eye hurt.

 

[crawhammer]

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

No dummy, I don't know more about the entire freaking history of the NFL than Belichick. My position that your willful ignorance won't acknowledge is that Slater is NOT the GOAT STer as Belichick suggested. My position is based on his incredibly puny contributions on the football field during a game (less than 1 tackle per game), his 1 career unimpressive TD, and his complete lack of big play contributions, Slater is incredibly overrated by PansFans. (Bill is just blowing smoke up his own ass because he likes to claim he coached the greatest offensive player, defensive player, and ST player like he made them from clay.) Furthermore, Slater does not belong in the Patriots HOF, certainly not before someone like Welker who is 100x the football player than Slater. And any discussion of Slater's induction into the NFL HOF is utterly ridiculous.

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.

If you don't play fantasy football then you shouldn't say asinine **** like I overate returners because it helps my fantasy teams. I don't play in one league with a specific returner designation. I'd like to dig up your opinion on the Patricia hiring... you probably loved it.

Edit: I was right. You defended it tooth and nail. You should be embarrassed for the rest of your life with that nonsense.

 

[crawhammer]

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.

Hey, you said his numbers tell the story... you specified tackles... of which he has less than 1 per game. And yes, more high-profile, impactful, and truly meaningful positions. Slater's position on the field is relatively unimportant. If you disagree then tell me the positions of lesser value.

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.

You're overrating them. There are more obvious reasons why the Patriots were so successful for two decades (with one indispensable reason). I get it, it's the IBWT narrative, stacking up all of the details and nuances of the game making the difference between winning and losing. The facts are the facts. The "formula" worked an incredibly high percentage of the time when you had the GOAT QB but it's puddle on the floor that needs to mopped up without him.

 

[Ian]

Furthermore, Slater does not belong in the Patriots HOF, certainly not before someone like Welker who is 100x the football player than Slater. And any discussion of Slater's induction into the NFL HOF is utterly ridiculous.

Tell me Wes Welker could be the primary gunner on special teams year in and year out and the coverage guy on kick returns for nearly two decades without being sidelined with an injury/concussion, and while doing it at a high level, and maybe this will make more sense.

You're making the wrong comparisons. You wouldn't put the numbers of a special teamer against a receiver. Receivers are measured by their impact on the field based on receptions, etc. Special teams players are measured by their impact on the field on special teams.

You're cross-comparing non-relevant players/categories as you continue to tell us all how much he stinks and how little of a deal he's made to that unit for the last two decades.

Aside from that, you're right. He's not as good of a receiver as Wes Welker. Well done.

At the same time, if Welker ends up under consideration for the Hall - it's not going to be due to a comparison against Slater. They're going to be comparing Welker against his peers at the receiver position. Just like Slater would be considered based on how he compares against his own peers.

 

[Ian]

Slater's position on the field is relatively unimportant. If you disagree then tell me the positions of lesser value.

All I'm getting from this is that special teams - to you - are meaningless. As is opponent starting field position, fair catches forced, balls that were allowed to bounce rather than be returned, etc.

You'll get your wish - the league is clearly moving away from even allowing kickoffs and punt returns will likely follow. Doesn't change the fact that this meaningless moment every week played out and was uneventful while you got yourself some additional snacks and refilled your drink while they went to commercial.

 

[Ian]

You're overrating them. There are more obvious reasons why the Patriots were so successful for two decades (with one indispensable reason).

And you do understand, they didn’t blow people out over Brady’s entire duration as QB here, right? They won some pretty close games against some tough teams. Special teams absolutely mattered.

 

[crawhammer]

Tell me Wes Welker could be the primary gunner on special teams year in and year out and the coverage guy on kick returns for nearly two decades without being sidelined with an injury/concussion, and while doing it at a high level, and maybe this will make more sense.

Seriously? Slater's career as a slot receiver would have been over in less than a month. Welker took an incredible beating throughout his career and he was durable during his prime seasons. Welker's talent would have been entirely wasted as the primary gunner on ST. I really don't know what Welker could or could not have done relative to other positions but he's the franchise's best ever slot receiver and possibly the best receiver period (Welker or Morgan... flip a coin). If not for ST then Slater has no chance whatsoever at an NFL career. He literally can't play another other position with even an ounce of relative effectiveness.

You're making the wrong comparisons. You wouldn't put the numbers of a special teamer against a receiver. Receivers are measured by their impact on the field based on receptions, etc. Special teams players are measured by their impact on the field on special teams.

You're cross-comparing non-relevant players/categories as you continue to tell us all how much he stinks and how little of a deal he's made to that unit for the last two decades.

I can cross-compare value. The NFL names an MVP every season. They don't break it down by position (like all pro, etc.), it's an overall value judgment of impact and importance. Not in the history of the league has a primary gunner ever received league MVP consideration. Because why would they? In the grand scheme of the 60-minute game, the primary gunner on ST is relatively unimportant.

And I'm not saying Slater "stinks" at what he does. Again, I'm saying what he does is not that important to the overall outcome of a game or the season. The impact and plays just are not there.

Aside from that, you're right. He's not as good of a receiver as Wes Welker. Well done.

At the same time, if Welker ends up under consideration for the Hall - it's not going to be due to a comparison against Slater. They're going to be comparing Welker against his peers at the receiver position.

Hall of Fames are for all time great, impactful, and accomplished players. There isn't a primary gunner in the history of the NFL that belongs in the HOF. And the HOF voters agree with me 100%. Trust me, Slater won't be the first. I wouldn't put him in the Patriots HOF (which frankly isn't worth **** anyway absent Wes Welker).

All I'm getting from this is that special teams - to you - are meaningless. As is opponent starting field position, fair catches forced, balls that were allowed to bounce rather than be returned, etc.

Not meaningless. Relatively unimportant. Big difference. And in particular here we're talking about the the gunner position. Returners, punters, and kickers all have relative value.

You'll get your wish - the league is clearly moving away from even allowing kickoffs and punt returns will likely follow. Doesn't change the fact that this meaningless moment every week played out and was uneventful while you got yourself some additional snacks and refilled your drink while they went to commercial.

I watch the home games from the stands not my couch.

And you do understand, they didn’t blow people out over Brady’s entire duration as QB here, right? They won some pretty close games against some tough teams. Special teams absolutely mattered.

I know. ST matter. The debate is how much. In particular the gunner. And in this case, a gunner with less than 1 tackle per game and 1 career ST TD.

 

[Ring 6]

All I'm getting from some of these posts from people is that Brady was awesome, everyone else stinks and/or was useless, no matter how good they are/were. It makes behind my right eye hurt.

Brady doesn’t play special teams so special teams don’t matter.
Brady doesn’t okay defense so defense doesn’t matter.
Brady doesn’t coach so coaching doesn’t matter.

 

[Ring 6]

No dummy, I don't know more about the entire freaking history of the NFL than Belichick. My position that your willful ignorance won't acknowledge is that Slater is NOT the GOAT STer as Belichick suggested. My position is based on his incredibly puny contributions on the football field during a game (less than 1 tackle per game), his 1 career unimpressive TD, and his complete lack of big play contributions, Slater is incredibly overrated by PansFans. (Bill is just blowing smoke up his own ass because he likes to claim he coached the greatest offensive player, defensive player, and ST player like he made them from clay.) Furthermore, Slater does not belong in the Patriots HOF, certainly not before someone like Welker who is 100x the football player than Slater. And any discussion of Slater's induction into the NFL HOF is utterly ridiculous.


If you don't play fantasy football then you shouldn't say asinine **** like I overate returners because it helps my fantasy teams. I don't play in one league with a specific returner designation. I'd like to dig up your opinion on the Patricia hiring... you probably loved it.

Edit: I was right. You defended it tooth and nail. You should be embarrassed for the rest of your life with that nonsense.

So you are saying you know more about special teams and the history of the NFL than Bill Belichick because you just doubled down that you are calling belichick wrong when he says Slater is the best ST player ever. You can’t make that statement without believing you know more about the topic than him.
How many SBs did the Patriots win with Wes Welker?
Before Welker 3 in 6 years. With welker 0 in 6 years. After welker 3 in 6 years.

Of course I didn’t say anything about helping your fantasy team, I said you have a fantasy football level knowledge of the game.

And no I did not endorse or love Patricia’s role last year (it wasn’t a “hiring”) but I understood it, mostly because rather than try to ***** and whine and tear down the team at every opportunity I try to understand why things are done and accept that running a football organization requires thousands if decisions and no matter who you are many dont work out.

 

[Ring 6]

Seriously? Slater's career as a slot receiver would have been over in less than a month. Welker took an incredible beating throughout his career and he was durable during his prime seasons. Welker's talent would have been entirely wasted as the primary gunner on ST. I really don't know what Welker could or could not have done relative to other positions but he's the franchise's best ever slot receiver and possibly the best receiver period (Welker or Morgan... flip a coin). If not for ST then Slater has no chance whatsoever at an NFL career. He literally can't play another other position with even an ounce of relative effectiveness.


I can cross-compare value. The NFL names an MVP every season. They don't break it down by position (like all pro, etc.), it's an overall value judgment of impact and importance. Not in the history of the league has a primary gunner ever received league MVP consideration. Because why would they? In the grand scheme of the 60-minute game, the primary gunner on ST is relatively unimportant.

And I'm not saying Slater "stinks" at what he does. Again, I'm saying what he does is not that important to the overall outcome of a game or the season. The impact and plays just are not there.


Hall of Fames are for all time great, impactful, and accomplished players. There isn't a primary gunner in the history of the NFL that belongs in the HOF. And the HOF voters agree with me 100%. Trust me, Slater won't be the first. I wouldn't put him in the Patriots HOF (which frankly isn't worth **** anyway absent Wes Welker).


Not meaningless. Relatively unimportant. Big difference. And in particular here we're talking about the the gunner position. Returners, punters, and kickers all have relative value.


I watch the home games from the stands not my couch.


I know. ST matter. The debate is how much. In particular the gunner. And in this case, a gunner with less than 1 tackle per game and 1 career ST TD.

How many tackles per and TDs do you expect from a gunner?

 

[Joker]

I watch the home games from the stands not my couch.

yeah...we know that already...

 

[crawhammer]

So you are saying you know more about special teams and the history of the NFL than Bill Belichick because you just doubled down that you are calling belichick wrong when he says Slater is the best ST player ever. You can’t make that statement without believing you know more about the topic than him.

I already addressed your stupidity on this.

And no, Slater is NOT the best ST player ever, I don't care who's saying it's so. Seriously, if the best ST player in the history of the god damn league has less than 1 tackle per game and 1 career ST TD then ST are even more worthless than I thought.

How many SBs did the Patriots win with Wes Welker?
Before Welker 3 in 6 years. With welker 0 in 6 years. After welker 3 in 6 years.

Are we veering off into a Welker debate now? Because he was about as good as it gets from the slot in the Patriots offense. Like I said the only Patriots receiver better than Welker may have been Stanley Morgan. Moss for one season but for a Patriots career, even in only 6 non-SB winning seasons, Welker was outstanding (and apparently underappreciated).

Of course I didn’t say anything about helping your fantasy team, I said you have a fantasy football level knowledge of the game.

You apparently don't know **** about fantasy football so your statement is irrelevant.

And no I did not endorse or love Patricia’s role last year (it wasn’t a “hiring”) but I understood it, mostly because rather than try to ***** and whine and tear down the team at every opportunity I try to understand why things are done and accept that running a football organization requires thousands if decisions and no matter who you are many dont work out.

We're talking about the hiring of an offensive coordinator for your second year franchise quarterback. It's not like deciding who will be the team's next primary gunner. OC is the first or second most important assistant coach on staff. Belichick isn't making "thousands of decisions" for the football organization either. And obviously there are degrees of importance to his decisions. Patricia was his most significant last season. And the fact that you "understood it" like it in anyway made sense is a not a very good sign of your knowledge of the game.

How many tackles per and TDs do you expect from a gunner?

Not many. Which is my point.

 

[Ian]

Seriously? Slater's career as a slot receiver would have been over in less than a month. Welker took an incredible beating throughout his career and he was durable during his prime seasons. Welker's talent would have been entirely wasted as the primary gunner on ST. I really don't know what Welker could or could not have done relative to other positions but he's the franchise's best ever slot receiver and possibly the best receiver period (Welker or Morgan... flip a coin). If not for ST then Slater has no chance whatsoever at an NFL career. He literally can't play another other position with even an ounce of relative effectiveness.


I can cross-compare value. The NFL names an MVP every season. They don't break it down by position (like all pro, etc.), it's an overall value judgment of impact and importance. Not in the history of the league has a primary gunner ever received league MVP consideration. Because why would they? In the grand scheme of the 60-minute game, the primary gunner on ST is relatively unimportant.

And I'm not saying Slater "stinks" at what he does. Again, I'm saying what he does is not that important to the overall outcome of a game or the season. The impact and plays just are not there.


Hall of Fames are for all time great, impactful, and accomplished players. There isn't a primary gunner in the history of the NFL that belongs in the HOF. And the HOF voters agree with me 100%. Trust me, Slater won't be the first. I wouldn't put him in the Patriots HOF (which frankly isn't worth **** anyway absent Wes Welker).


Not meaningless. Relatively unimportant. Big difference. And in particular here we're talking about the the gunner position. Returners, punters, and kickers all have relative value.


I watch the home games from the stands not my couch.


I know. ST matter. The debate is how much. In particular the gunner. And in this case, a gunner with less than 1 tackle per game and 1 career ST TD.

 

[Boomer B]

I think what Slater brings as a leader has been just as important to what he’s done on the field.

 

[Sfpat]

No dummy, I don't know more about the entire freaking history of the NFL than Belichick. My position that your willful ignorance won't acknowledge is that Slater is NOT the GOAT STer as Belichick suggested. My position is based on his incredibly puny contributions on the football field during a game (less than 1 tackle per game), his 1 career unimpressive TD, and his complete lack of big play contributions, Slater is incredibly overrated by PansFans. (Bill is just blowing smoke up his own ass because he likes to claim he coached the greatest offensive player, defensive player, and ST player like he made them from clay.) Furthermore, Slater does not belong in the Patriots HOF, certainly not before someone like Welker who is 100x the football player than Slater. And any discussion of Slater's induction into the NFL HOF is utterly ridiculous.


If you don't play fantasy football then you shouldn't say asinine **** like I overate returners because it helps my fantasy teams. I don't play in one league with a specific returner designation. I'd like to dig up your opinion on the Patricia hiring... you probably loved it.

Edit: I was right. You defended it tooth and nail. You should be embarrassed for the rest of your life with that nonsense.

I'm just taking the word of all these NFL special teams coaches and ex players. But you know better than them.

 

[Ring 6]

I already addressed your stupidity on this.

And no, Slater is NOT the best ST player ever, I don't care who's saying it's so. Seriously, if the best ST player in the history of the god damn league has less than 1 tackle per game and 1 career ST TD then ST are even more worthless than I thought.


Are we veering off into a Welker debate now? Because he was about as good as it gets from the slot in the Patriots offense. Like I said the only Patriots receiver better than Welker may have been Stanley Morgan. Moss for one season but for a Patriots career, even in only 6 non-SB winning seasons, Welker was outstanding (and apparently underappreciated).


You apparently don't know **** about fantasy football so your statement is irrelevant.


We're talking about the hiring of an offensive coordinator for your second year franchise quarterback. It's not like deciding who will be the team's next primary gunner. OC is the first or second most important assistant coach on staff. Belichick isn't making "thousands of decisions" for the football organization either. And obviously there are degrees of importance to his decisions. Patricia was his most significant last season. And the fact that you "understood it" like it in anyway made sense is a not a very good sign of your knowledge of the game.


Not many. Which is my point.

You addressed nothing, you doubled down that you think you know more about special teams and the history of the nfl than bb. Hilarious.

You brought up Welker.

I don’t need to know anything about fantasy football to know your knowledge of the game is limited to it, ti show that every day.

Understanding means lack of understanding? No wonder 90% of posters think you are clueless

I’m not sure you actually have a point.

 

[TheRainMaker]

While it's hard to find stats on special teams players who don't kick, punt or field returns, this is all I could find. Amazing how NFL.com or ESPN don't have special teams tackles, players pinning punts inside the 5 yard line to avoid touchbacks and blocks.

Slater only led the NFL once in tackles per season and only 6 times on his own team in his 15 year career?

NFL Football Player Stats & Stats Leaders - Special Teams Total Tackles

Free NFL football player stats and stats leaders in simple, easy to read tables. This page tracks special teams total tackles statistics.

www.teamrankings.com

 

[crawhammer]

While it's hard to find stats on special teams players who don't kick, punt or field returns, this is all I could find. Amazing how NFL.com or ESPN don't have special teams tackles, players pinning punts inside the 5 yard line to avoid touchbacks and blocks.

Slater only led the NFL once in tackles per season and only 6 times on his own team in his 15 year career?

NFL Football Player Stats & Stats Leaders - Special Teams Total Tackles

Free NFL football player stats and stats leaders in simple, easy to read tables. This page tracks special teams total tackles statistics.

www.teamrankings.com

Slater ST Tackles per game

2022 - 0.71 (57th)... 3rd on the team... apparently Cody Davis and Brenden Schooler are budding HOFers.
2021 - 0.72 (36th)... 2nd on the team (to Davis).
2020 - 0.44 (didn't register in top 100)... Justin Bethel, Cody Davis, and some dude named Dee Virgin made the top 100.
2019 - 0.65 (45th)... tied with Justin Bethel.
2018 - 0.74 (38th)... 2nd on the team (to Nate Ebner).
2017 - 0.75 (35th)... 4th on the team behind Harvey Langi, Trevor Reilly, Nate Ebner.
2016 - 0.50 (96th)... 4th on the team again (Ebner ranked 2nd in NFL).
2015 - 0.83 (29th)... 2nd on the team (to Brandon King).
2014 - 0.93 (23rd)... only had to go back 9 seasons to find one where he even led his own team outright in this category.

Now tell me how Slater's soaking up all of the attention so these other guys can make the tackles lol.

This is the hill PatsFans wants to die on?... Slater the GOAT ST. And I take heat for my Brady takes.