{"id":25175,"date":"2019-09-29T05:00:50","date_gmt":"2019-09-29T09:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=25175"},"modified":"2019-09-28T21:03:44","modified_gmt":"2019-09-29T01:03:44","slug":"new-england-patriots-news-9-29-afc-east-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2019\/09\/29\/new-england-patriots-news-9-29-afc-east-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots News 9-29, AFC East Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Good morning, here is your Sunday Patriots news 09-29 and AFC East notes<\/strong> this week.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Game Day,.and the Patriots face off with the Buffalo Bills with both teams entering the week at 3-0. With a win today the Patriots would not only go 4-0 but would have already beaten every other team in the division.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Quick Hitters For the Pats and the NFL:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bill Belichick – <\/strong>was asked about how much he uses analytics when facing situations down in the red zone near the goal line. His answer was classic Belichick. \u201cLess than zero…and I\u2019m a guy who loves math.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Marshall Newhouse – <\/strong>missed some practice time this week with an illness. With the offensive line already depleted, we\u2019ll be watching him to see if he has any lasting effects of that while taking on Jerry Hughes.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Jakob Johnson –<\/strong> made his debut last week for just a cameo but we expect that we\u2019ll see more of the German-born fullback this week. Taking over for James Develin is not an easy task, but after watching him progress this summer, it will be interesting to see what he can do.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Twilight Zone –<\/strong> [Rod Serling voice], \u201cImagine if you will, a world with Bill Belichick holding a press conference where he denies the media the use of video.\u201d The outrage would be thru the roof. What John Henry and the Red Sox did was the ultimate head scratcher and so, so ridiculous. Waiting for the Globe\u2019s skewering of Henry for not allowing the press to \u201cdo their job\u201d? Don\u2019t hold your breath.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Patriots Defense, Still Worries About Coaching Turnover? Nope:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

After Brian Flores left and took with him a good chunk of the coaching staff this spring and DL coach Brendan Daly left for the Chiefs for family reasons, it left the Patriots with only Steve Belichick as the only remaining holdover from the 2018 Super Bowl-winning staff on the defensive side. And there was a concern that it could hurt the team moving forward in 2019. No longer.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

That all seems like a very far distant memory now, so much now that it seems the Millennium Falcon “would make the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs” kind of distance. Of course, as expected, Bill Belichick has played an active role in everything on the defensive side. How much he actually is doing is something the Patriots are playing close to their vest and rather than trying to breach the security at Langley, it is not something that will come out anytime soon.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

But the new staff has done a remarkable job. We remarked on this after minicamp and early in the days of training camp. I was sitting next to Bob Socci, the voice of the Patriots at practice and we both remarked how well oiled the machine continues to hum along. It seemed that this group had been working together for years. Belichick may disagree but at least from our perspective, it was impressive.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

And the proof is in the pudding. Say what you will about the first three opponents but this defense has done a masterful job of taking away everything that their opponents are trying to do.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Jerod Mayo is calling the signals into the players on the field and coaching the inside linebackers. Brett Bielema, a college head coach and defensive coordinator has taken over the reins at the defensive line. DeMarcus Covington is coaching the outside linebackers, while Mike Pelligrino coaches the corners. Steve Belichick remains with the safeties and helps with the communications. Joe Kim is the dedicated martial arts expert who works with the pass rushers with their hand technique and is officially listed as the Director of Skill Development. While Brian Belichick and Bob Fraser are coaching assistants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We\u2019re used to seeing slow September starts by the defense and seeing them add layers and more packages as the season progresses. If this is the \u201cslow start\u201d for the Patriots defense this year? We\u2019re in for a special year. Is anybody still worried about the coaching turnover? \u201cBut Mike, Belichick is just practicing nepotism, these guys can\u2019t coach!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cody Kessler Signing Much Ado About Little:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Patriots signed veteran QB Cody Kessler and social media exploded in a classic case of overreaction. And it wasn\u2019t just the fans, it was the mainstream national media as well. \u201cBelichick rethinking Stidham as Backup QB\u201d, \u201cIt was too early for Stidham\u201d, \u201cBelichick Bringing in New Patriots Backup for Brady\u201d. Like everything else with the Patriots, take it all with a grain of salt and a healthy dose of skepticism.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The answer is probably much more benign but hey, never let it get in the way of hot takes when it comes to BB and the Pats. Was Belichick happy about Stidham overthrowing a pass that resulted in an easy pick-six? No, but he isn\u2019t going to skewer a rookie QB after three passes in his NFL career.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

With Tom Brady\u2019s age comes certain factors, the team will give him some recovery time in-between starts on occasion, as rest becomes important. Jarrett Stidham can\u2019t continue to learn the offense, run the scout team and then fill in for Brady on his rest day all at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So the team brings in a veteran, Kessler who will give the team a good look as the scout team QB, something Brian Hoyer was very good at, to prepare the defense for what they\u2019ll face that upcoming week. Not much of a story, no hot take…sorry, sometimes the truth can be boring…It is what it is.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Matthew Slater Show Why Gunners Deserve a Spot in the HOF:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Patriots game against the Jets pretty much was a done deal by the second quarter, but for those who watched the game all the way through, they were treated to another classic Matthew Slater gem of a play. It showed as a gunner why Slater is one of the best to ever play that position.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Patriots punted from the Jets 40-yard line. Jake Bailey skied the ball high down the right side. Slater had beaten his man and was bearing down on Braxton Berrios who was looking like he was attempting to catch it. Slater had to play it safe as if he played the bounce, Berrios could catch the punt and have a good amount of real estate to return. Berrios opted to let it bounce at the five-yard line, hoping for a touchback.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Slater then sped down to the one, and snagged the ball, spinning around and dumping it back on the 1-2 yard line, knowing his momentum would carry him into the end zone. The ball was downed at the one by Jonathan Jones and the Jets had to move the length of the field. It was another signature play by Slater. It went down as just a 39-yard punt by Bailey, but it was the best STs play of the day.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Of course, none of this is a surprise as he\u2019s been doing this his entire career. He had a couple of those in the Super Bowl in January and we\u2019ve grown accustomed to seeing them week after week. If the NFL ever decides to allow gunners into Canton, there will be a lot of push to see #18 wearing a gold jacket someday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

🚨 SPECIAL TEAMS HIGHLIGHT 🚨 pic.twitter.com\/x41RWaePfk<\/a><\/p>— New England Patriots<\/strong><\/a> (@Patriots) September 22, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>