Belichick press conference

[Deadskins]

I just saw highlights of BBs presser on the NFL Network. He was singing our praises, especially on defense. He said JC was an excellent young QB and managed games very well. He pointed out that our secondary has four top ten draft picks, and said Smoot was also better than many team's #1 or #2 corners. At the end, though, he made a comment that made me laugh out loud. I'm pretty sure he was referring to the defense only, but he said "they don't beat themselves; they make you beat them."
Still, I couldn't help laughing, thinking, he must not have watched much film from the past 15 seasons. I mean, no one beats the Redskins like the Redskins! OK, maybe the zebras come in a close second.

[ike075]

I am not sure if I would say we beat ourselves this year but more we don't put the finishing touches which causes the close games after leading in games.

Its like Mortal Kombat where the guys says "FINISH HIM" all we do is stand around waiting for him to fall and the match to end.

The game plan has been simple this year….get ahead…then…get conservative.

Ikester

[Desmond Howard]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

[GSPODS]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

[Desmond Howard]

Honestly with sure tackling we could throw a wrench into the offensive machine that is the Pats offense.

[Desmond Howard]

I see this as a similar game to the Saints game last year. Before that game everyone wanted to talk about how great the Saints offense was, and we went in there and shut down a flat team that didnt get ready to play.

[SkinsHead56]

I am not sure if I would say we beat ourselves this year but more we don't put the finishing touches which causes the close <a href="http://0-2u.com?go=games" onmouseover="window.status = 'goto: games';return 1" onmouseout="window.status=''">games</a> after leading in <a href="http://get-faster.com?go=games" onmouseover="window.status = 'goto: games';return 1" onmouseout="window.status=''">games</a>.

Anyone who says they don't beat themselves is lying.

Its like Mortal Kombat where the guys says "FINISH HIM" all we do is stand around waiting for him to fall and the match to end.

I hate it when that happens.

[aswas71788]

Brady has only played the Redsins on other time. I think it was in 2006. He lost. The Redskins are the only team in the NFL that Brady has not beaten. Hope that remains true Monday.

[HEROHAMO]

Still, I couldn't help laughing, thinking, he must not have watched much film from the past 15 seasons. I mean, no one beats the Redskins like the Redskins! OK, maybe the zebras come in a close second.

No kidding!

[ChrisHanburger]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Don't take any stock in what Belicheck says about an opponent the week before they play. He will ALWAYS be worried about SOMETHING and he'll ALWAYS find something "dangerous" about the other team. Just like he always has Brady on the injury list. Its a bunch of BS misinformation meant to keep the opposition off kilter, to avoid bulletin board material, and to maintain "the image".

[capetide]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Every week, BB portrays the opponent as the 85 Bears, "great defense, excellent coaching", etc. Last week, he said Miami was a huge test for the Pats. If they were playing the School for the Blind, he'd talk about how blindness helps their other senses to be that much more keen.

[GSPODS]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Don't take any stock in what Belicheck says about an opponent the week before they play. He will ALWAYS be worried about SOMETHING and he'll ALWAYS find something "dangerous" about the other team. Just like he always has Brady on the injury list. Its a bunch of BS misinformation meant to keep the opposition off kilter, to avoid bulletin board material, and to maintain "the image".

Head coaches must all have the same script manual for pressers.

1) We're not looking ahead. We're focused on our next opponent.
2) We're playing a good football team this week.
3) I'll only answer questions about this week's game.
4) There is always something about our game the team needs to improve.
5) I'd like to compliment our upcoming opponent and their coaching staff for the job they've done this season.
6) We don't want to use injuries as an excuse. We have to find a way to play 'quality football' against a 'quality opponent' with the available personnel.

Just once I'd like to hear any head coach say anything that breaks the script. Something like "We're going to stomp a mudhole in so and so this weekend." Or, "I'd like to call-out, individually, those players who played like crap this week." Or, "If I ever playcall a game like that again, please kick my ass and fire me."

[PulpExposure]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

[GSPODS]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

Call me biased but I'll take any advantage the Redskins have this weekend.

[PulpExposure]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

Call me biased but I'll take any advantage the Redskins have this weekend.

Not biased. Grasping at straws, perhaps?

[Fios]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

Call me biased but I'll take any advantage the Redskins have this weekend.

Not biased. Grasping at straws, perhaps?

Don't bring me into this

[GSPODS]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

Call me biased but I'll take any advantage the Redskins have this weekend.

Not biased. Grasping at straws, perhaps?

Don't bring me into this

Just because I think you write well does not mean I'll be grasping at your straw, ever. Rest assured you are perfectly safe with me.

[HanburgerHelper]

The thing I can't figure out is why people aren't allowing the Pats the underneath routes and pounding the daylights out of the receivers after they catch the ball.

Also, just go after Brady hard at the beginning of the game, even if you have to blitz your corners/safeties. Hit him, beat him up. He's not a big guy. He will burn you in the passing game anyway. Why not allow him to do it with plenty of time on the clock left and allowing him quick scores rather than long, tiring drives that burn out your Defense. Goal is to beat him up, possibly knock him out. No one is getting to him. We have to change that.

The defense has to take a lot of chances this Sunday if they have any hope in hell of beating the Pats, get Brady out of rythym. I think our offense can move the ball on the Pats too, especially on the ground. We have to pound the ball and keep it away from Brady.

[Deadskins]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

Call me biased but I'll take any advantage the Redskins have this weekend.

Not biased. Grasping at straws, perhaps?

Don't bring me into this

Just because I think you write well does not mean I'll be grasping at your straw, ever. Rest assured you are perfectly safe with me.

Methinks thou dost protest too much.

[PantsB]

The thing I can't figure out is why people aren't allowing the Pats the underneath routes and pounding the daylights out of the receivers after they catch the ball.

Teams have been trying. There are at least two problems with that strategy however.

First, you have to double Moss almost every play (this from a Pats fan who was very much against that trade). Thats the only way anyone has been able to even slow him down. That opens up more space underneath.

Second, now thats he's healthy Stallworth has proven very good at intermediate routes and breaking tackles. Even more important is Wes Welker who is the Patriots leading receiver (47 catches). Welker gets lower than any WR I've ever seen (even Troy Brown) and is quick, fast and shifty. The Patriots offense has been traditionally to throw to the underneath routes and they don't mind going back to that.

Also, just go after Brady hard at the beginning of the game, even if you have to blitz your corners/safeties. Hit him, beat him up. He's not a big guy. He will burn you in the passing game anyway. Why not allow him to do it with plenty of time on the clock left and allowing him quick scores rather than long, tiring drives that burn out your Defense. Goal is to beat him up, possibly knock him out. No one is getting to him. We have to change that.

The problem is that teams have been blitzing and Brady very good at both getting the ball out quickly and recognizing the blitz pre-snap. The Jets blitzed 16 of 29 passing plays week 1 and Brady was knocked down (not sacked) one time.

Plus, its tough to cover deep AND blitz. You'll just end up with a big hole in the middle of your coverage and lots of YAC yards on dump-offs to Kevin Faulk or Welker or whomever.

[GSPODS]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

Call me biased but I'll take any advantage the Redskins have this weekend.

Not biased. Grasping at straws, perhaps?

Don't bring me into this

Just because I think you write well does not mean I'll be grasping at your straw, ever. Rest assured you are perfectly safe with me.

Methinks thou dost protest too much.

That makes one hell of a lot of sense. Quote a homosexual author to reiterate the statements of two heterosexuals discussing pizza toppings and attractive women.

[Fios]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

Call me biased but I'll take any advantage the Redskins have this weekend.

Not biased. Grasping at straws, perhaps?

Don't bring me into this

Just because I think you write well does not mean I'll be grasping at your straw, ever. Rest assured you are perfectly safe with me.

Methinks thou dost protest too much.

That makes one hell of a lot of sense. Quote a homosexual author to reiterate the statements of two heterosexuals discussing pizza toppings and attractive women.

Actually there isn't a great deal of evidence, other than how one might interpret the sonnets, to suggest he was homosexual. There are those who believe the sonnets were commissioned by a wealthy family to convince their son of his "greatness" via flattery so he would not marry below his station. Which isn't to say it's false but it's speculative, at best.

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

Call me biased but I'll take any advantage the Redskins have this weekend.

Not biased. Grasping at straws, perhaps?

Don't bring me into this

Just because I think you write well does not mean I'll be grasping at your straw, ever. Rest assured you are perfectly safe with me.

Methinks thou dost protest too much.

That makes one hell of a lot of sense. Quote a homosexual author to reiterate the statements of two heterosexuals discussing pizza toppings and attractive women.

Actually there isn't a great deal of evidence, other than how one might interpret the sonnets, to suggest he was homosexual. There are those who believe the sonnets were commissioned by a wealthy family to convince their son of his "greatness" via flattery so he would not marry below his station. Which isn't to say it's false but it's speculative, at best.

No worries, guys, JSPB22 meant to post this:

Methinks thou dost post too much.

[GSPODS]

He sounded genuinely worried about his defense. I think he know his team is not as unstoppable as the media is making it out to be. He has beat the type of team he created with the type of team we have now.

Brady has trouble with the Redskins. I don't think he's ever won a game against the Redskins.

Come on. He's played against the Skins ONCE.

Call me biased but I'll take any advantage the Redskins have this weekend.

Not biased. Grasping at straws, perhaps?

Don't bring me into this

Just because I think you write well does not mean I'll be grasping at your straw, ever. Rest assured you are perfectly safe with me.

Methinks thou dost protest too much.

That makes one hell of a lot of sense. Quote a homosexual author to reiterate the statements of two heterosexuals discussing pizza toppings and attractive women.

Actually there isn't a great deal of evidence, other than how one might interpret the sonnets, to suggest he was homosexual. There are those who believe the sonnets were commissioned by a wealthy family to convince their son of his "greatness" via flattery so he would not marry below his station. Which isn't to say it's false but it's speculative, at best.

The subject of Shakespeare is probably a conversation for another thread but more or less I wanted to move the topic as far away from your straw as was possible. Let's get back to the number of women you have locked in your ... hard drive and locate those keys.

[die cowboys die]

Brady has only played the Redsins on other time. I think it was in 2006. He lost. The Redskins are the only team in the NFL that Brady has not beaten. Hope that remains true Monday.

it was in 2003, under the illustrious leader steve spurrier (though we did have the #1 ranked offense at that point in the season... shows how much early season stats mean). brady threw 3 INTs. ifeanyi ohalate knocked down a brady attempt on 4th down to seal the game.


eerily familiar-- the skins had a 17 point second half lead (20-3) and let it dwindle down to 20-17 with 2 minutes left, thus requiring the 4th down stop.

even eerier-- the skins started out 3-1 that year...
but we finished 5-11.
7 of the 11 losses were by the margin of 7 points or less...
5 of them were by 3 points or less.