CoachSpeak is back for round two with yours truly. We heard from Bill O'Brien, Steven Belichick, and Cam Achord here on Tuesday morning. They use words, and I am here to interpret them in my own unique way.
On how Bill Belichick has changed over time as he enters his 49th year in the NFL.
Steven Belichick: "He's obviously old. He's definitely old. I haven't seen a ton of changes in terms of his approach and stuff like that. I think he does a good job of adapting. He's not stuck in his ways. He listens, he listens to feedback, and implements it how he wants to. But he's always open to feedback, and he'll listen, and that's from a lot of people in the building - players, coaches, support staff, everybody - to try to learn and improve. I've never heard him say 'I got this. It is what it is. We're not going to progress or change based on what we have.' There's always a level of 'what can we do better? What do we need to do better?' I appreciate that from him, especially as a young person. Sometimes, you get stuck in your ways more than him, being so old. I appreciate him listening to us and taking the feedback we have. As a head coach, it's up to him whether or not he wants to implement the changes or do it differently than we did before that. That's up to him, But he listens to our feedback, and he's not a micro-manager. He lets us do what we do. He hired us to do a job. He has trust in us to do a job, but if it's not good enough, he'll step in and tell you it's flat-out not good enough."
Bill O'Brien: "The building's changed a little bit, but the guy who runs the football part of it has not changed a bit. He's a guy that we all learn from every single day. I'm personally always impressed with his energy, his ability to work consistently, the hours, the consistent work ethic he has day in and day out; I think it's unmatched. And his ability to see the game and help us on offense, defense, and special teams to put together a game plan, he's a great team player. I've always enjoyed working for Bill; working with Bill it is very similar to the way it was when I was here before. It's a great place to come to work. It really is." Why is it a great place? "It's just you're learning every day. You've got really good people you're working with, the players, the coaching staff, the Krafts. The organization itself is a really good place to come to work every day."
Giardi analysis: It was a good summer for Bill. He was back to doing what we're accustomed to seeing out on the practice field or on a game day. Little details, the ability to pull a player or position group aside and school them (or listen). He was doing that two years ago when he had Josh McDaniels as the head coach of the offense, and having Bill O'Brien in a similar role allows Belichick to see the big picture without having to get lost in, say, an offense that couldn't get out of its way a season ago. I expect the Pats to play cleaner football this year, and this is one of the reasons why.
On where Mac Jones is at after an immersive offseason and training camp.
O'Brien: "Mac has worked extremely hard since I was here. I wasn't here his first two years, but since I've been here, he's worked very, very hard. When you work that hard and you're consistent with your work ethic, you're going to improve. I have a strong belief in that. I think we all do. From the day we walked into here, whether it was film study, or things on the field, in the weight room, the conditioning. Whatever it is, he's really worked hard to get better, and he's gotten better. Going into the season, it's just all about - at that position - making the best decisions for the football team. Whether it's run or pass, it doesn't really matter. It's just at that position when you handle the football as much as you do at that position, you're entrusted with making great decisions for the team, and Mac's in a good position to do that, and he's ready to do that."
Giardi analysis: This echoes what we've been telling in this space. Mac is progressing in the right direction. He understands what they're trying to do offensively and how they're trying to do it. He's taking ownership of the good, bad, and indifferent. That doesn't mean Mac's "to the moon," but it does mean the arrow is pointed up, and that certainly wasn't the case last year. Now, O'Brien is challenging to play for. He coaches the quarterback position hard. Ask Bailey Zappe. But he isn't closed-minded. There can be dialogue here, and the Pats' offense should be in a place where they highlight players' strengths instead of just saying, 'This is what we're doing. Damn, whether you're good at it or not.'
On Bailey Zappe getting released and now being back on the practice squad.
O'Brien: "Bailey's a much-improved player. Every year is different when it comes to Bill's decisions with Matt Groh relative to what the 53-man roster can look like. Those are conversations that I'm not really a part of all that. I know Bailey's improved. I'm really happy he's back with us. Bailey's a young player, as a lot of these guys are. When you're talking about a guy only going into 2nd year, there's a lot of improvement that's been made, and there's a good future. There's a good future. It's really good that we have Bailey back. He's a good guy to work with. We're happy to have him back."
Giardi analysis: I wasn't feeling the love here. O'Brien used many words but didn't really say much about Zappe and what happened to him this summer. The dude has some work to do to get himself right to be a serviceable player should something happen to Mac.
On the Eagles run game, which is incredibly diverse and dangerous.
Belichick: "Very good. Very good. They're a tough team to defend. They have weapons all over the field, and I think they do a very good job of attacking the whole field - whether it's sideline to sideline or vertically, shots down the field, whether those are outside throws or inside throws. They got a lot of good players, and I think the scheme suits those guys well, starting with the QB… you're thinking about one thing, and the ball goes somewhere else."
Giardi analysis: It doesn't matter which back is in there - Penny, Gainwell, Scott - the Eagles scheme it up so well. You'll see unbalanced lines, a bunch of formational variance, and personnel changes, but consistently the same results. Of course, it goes beyond the scheme. That offensive line is elite, coached by the great Jeff Stoutland, and managed well by Philly's brass. They've got a first-rounder (Lane Johnson), two second-rounders (Ladon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens), an all-timer in Jason Kelce (drafted and developed as a 6th rounder), and another draft success, 7th rounder Jordan Mailata, who got a massive contract extension and is considered a top-10 player at that position. In addition, the backups are recent draftees Driscoll (2022 4th rounder) and Steen (2023 3rd rounder). Don't get behind the Eagles. They can wear you down and wear you out, and the QB is a game-breaking runner on top of it all. Good luck.
On having two rookie kickers - Chad Ryland and Bryce Baringer - his season was pushed by two veterans - Nick Folk and Corliss Waitman - throughout camp.
Special team coach Cam Achord: "I think that's invaluable. I think competition brings out the best in anyone. I think any time any person or player doesn't want competition, chances are they because they don't see they have a chance. Anytime you can have competition at a position - whether it's the kicking position core cover player in the kicking game position - it's only going to make that player better. So good to have, call it, four guys that are on NFL rosters competing with one another because they're all good football players. I think that helped progress everybody. I think the leadership from the older guys in the room helped bring the young guys along and let them see how it's done on a daily basis. I think players learn from other players when it comes to off-field routines and how to study the film, and that just goes a long way. We coach the position, coach the techniques, but then the body management of how to recover, how to take care of yourself, the nutrition, the other players can speak to that. It goes without saying how well respected both Corliss and Nick was when he was here. Wish him nothing but the best. Have nothing but great things to say about that guy as a player on and off the field."
Giardi analysis: Folk was the best placekicker the Patriots had in training camp this year, but you don't spend a draft pick on a player like Ryland to cut him four months later. He has the big leg and has had his moments, so clearly, the Pats are betting on his promise. When it gets colder, that leg should play far more than Folk's did, from kickoffs to longer field goals. As for Baringer, he kicks a majestic football, and though he nearly had me bailing after that first preseason game, I'm back and expecting him to be a field flipper. He needs to work on his directional and situational punting, which could be why Waitman is still here. The vet did a better job of that this summer than the rook. Hey, kids, no pressure…