Transcripts of conference calls by Bill Belichick and Tom Brady with Jets reporters on Wednesday:
PATRIOTS HEAD COACH BILL BELICHICK
On what the Patriots do to help their second-tier defense step into starting roles …
I think you try to get your team as well-prepared as possible and every guy is important, all 53 players and your practice squad. You never know when you're going to need them or how it's going to go. You try to build some versatility with your guys so they can do a couple of different things so that when you get into emergency situations that come later and at some point in the year, you have some background in it. Preparing your team to do different things and to deal with different things over the course of the 16 games are some of the challenges that every team has to face. There's no scientific answer to it. It's just trying to build depth within your roster and that's hard.
On the unique challenges Laveranues Coles presents to a defense …
He's a very hard guy to defend. Laveranues is strong and has good size. He's the kind of guy who can take a short pass like he did against us in the first game last year and turn it into a long run. He's a good inside receiver and a good deep side receiver. He's productive after the catch. He's really a hard guy to cover, and that whole receiving core is a good group. The Jets have outstanding skill players. They've added a couple of young ones and you have versatile guys like Brad Smith, [Jerricho] Cotchery, [Justin] McCareins and [Leon] Washington. It's a hard group to deal with, plus they have good players in the kicking game from that position, too. There is a lot of depth at receiver, maybe as good as anybody we've faced.
On how Thomas Jones will help not only in the running game but in passing game …
I'm sure they think he's going to help them a lot. They traded for him, he's had 2,500 yards the past couple of years and he's a good player. He played well for the Bears and had a lot of production. The Jets have a well-balanced offense. They can throw it and run it. They have all of their offensive lineman back except for that one guard spot. There is a lot of continuity there and they've increased their depth at the tight end position. They have a couple of the young kids that weren't able to play for them last year and that is giving them depth there. I think it's a well-balanced offense. They have good depth and multiple players at each position to be productive and that makes it hard to defend them.
On if some of his target areas are against the Jets' starting rookies …
We don't really have any control over that. We'll just have to deal with it whatever matchups we create during the game that are favorable. I think that in the last couple of years the Jets have brought a lot of good young players onto their team. [Nick] Mangold is the perfect example. There's a rookie that started on the offensive line and he's one of the best centers in the league. I don't think it's a function of how young or old a guy is. They have brought good players onto their team. They had two rookies last year in [D'Brickashaw] Ferguson and Mangold. They stepped right in there and played well.
On what Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth bring to his team …
We've all seen plenty of Wes in this division and he's had plenty of production in the kicking game and on offense. He's got some speed and quickness. He's pretty good with the ball in his hands after the catch. He's a smart kid and he works hard. He was one of our off-season award winners and for a new guy coming in, I think that's impressive. Stallworth has a little more size. He had a productive year last year for Philadelphia and we think he can add something to our offensive system as well. He can run after the catch and he's a good receiver. He's had good production playing on the perimeter and also inside. We'll just see how it goes, but I'm glad we have both players. They've both worked hard and picked up our system. They've worked hard to get it.
On if he feels invigorated as a coach …
It's always exciting to start the season and I enjoy coaching in the National Football League. It's a huge challenge but very exciting going up against good teams, players and coaches every week. Trying to match that challenge with our group is … it beats working. I enjoy the preparation, film study, decision-making and the challenges that come up during the game. I know it might not always look like it but I do. I love the competitiveness of it and I don't really think that's changed. I've felt that way for a long time. I love the game and the opportunity to be a part of it at the highest level in the NFL.
On if his coaching staff and players are more driven because they haven't been to the Super Bowl in a couple of years …
I think right now we're driven to compete against the Jets on opening day and that's a huge challenge. Coming down to Giants Stadium and going up against the team we played three times last year — and it was three very competitive games. Every one pretty much came down to a possession late in the game. That's a huge challenge and that's what we're focused on right now. A division game on the road right away doesn't get much bigger than that.
On what challenges he thinks Coach Mangini faces this year as a second-year coach …
I think he's done a good job with the team, especially how they came back strong in the second half of the season. They played real good football. Right now I'm just trying to get us ready for the Jets and the challenges they present, which are numerous. I'm not worried about anybody else's job, just the job we're doing.
On if he sees his life after coaching …
It beats working so I'm OK with it right now.
On his impressions of the Jets special teams …
I think Mike Westhoff does a great job with them. Justin Miller was in the Pro Bowl last year and his kickoff return gives you a lot of problems. With their kickoff return and their punt coverage, they do a lot of different things, a lot of different looks. [Mike] Nugent has really developed well as a player and I noticed that he was named a team captain, which says a lot about him. He's on a pretty hot streak of making field goals and is an excellent kicker. They do a good job in every phase of the game — their field goal rush is one of the best in the league. They got up on that last year and that was a big play in the [first] game. We have lot of respect for each and every player in the kicking game that we go against because they are dangerous on every single one of them. They are well-coached, play hard and are a very talented group. The specialists are very good. The snappers, returners, punter and kicker are a solid group all around the board from the specialists to the coaching.
On Randy Moss' status …
We will follow the rules of the NFL injury report like we always do.
PATRIOTS QB TOM BRADY
On facing the Jets …
This is our fourth time playing these guys in 20 games, so we are very familiar with what they do and their personnel. Both teams have prepared for this game for the last eight months but there are going to be plenty of new things out there to see and adjust to. Knowing the quality of the coaching and the toughness of the players we're facing, we certainly have our work cut out for us.
On the Jets defense …
They are very comfortable pressuring and there is no question they do it very well and create a lot of negative plays by doing it. It's really the style of their defense. When Eric [Mangini] was here, I discussed defense with him and he always felt putting pressure on the offense by disguising blitzes and different blitz packages was the best way to attack an offense. We prepare for everything and the great thing is playing these guys as many times as we have, we understand their style. It's still very challenging to prepare for because you have to prepare for everything. I hope we are more prepared this time around than we were the last time around in the playoff game.
On getting acclimated to the new additions on offense …
It's always a challenge with a new team. Every year there are changes and there are new players, new coaches and new ideas and you do things that cause the identity of the offense to change a little bit. Working through that process this year has been fun for us but at the same time it is challenging because we have not had as many guys out there as we would have liked to on a consistent basis. It is one thing to have new players and get used to playing them but another to have new players that are unfortunately out with nagging injuries. Trying to get used to that has been a little different — we have to learn on the fly.
I don't think anybody looks for excuses. It's just part of what every team deals with. We have challenges and other teams have different challenges. We have consistency at some positions like the offensive line, which has been great, the quarterback position has been great and hopefully we can provide enough leadership and execute the way we need to.
On WR Randy Moss …
He's been banged up so I think we'll see when he gets out there what he is capable of doing. I haven't seen him in a while, so we'll see.
On Jets DB Darrelle Revis …
He is a pretty good corner. I know that Coach Belichick thought a lot of him coming out of college. From what I've seen in preseason, he looks like a big guy, he's got good speed and is very physical. He looks like he's going to be a great pick for those guys. Hopefully we will be able to make a few plays out there and hopefully be a little more successful in the passing game this year than we were last year.
On the Jets bringing in former Patriots WR Reche Caldwell for a visit …
It's not the first time that Eric has done it, so I guess we're used to it by now. I think that is part of the process of the league and you just deal with it. We deal with it. It's part of the NFL. Coaches leave and players leave and you have to try and stay one step ahead. They have every right to do that, taking advantage of everything you can.
On whether he feels a comfort level with the new players on offense …
I would always like to be further along. If they were here for three years, I would like to be further along. The expectations are high for the receiver position here. We put a lot on our receivers to go out and perform and to really do their job. Their job comes down to a lot of things. It's not really just catching passes but a complete awareness that we need out of our receiving corps. The guys that have been out there have done a real nice job of doing that.
I wish we could have been out there full-squad for every practice in training camp, but that just wasn't the reality. I really focus on what we can do and what we can do well. The guys have been out there and the consistency they've shown is what you have to really rely on. Going into a game with a bunch of things you haven't even practiced, you'll try and do the things you think will work best.
On the Jets …
We have a great deal of respect for the players. We know how competitive every single game was last year. They went from a not very successful season two years ago to 10-6 last year. They showed a lot of improvement. Even the playoff game, the way the final score turned out, it was a one-score game with five minutes left. It's a very mentally tough team with players that are very skilled, are very good at what they do, and run the scheme the way the coach wants it run. I think it's a great defense. It's always a challenge playing at the Meadowlands.
It's a great rivalry — obviously the Boston–New York thing is not just a baseball thing anymore. We're excited about being a part of it. I think for the season opener, there's nothing more a player could ask for.
