All things Belichick

[Deus Irae]

The New England Patriots weren't a good team at the end of Bill Belichick's long tenure as head coach, but you could argue they've been even worse since he left the franchise back in January.

The Patriots went 4-13 in 2023, which was Belichick's last in charge. They are 3-10 so far this season entering their Week 14 bye, and if you look at their remaining schedule, it's tough to envision New England winning another game.




Belichick was asked about the Patriots' struggles during Monday's episode of the Let's Go! podcast with co-host Jim Gray, and the eight-time Super Bowl champion gave an honest assessment of his former team.

“Yeah, just haven’t done enough to win very many games on any level,” Belichick said. “They’ve had trouble on defense. One of the last-ranked teams on offense, if not the bottom-ranked. Missed some key field goals and some kicking plays as well.

"So I’d say all three areas of the game just haven’t been good enough to win. And they still got a couple games left against Buffalo, right? They have a bye week this week, so maybe they can get a few things straightened out, but it’s just been a pretty inconsistent year. Just haven’t been able to do enough to win when they needed to.”

Belichick then admitted he feels for the players on the current roster who are enduring this difficult season.



"There are a lot of people there that (I'm) very close to," Belichick said. "A lot of them that I brought there, especially defensively. Almost all those players are re-signed and most all the offensive skill players, too. So it's hard to see them going through that type of a season.

"There's nothing I can do about it, I mean, just sit back and watch it. But, of course, yeah, I feel bad for a lot of those guys, especially the defensive players. I know those guys work hard. They're tough and they care and they put a lot into it."

Belichick's criticisms of his former team are fair.

The defense has absolutely taken a step back from last season, although that unit has missed a lot of important players due to injuries and departures. Christian Gonzalez is playing like an All-Pro cornerback in his second campaign, but there aren't many other players exceeding expectations on that side of the ball.


The offense has looked much better with rookie quarterback Drake Maye under center, and his development has been very encouraging for the franchise. But aside from Maye, there's not much to like from the offense.

The young wide receivers have largely been ineffective. More specifically, rookie wideouts Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, who the Patriots selected in the second and fourth round, respectively, look like busts. New England's third-down offense and red-zone offense have been issues, too.

The Patriots have the toughest remaining schedule in the league, based on their final four opponents having a combined .708 win percentage. If the Patriots don't win another game, they will have back-to-back seasons of four or fewer wins, which hasn't happened to this team since 1967 through 1970.

Belichick should have kept his mouth shut on this one. As noted, they were a 4 win team with him, so he should have stayed out of it.

 

[PATS16N0]

Bring back Belichick.

 

[Mazz22]

Belichick should have kept his mouth shut on this one. As noted, they were a 4 win team with him, so he should have stayed out of it.

Bill has become a complete embarrassment. His harping on the Pats this season especially the roster when it is his fault is a joke. If anyone told you Bill would be OUT of football literally after getting fired from the Pats, would you have believed it? Has anyone fallen from grace as much as him once he let the GOAT walk?

 

[HSanders]

Bill has become a complete embarrassment. His harping on the Pats this season especially the roster when it is his fault is a joke. If anyone told you Bill would be OUT of football literally after getting fired from the Pats, would you have believed it? Has anyone fallen from grace as much as him once he let the GOAT walk?

offs...

 

[Mazz22]

offs...

Bill Belichick's record as a head coach without Tom Brady is 83–104, for a win percentage of .449.

 

[Lord Chevy]

Bill Belichick's record as a head coach without Tom Brady is 83–104, for a win percentage of .449.

Rebuilding years, having the team yanked out from under him in Cleveland.

Neither of his hirings were following Jimmy Johnson like Switzer did.

 

[Mazz22]

Rebuilding years, having the team yanked out from under him in Cleveland.

Neither of his hirings were following Jimmy Johnson like Switzer did.

This is a 10 year span over two franchises. He had plenty of time and QBs in both places to create a competitive team. He literally ran the Pats into the ground. The team won the SB in 2018, Brady left after 19.

 

[HSanders]

This is a 10 year span over two franchises. He had plenty of time and QBs in both places to create a competitive team. He literally ran the Pats into the ground. The team won the SB in 2018, Brady left after 19.

"We sold out and won three Super Bowls, played in a fourth, and played in an AFC championship game," Belichick — a six-time Super Bowl-winning coach — said Monday in his weekly appearance on Boston radio station WEEI.

"This year we have less to work with. It's not an excuse. It's just the facts."


"It's obvious we didn't have any money. It's nobody's fault. That's what we did the last five years."
Belichick added: "I didn't say it as an excuse. I never said that. Look, we paid Cam Newton a million dollars [on July 8].

Bill Belichick opens up on Patriots' struggles: 'Sold out' for Super Bowls | Sporting News

Belichick opens up on struggles

www.sportingnews.com

 

[Lord Chevy]

This is a 10 year span over two franchises. He had plenty of time and QBs in both places to create a competitive team. He literally ran the Pats into the ground. The team won the SB in 2018, Brady left after 19.

I'm not saying he didn't make mistakes. But he did the work to turn the Browns into a competitive team, and that season was killed by the news that the team was up and moving. He came in to New England and caught lightning in a bottle, having to start a careful game manager at QB, who's play complimented the D much more. On D, he brought in a lot of leaders/vets that knew their roles and did their jobs.

Sticking with Tom was a tough call, but he made it. Cutting Lawyer in favor of Rodney was a tough call, but he made it. Drafting Branch and Givens were excellent moves.

Then the Dynasty rolled on, winning 6. And then it got bad. The culture was still there, but newer players did not respond to it, and BB did not adapt. Or, if he did, he went the wrong wway.

 

[LordSensei1958]

View: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3196850233791339

 

[Mazz22]

I'm not saying he didn't make mistakes. But he did the work to turn the Browns into a competitive team, and that season was killed by the news that the team was up and moving. He came in to New England and caught lightning in a bottle, having to start a careful game manager at QB, who's play complimented the D much more. On D, he brought in a lot of leaders/vets that knew their roles and did their jobs.

Sticking with Tom was a tough call, but he made it. Cutting Lawyer in favor of Rodney was a tough call, but he made it. Drafting Branch and Givens were excellent moves.

Then the Dynasty rolled on, winning 6. And then it got bad. The culture was still there, but newer players did not respond to it, and BB did not adapt. Or, if he did, he went the wrong wway.

IMO, he is a defensive savant. Best defensive mind football has ever seen. He was paired perfectly with Brady who was an offensive savant and the best QB football has ever seen. When both were without each other, Bill floundered badly while Brady won a SB and SB MVP in his first year with an absolute clown for a HC in Arians. To me the last 5 years settled who was really responsible for the dynastic run and it's not even close.

 

[Deus Irae]

"We sold out and won three Super Bowls, played in a fourth, and played in an AFC championship game," Belichick — a six-time Super Bowl-winning coach — said Monday in his weekly appearance on Boston radio station WEEI.

"This year we have less to work with. It's not an excuse. It's just the facts."


"It's obvious we didn't have any money. It's nobody's fault. That's what we did the last five years."
Belichick added: "I didn't say it as an excuse. I never said that. Look, we paid Cam Newton a million dollars [on July 8].

Bill Belichick opens up on Patriots' struggles: 'Sold out' for Super Bowls | Sporting News

Belichick opens up on struggles

www.sportingnews.com

They were last in the league in spending over the 10 year period.

A lack of financial room was not even a remote problem.

 

[Lord Chevy]

IMO, he is a defensive savant. Best defensive mind football has ever seen. He was paired perfectly with Brady who was an offensive savant and the best QB football has ever seen. When both were without each other, Bill floundered badly while Brady won a SB and SB MVP in his first year with an absolute clown for a HC in Arians. To me the last 5 years settled who was really responsible for the dynastic run and it's not even close.

No respect for Tampa's D, or the offensive weapons around him? Was it all Brady, or was he just the final piece?

 

[Deus Irae]

I'm not saying he didn't make mistakes. But he did the work to turn the Browns into a competitive team, and that season was killed by the news that the team was up and moving. He came in to New England and caught lightning in a bottle, having to start a careful game manager at QB, who's play complimented the D much more. On D, he brought in a lot of leaders/vets that knew their roles and did their jobs.

Sticking with Tom was a tough call, but he made it. Cutting Lawyer in favor of Rodney was a tough call, but he made it. Drafting Branch and Givens were excellent moves.

Then the Dynasty rolled on, winning 6. And then it got bad. The culture was still there, but newer players did not respond to it, and BB did not adapt. Or, if he did, he went the wrong wway.

Even leaving Cleveland out of it:


BB was 5-13 in New England before Brady took over. Upon Brady's insertion into the lineup, the team magically went 15-3 and won the SB
BB missed the playoffs when Brady was injured
BB new won a playoff game in New England without Brady
BB changed from an offensive system that worked with Brady/Cassel/JAG/Jones to one his coaches didn't even know how to coach
BB ruined a 1st round QB pick because he thought using a defensive coach as the offensive coordinator was a good idea


The data is clear. It's just a matter of BB fans accepting it. There's no question that BB deserves credit for being able to harness the talents of Brady, but there's also no question that BB's success is directly tied to riding Brady's coattails.

 

[Deus Irae]

No respect for Tampa's D, or the offensive weapons around him? Was it all Brady, or was he just the final piece?

Tampa before Brady, years in reverse order:

7-9
5-11
5-11
9-7
6-10
2-14
4-12
7-9
4-12


In both Tampa and New England, without Brady, the team was nothing.

 

[Mazz22]

No respect for Tampa's D, or the offensive weapons around him? Was it all Brady, or was he just the final piece?

Brady brought the winning culture there. Before he showed up, they had not made the playoffs in 13 years. Winston had that same talent the year prior and posted a losing record. Brady took them to the SB title scoring 30+ points every single playoff game which is an NFL record ...
Also don't forget he had an absolute clown for a HC in Arians ... and an even worse OC in Leftwich.

 

[HSanders]

No respect for Tampa's D, or the offensive weapons around him? Was it all Brady, or was he just the final piece?

final piece. he selected a place that was missing a qb.

 

[Mazz22]

Tampa before Brady, years in reverse order:

7-9
5-11
5-11
9-7
6-10
2-14
4-12
7-9
4-12


In both Tampa and New England, without Brady, the team was nothing.

It really is stark especially when you look at the Pats with Bill before Brady got there in 2000 (5-11) and then the 0-2 start in 2001 with Bledsoe when everyone was on the hot seat and then Brady steps on the field and boom - SB champs. Then Brady leaves in 2019 and Bill literally brain farts all over place ruining Jones by having Patricia being his OC and posting a 4-13 season on his way to getting the boot in the ass out the door and then out of football altogether. Like I said, the biggest fall from grace of any "great" HC we have ever seen in any team sport ...

 

[Fly Eagles Fly]

It really is stark especially when you look at the Pats with Bill before Brady got there in 2000 (5-11) and then the 0-2 start in 2001 with Bledsoe when everyone was on the hot seat and then Brady steps on the field and boom - SB champs. Then Brady leaves in 2019 and Bill literally brain farts all over place ruining Jones by having Patricia being his OC and posting a 4-13 season on his way to getting the boot in the ass out the door and then out of football altogether. Like I said, the biggest fall from grace of any "great" HC we have ever seen in any team sport ...

Shady Brady is the GOAT no denying that anymore. As much as I hate that man

 

[Deus Irae]

final piece. he selected a place that was missing a qb.

Tampa was 29th in points allowed the year before Brady arrived, and 3rd in points scored