Bill Belichick 9/18: "We all have to produce more"

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Bill, after the game, some of the Dolphins players said they had never seen the the work that you put out there with three group safeties. Just curious how you went about dividing that.

Bill Belichick (0:14)

Well, I mean, there are a number of things that we felt like we had to take care of with the Dolphins, with their offense, so you know, we had a few looks to try to you know, address it. That was one of them.

SPEAKER_3 (0:32)

Thank you.

Bill Belichick (0:37)

Yeah.

SPEAKER_3 (0:39)

Next question, Ian Steele. And Bill?

Yesterday, you said the team has to work harder, trying to get over these first two losses. Mack Jones said something similar. He said he needs everybody to come early and stay late, not just a few guys. Where do you see this roster in terms of the coming early, stay late, doing the extra things this season?

Bill Belichick (1:10)

Yeah, overall, it's a pretty hard working group.

But look, ultimately, in the end, we've all got to produce more. And so that's really the focus. So we'll keep grinding away on that, and be ready to correct some mistakes from yesterday, and get ready for the Jets, and go down there, and be ready to play our best football.

SPEAKER_4 (1:44)

Next question, from Niko Melli, followed by Chris Ryan.

I want to ask about Chad Weiland, and how he's performed so far since getting the kicker job. First field goal last night, would you see from him in the actual game setting for field goal hitting that kick last night?

Bill Belichick (2:07)

Right, well, yeah, I think Chad's hit the ball well in practice.

The games are always different. The games are the games. And it's the first field goal opportunity that he's had. There have been some extra points, so similar type kicks. But he's kicked off well.

He's hit the ball well in the kickoffs for the most part. So every game, every play, really, every snap's a good learning experience for him and the operation with Bryce and Joe. So continue to work and perfect that as we play in different stadiums, different environments, and different conditions, and so forth. It's all part of the process of growing individually, but also, as I said, the whole operation of field goals with the snap, the hold, the kick, and obviously, the protection. But for those three specialists in particular, it's an entire operation that's involved. It's not a golf swing where you put the ball on the tee and hit it. You've got to snap it and get it down, and so forth. So it's a little more. It does definitely take some timing and teamwork.

SPEAKER_4 (3:31)

And what sort of challenges come up with having two parts of the three on the field goal snap operation being rookies?

Bill Belichick (3:42)

Right. Again, I'd say that's part of it.

Neither Bryce or Chad has a lot of NFL game experience. They both punted and held and kicked, but doing it together and doing it at this level is different and a little more challenging. And they work hard on it, and Joe and Cam and Joe Houston, all of those guys, they all spent a lot of time together. They worked to perfect their individual craft and their overall unit operation. And it's gonna be a work in progress, but I'd say the upside of it is they're young, they should be together for a while or have a chance to be together for a while, and then that continuity consistency can develop.

So, again, they're working on it every day, and we've got a long way to go, but not bad so far. Yeah, you're welcome, Nick.

SPEAKER_3 (4:58)

And we do have a number of people with their hands raised, so I'm gonna just ask if you ask just one question, and if you have another one, you can get back and raise your hand again, and we'll come back to you after this time.

SPEAKER_4 (5:07)

Chris Ryan, followed by Doug Kott.

Chris Ryan (5:11)

I want to ask you about the start of the games. You mentioned last night that turnovers, and obviously Doug's turnover was problematic, but outside of that and on both sides of the ball, what needs to improve in starting these games?

Bill Belichick (5:28)

Yeah, well, our production, but I mean, a big thing, you know, offensively, we turned the ball over three times here in two games early in the game, and that's really the worst thing that can happen. So, you know, defensively, we had a couple of drives that didn't result in a lot of points, you know, but then those turnovers put us on a short field.