Steve Belichick 11/7: "Another good challenge this week"

Mike Reese (0:00)

Steve, how are you doing?

Steve Belichick (0:01)

I'm good, how are you?

Mike Reese (0:02)

Doing well. Thanks for taking the time for us today.

Steve Belichick (0:06)

It's mandatory, but yeah, no problem.

Mike Reese (0:08)

Exactly, exactly. What are you banging away at?

Steve Belichick (0:14)

The Colts.

Mike Reese (0:15)

Yep.

Steve Belichick (0:16)

The Colts, yep.

Mike Reese (0:17)

What do you see?

Steve Belichick (0:20)

You know, I see a tough team, you know, a lot of tough players on their offense. I think the quarterback's doing a good job. They obviously got a good back. They used all three tight ends, and they got a good group of wide receivers.

So, and obviously a good old line. So, you know, another good challenge this week that we're looking forward to the opportunity.

Mike Reese (0:42)

One topic just specific to you guys that I was drilling down on myself was just the last couple weeks, 20-yard plays or more have increased.

I'm curious, just what, when you, how much do you look at that number one and to what do you attribute that to? Yes, you know.

Steve Belichick (1:05)

Yeah, you know, we never like to give up big plays, but I think it's a combination of a lot of different things. But try and do a better job. Starts with the coaching staff and trickle down so that we could all do a better job.

Mike Reese (1:24)

When you start to drill down on it, Steve, is there –where do you start on something like that in terms of a coaching point to relay to the players?

Steve Belichick (1:36)

Yeah, you know, like I said, it starts with the coaching and what we're doing, what we're telling the players, and then the execution and that stuff. But it's a combination of a lot of different things.

SPEAKER_3 (1:47)

Okay, we'll go to Nick O'Malley next.

Nick O'Malley (1:55)

Hi, Steve. I want to ask about a situation with the cornerbacks on Sunday, but at least from the outside perspective, it looked like Jack was a bit dejected on the sidelines and saw that JC was also late to come into the games. Jack came in and only played in the second quarter.

Where does that decision come from to have those guys sit at the start of the game and how does it affect the defense having those guys off the field early on?

Steve Belichick (2:20)

Yeah, I mean, those are a lot of internal decisions, but there's a lot of factors that go into it. So, it is what it is.

Nick O'Malley (2:33)

How have you felt with Jack's demeanor and performance and conditioning since returning from injury reserve this year?

Steve Belichick (2:41)

Yeah, I got no problems with Jack. He loves the ball every time he steps out in between the white lines. You know what you're going to get, which is a competitor, guys who plays hard, and a playmaker. So, I'm good with Jack.

Nick O'Malley (2:56)

And with JC., he's taken some heavy criticism of coming out of Los Angeles since the trade. How have you seen him performing in terms of commitment conditioning on the field since he's arrived in New England again?

Steve Belichick (3:09)

Yeah, it's great to have JC back. I've always been a big fan of JC from coming up undrafted, working hard, making the team, going out and getting paid.

And it's great to have him back.

Nick O'Malley (3:24)

Thank you.

Steve Belichick (3:26)

Thanks.

Mike Reese (3:27)

And we'll go back to Mike Reese.

SPEAKER_3 (3:28)

Go ahead, Mike.

Mike Reese (3:30)

Steve, what do you think of Jeremiah Farms? It's quite a journey he's had coming out of Friends University and a couple other places and indoor football.

What do you think of him after being signed to the roster? I know he's got a lot ahead of him, but that seemed like a great accomplishment for someone, given where he started.

Steve Belichick (3:52)

I think hard work pays off, and he's a good example of that for a lot of different people within our organization. So I couldn't be happier for him, and it's very deserving. I don't think it was just trying to put some guy on the roster who would be a good story. I think he developed and wrote his own story, and a lot of hard work that he put in.

Now everybody's starting to see a payoff. We've seen a payoff prior to him just being signed to the active roster. So I'm excited for that guy, and hopefully the journey continues to progress and get better going forward. I know he's going to work hard at it, so I'm happy to have him, and he's done a lot of really good things since he's been part of the team.