Patriots Talk: Team Preps For Vikings While Brady And Belichick Learn From Each Other
The New England Patriots have a rather tough matchup this weekend with a game against the Minnesota Vikings. New England has righted the ship after another rocky start to this season but if history is any indicator the Patriots season is just going to get better and better.
For whatever reason as the season draws into December it seems like every year the Patriots step up their game. As for the reasoning behind it QB Tom Brady has a rather smart theory behind it that shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone.
“I think we understand our team and I think we understand the other teams better. I think just the mark of a good team is one that improves as the season goes. I don’t think we ever take the foot off the pedal. We’re trying to play well in December. This is when all these games – they all count the same but you know, this time of year, you’ve got to be playing your best, and I think that’s what we all realize. And we’re playing against a really good team, so I think there’s just going to be no margin of error for us on Sunday. They’ve got a good defense, they’ve got a very high-scoring offense, good in the kicking game, so it’s a good matchup.”
Bill Belichick And Tom Brady Continue To Learn From Each Other
Brady and Belichick have been around quite a while and have learned a lot from each other over the years and that is nothing new. But ahead of their game with the Vikings it appears that both are a the point in their careers where the mutual respect is hard to deny.
Belichick started off the media availability for the day answering a question related to having had so many one-on-ones with Brady over the years and if he has learned anything from his future hall of fame QB. And of course Belichick couldn’t deny he has learned a lot from his long-time QB.
“Yeah, Tom’s got great understanding and vision for the game. He sees a lot of things. I’ve learned a lot from him. I mean, I’ve learned a lot from, I’d say, probably every player I’ve coached. What they see, how they learn, what they do. There are things that I’ve been able to take from, that I’ve learned from what players do and try to teach it to another player and help him get better. Yeah, I’m learning every day.”
Brady later in the day was asked about Belichick’s comment and if he had learned anything from Belichick over the years. Not a real shocker here with Belichick being his long-time coach. But Brady really made sure to note how appreciative he was to learn the art of defenses from the defensive guru that is Bill Belichick.
“Yeah, I think I feel the same way. I learn from certainly him, the role he’s asked me to play. I always learn from him and what he’s teaching and coaching, and it’s really been that way since I’ve got here. I got to be around him a lot when I was younger, really as coaching us as quarterbacks when he would teach us a lot about defense. It was just a great introduction for me in the NFL, to have Coach Belichick really teach me how to read defenses, how to study defenses, how to understand defensive players and not a lot of players have the luxury of having that. I’m very, very grateful and I’ve learned from all the coaches. I feel like everyone can offer a lot to me and I’ll take as much wisdom as they have. The more information I get, the better it usually is.”
And even at 41 years of age Brady continues to learn more and more each day and he credits that to football being an ever developing sport.
“Yeah, I mean, football you never master. It’s a chess match and there’s always different things. Every year’s a little bit different so you’re learning every year, every day, every walkthrough, every meeting, different things. And sometimes you’ve got to forget them and then you re-learn them. That’s just the way it goes.”
Brady and the Patriots will take on the Vikings this Sunday at 4:25 pm.
Patriots Injury Report Heading Into Sunday
As for Trey Flowers who is new to the report for Friday, missed practice for a good reason. The birth of his child.
Could explain Trey Flowers’s absence at practice today. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/gloWPd153G
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) December 1, 2018
Flowers is expected to play on Sunday.
