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Bill Belichick, Patriots anticipate more no-huddle from Ravens 09.18.12 at 6:45 pm ET
By

Bill Belichick

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Tuesday there are some big changes between the Ravens team they beat in the AFC title game eight months ago and the one they’ll face this Sunday night in Baltimore.

“They run a lot more no-huddle offense. That looks like a big part of their package,” Belichick said on a Tuesday afternoon conference call with reporters. “There are some different players in there for one reason or another. Some of the matchups will be a little bit different; of course that’s true of us too.

“Some of their younger players have started to really mature and become very good players, guys that are really getting into the prime of their career, like [Dennis] Pitta or [Ed] Dickson, Lardarius Webb, guys like that, [Pernell] McPhee. They’ve added some young guys that have shown up in the kicking game, like [Corey] Graham, [Christian] Thompson, obviously [Courtney] Upshaw, who’s shown up on defense too. They’re the same but they’re different.

“Of course, Dean [Pees] is the coordinator. He has a couple different wrinkles from what we saw last year as well. I wouldn’t say they’re major but I would say they’re definitely significant; put a little different twist to it for us.”

Defensively, some of those wrinkles could be familiar, as  Pees held the same title with the Patriots from 2006 through 2009. (He was also New England’s linebackers coach in 2004 and 2005.)

“I don’t think we’re seeing anything revolutionary; things that are a little different from some of the things they did last year or things they’re doing more of this year — wrinkles in their dime package and things like that,’ Belichick said of the Baltimore defense.

“It’s not anything that we’ve never seen before, like I said, some of the percentages of it or the emphasis on it, those things change from year to year. Even if the coordinator didn’t change, some of those things would change anyway.”

Here are some other highlights from Belichick’s Q&A Tuesday afternoon:

You talked about Baltimore doing some up-tempo stuff but it also seems like they can push the field vertically whether it’s Torrey Smith or Jacoby Jones and Joe Flacco doesn’t seem to have any problem driving the ball down the field. Is that something that you’ve seen and you see as a challenge leading into the week?

“Definitely, and that’s something that we saw last year as well. And their tight ends too – don’t forget about [Ed] Dickson and [Dennis] Pitta. Those guys are very good down the field, along with their receivers, [Anquan] Boldin and they have guys like Ray Rice that they can hand the ball off to or throw it to out of the backfield on screens or whatever routes he’s on.  We all know he can take it the distance too. They’re a very explosive group all the way around. They can throw it, they run after the catch, they can hand it off to one of the top backs in football. Ray Rice is a very special player and he can score from anywhere on the field on any play – on a pass, cutback play, outside play, inside play, it doesn’t matter what it is, he can hit the home run on you. This is a very explosive group, no question.”

When you sign a player during the week, what’s been your experience with how much you can rely on a player to put him right in a game that week?

“It would definitely depend on the player. When I was in Cleveland, we signed Mike Tomczak and started him at quarterback that week after our other two quarterbacks got injured.”

How did that go?

“Mike did a good job. He came in and worked hard, learned a lot through the week and actually played pretty competitively and I thought he had a pretty decent year for us that year. Obviously it’s not an ideal situation but we did that last year too. We brought guys in, played them in the nickel or started them; played them for 30 or 40 plays in the game. [We] signed guys and didn’t play them at all. It depends on all the circumstances that surround the player, the game, the situation and so forth. I don’t think there’s any real book on that.”

What did you see on the false start on the field goal attempt? Did he clutch there or can you re-adjust the ball?

“I guess you really should talk to the officials about that or talk to the league office, since they’re the only ones that can comment on that. The explanation that was given to me, which I don’t really know, this is just what I was told, that one official on the side said that he had an offside call and then when they went in a conferenced it, the other official said that the ball moved and that’s what caused the offside. That was the explanation that I was given but I would say that if you have any questions about the officiating or the call or anything, you should talk to the league office and have them explain it.”

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  • Titletown1

    Yes, they beat the Nuggets, the number 4 team in the West who are 15 games over .500 without you know who. Some commenters here just a week ago whined that they couldn’t beat a team like Denver with the injuries the Celts have.

    Once again, look at the nice balanced score sheet. They’re playing as a TEAM.
     
     

  • Baker

    One of the best games I’ve ever seen. Tuned out during the second half (Bruins) but caught the Overtimes… I mean, Damn, the passion, both teams played nearly flawless Bball. Big hand for Jeff Green and Paul Pierce, clutch, clutch, clutch. And lets not forget the JET, probably his best performance of as a Celtic. Great Game, Period!

  • Anonymous

    7 in a row.

  • Keebs

    This game was freaking amazing. There were 5 or 6 big late 3′s on both sides. They’re fun to watch again.

  • Galinai33

    YESSSS!!!

  • PP34

    Never under estimate the heart of a CHAMPION!

  • JimVT

    What a treat!  This is fantastic.

  • Beat it troll

    Great game and love how they came back in the second O.T. when they were down 4. Never should have gone to extra time though, Bradley made a very poor blockout on the free throw and lost his man when they tied it up. Not sure he’s 100% because at times he looks a little lost.

  • Baker

    Just like Minihane said, why don’t you try to enjoy the winning rather than specifically the winning without Rondo.

  • Beat it troll

    Not going to happen so you might as well get use to it. Don’t you know all the losing was because of the player who won’t be mentioned?

    I do agree the team does look better and the ball seems to be moving a lot smoother.

  • It’s WEEI not ESPN!!!

    What do you know, without you know who the Greatest basketball franchise in the world beats one of the better teams in the Nba and even after getting screwed by the Refs when Farried blocked his own teammate’s shot out out of bounds and it was called a last touch by Bradley. So all these players who looked “underdeveloped” under Doc Rivers “horrible” coaching end up with double digit points. Please Weei, ditch these stupid ESPN writers who as usual make awful statements on what these teams should do without any support. And if I click listen live on the site after or during a Celtics game I REALLY don’t want to listen to ESPN radio, I want to listen to Sam and Max or Ryder. This team is on a roll and is really showing what it is capable of when the focus is not on one player. Definitely keep Doc as a coach and maybe its time to trade Rondo while hes got the most value. GO CELTICS

  • Fab4ever

    …and a nice thread without the Alpha Troll who will go nameless…this was such a fun game to watch…Denver is good…

  • great win, but unnecessary OTs

    Great win by the Celtics.  Although the game should have never hit OT. What a horrendous call by the officials to force OT… and they even reviewed it for what seemed like 20 minutes! I know, it’s the NBA and I shouldn’t be surprised by it, but for some reason it still shocks me.  Good thing the boys in green could flip the bird to the officials on that call where it counted most, the final score.  

  • Sicko

     Yeah, glad that moron is gone. He must be so happy Rondo tore up his knee. Celts look like they might be able to move up to the 5th or even 4th spot if they can keep up these great efforts. They are only 3 games out of having home court in the first round.

  • Fab4ever

    Who knows how this all turns out but since Rondo has been gone, it became an interesting story…perhaps only because they were considered buried once he went down…too bad about Sully as well…

  • H Bouley

    Actually the game never should have gone to overtime. With 3.6 seconds left in regulation with the C’s up 2 the ball was lost out of bonds under the C’s basket which was correctly ruled Celtic ball. But a replay was viewed to insure a correct call was made. During the time out TV replay was shown and it was obvious the call was correct, however in typical NBA referree stupidity fashion somehow they felt the urge to overturn their own call and award the ball to the Nuggets. UNREAL!!

  • Jj

    Yeah exactly!

  • The_Public

    Great win, way to hang in there C’s.  But, shooter after you shoot the ball stop striking a pose and follow your own shots.  After shots the ball bounced back right back to the shooter.  If I am correct Green, Bradley, Terry, and Lee all did the same from downtown.  Doc has to get on that.  Also, the C’s need to start boxing out, sometimes I get it from KG because he roams a lot, but for crying out loud.  Bradley was terrible and too many over-emphasized his skills.  He got smoked off the dribble numerous times, didn’t box out, passed the ball to the other team.  I hope he improves.  Overall, I would rather go into the lion’s den with this team than make trades that won’t bring much back in return.  

  • Chrisindanvers

    Fabulous game. This tells you something about the Celtics. They would not have won this game earlier in the year….as we’ve see in some of the OT games this year.

    I do have to agree with the unnecessary OTs. Barring something unusual happening, the Celtics should have sealed the win at the very end. The replay of the out of bounds showed the Celtics should have had the ball back with 3.6 seconds left on the clock. There was no evidence to suggest that the Nuggets should have that ball.

    Even the three stooges – let alone these three referees – should have seen that. And, if the referees thought that Avery Bradley hit the ball out of bounds, then the “over the back” should have been called on Faried (though referees never make that call at the end of the game).  These are the types of things that get people all up and arms about NBA officiating. It makes the game look bad when a call is blown that poorly.

  • Anonymous

    27p/14r/14a  Birdesque indeed!  For those of you who think Peirce is the greatest Celtic ever,  Larry put up those #’s just about every other night.

  • Asierra54

    The truth shall u free……

  • Anonymous

    Like the make up of this team a whole lot better without rondo. How far this takes them I don’t know. Yea rondo has mad skills and yea sometimes he plays like he’s the best in the league.

    But… I don’t like his immature nature or his punk-like attitude. When I see him on the sidelines during a timeout, he looks like a kid who lost his mother. Even though his assists would indicate otherwise, it’s all about rondo and not what’s best for the team.

  • Uncle Buck

    The 3 that Pierce hit at the end of that 2nd OT was insane.

  • Spygate’s a Nancy Boy

    Where are you johnny spygate you punk??

  • sin8686

    all the rondo haters are looking real smart (me)..i said it before and ill say it again if jeff green plays to his potential we wont need rondo in the playoffs…across the board and in every facet of the game we are playing better without rondo..whether you want to blame rondo or doc is up to you but rondo lovers have NO argument at this point in time to say we are better with him…its a fact right now with these players we have been playing better without him…ps whats up with espn being on the radio after midnight…lame…and it seems like everyone on this radio station is defending rondo and everyone on the other station (felger and mazz) are defending the current cs team…im a  celtics fan not a rondo fan…always thought he was overrated and got bashed for it…its nice to see that i was right…

  • sin8686 the idiot

     ”.its nice to see that i was right..”

    Don’t hurt yourself patting yourself on the back friend. BTW 7 games makes your argument, really?!? And, will you come back on here and admit you were a douch e when Green disappears for a couple of games like he has in the past? Weird that most of the time Rondo and Green were not even on the floor together but I guess Rondo affected Green even from the bench.

  • Baker

    So the Celtics come away with a huge win and all you can write about is how you were right about Rondo. Moron….

  • sin8686

    im a moron but ive been right?? your the moron who overrated him with his behind the back passes and flashy play…no i wont make my argument with 7 games….ALL TIME RECORD WHEN RONDO HAS BEEN OUT in the past 4 years….27-12…and since your a rondo lover im sure you love stats…in EVERY ASPECT OF THE GAME we have improved or stayed the same…and you all say rondo is a triple double machine?? pierce has 3 in the last 7 games…when you have the ball 95% of the time YOU WILL LOOK GOOD…i dont know how else i can prove that this team is playing better without rondo…THE EYES DONT LIE…and even though i think stats are for losers LOOK AT THE STATS…and another moronic argument i here from you fans who have a man crush on rondo always say look at the teams they are beating…really?? when rondo was playing we lost to the pistons the cavs etc. if i cant get it through your thick skull that there playing better without rondo than i dont know what else i can say…offense and defense has improved…and last i never said rondo made jeff green a bad player, i just always here the argument that we NEED rondo for the playoffs, and i simply stated if green plays to his potential we wont….but if you follow the celtics you must have read NUMEROUS reports that players dont like playing with rondo i.e terry,lee ray allen,paul pierce…i could go on but if you dont see that there playing better right now without him you are a moron and cant help you

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