Patriots
Belichick additionally mentioned he does not plan to take a seat anybody out for Sunday’s season finale vs. the Jets.
FOXBOROUGH — The ultimate week of the season is right here, and the Patriots have been eradicated from playoff competition. A loss to the Jets Sunday would just about assure a top-three draft choose, and a win might drop them a few spots.
However coach Invoice Belichick mentioned he isn’t planning on sitting gamers.
“Gamers need to play — practiced, labored all 12 months to play,” the coach mentioned. “If they will play, I wouldn’t not play them. I feel that’s truthful to the participant. I don’t know, possibly you see it in a different way.”
Belichick mentioned he’s targeted on taking part in those that have earned time fairly than placing an emphasis on seeing what youthful and newly acquired gamers have to supply.
“We’re going to get able to play the fellows that should play towards the Jets,” he mentioned. “I feel all of them need to play.”
Sport planning for the Jets begins with the go rush, Belichick mentioned.
“They’ve a very good defensive position — a number of tackles for loss,” Belichick mentioned. “Numerous strain on the quarterback and had a number of spectacular defensive stats in video games.”
The Patriots have had to make use of youthful gamers on the offensive line this season out of necessity. Rookie guards Sidy Sow (12) and Atonio Mafi (5) have made a mixed 17 begins. Rookie heart Jake Andrews performed a season-high 13 snaps final Sunday towards the Payments.
Vederian Lowe, a 24-year-old deal with in his second NFL season, has logged 53 snaps or extra in 5 of his 10 video games since being acquired by way of commerce.
Belichick was requested how the group has progressed over the course of the 12 months.
“Baptism underneath fireplace,” he mentioned. “There’ll be extra this week.
“These [Jets] guys are actually good. They play a number of completely different spots, in order that they’re not all the time matched up towards the identical man. You’ve acquired to dam completely different gamers.
“They’re good, they rush the nice passer in addition to any workforce we’ve performed. With a number of guys, you’ve acquired a number of guys to cease. These guys be taught each week. They’re younger gamers who get expertise, educate some issues, and hopefully it should repay in the long term.”
Mike Onwenu, 26, is within the remaining 12 months of his rookie deal. When requested about Onwenu, Belichick mentioned he wouldn’t get into contract talks. He did supply some reward and listed a couple of of the matchups he expects to see the best deal with engaged in.
“He began the 12 months at guard,” mentioned the coach. “We talked after the Las Vegas sport and began taking part in at deal with. He’s actually embraced that.
“I feel he’s had a reasonably good 12 months on the market. It’s not completely new for him. He’s been on the market earlier than. He’s seen a number of good gamers and has completed a reasonably stable job.
“He’ll see extra this week. A number of guys on the market that he’ll face which are all good. [John] Franklin-Myers, [Will] McDonald, [Jermaine] Johnson, [Bryce] Huff. So, yeah, they’ve acquired a number of good rushers.”