New England Head Coach Bill Belichick
Almost blocked a punt on them at halftime. Alright, so it was a good, competitive game tonight. You know, obviously ran out of defensive linemen there at the end but you know good experience for everybody really, everybody that played there. And now we're on to Cincinnati. It's been a good preseason, long one, I think the players have worked hard. I think everyone is ready to start the season next week and we'll get at it right away. That's where we're at.
Q Bill, what did you learn about your team this preseason?
A You know, I thought that overall, taking the practices and the games and all of that into account we had our ups and downs, but I think the team worked hard. I think they are in good condition. I think they'll be ready to go. I think they'll be ready to go. We've competed well for the most part on a day in, day out basis so hopefully we can carry that into Sundays.
Q Can you give me an evaluation of Brian Hoyer's performance tonight…A I think we're going to have to go back and look at the film on all that, but you know, he made some good plays, there's some I'm sure he'd like to have back.
Q Any updates on Sammy Morris?
A Yeah, I think he had a stitch or two in there.
Q Does your secondary concern you at all?
A Well, I think everything concerns you, until you get into the regular season and see how you match up against everybody and how they match up against you. Everything is really a question mark so we'll find out where we're at soon enough.
Q Are you pleased with your kickoff returns so far, punt returns?
A We've had our moments. We've had our moments. At times it's been our deterrence. But again, it's pre-season. Teams are just kicking off, they're just covering. We're not seeing all the difficult coverage maneuvers that teams use and so forth. I think those evaluations all come in time. Now it's time to get your fundamentals down and get good at the basics, work on those, work on your overall team execution and situational awareness. It will be a whole different deal next week.
Q Darnell Jenkins has had two big plays in the preseason and of course missed some time, what do you see from him as far as speed and explosiveness?
A Well, he's had an exciting pre-season. Again made some good plays, and made some other plays, but you know I think there's a lack of experience showed upon. But he's competitive and he's good with the ball in his hands. He's made things happen, so you've got to respect that.
Q Have the players made your cutdown decisions difficult for you?
A I think they are always difficult, they are always difficult. I have guys that are, you know, I mean everybody's got something to offer. You include practice squad in that as well, which you do, cause those players are really part of your team even though they are not on the active roster…they are still part of it. Right. Everybody's got something to offer, whether its experience, or youth, or special teams, or offense, or defense or versatility or whatever it is so you just have to try to make the best decisions we can for the team and that's what we'll do. But yeah, I think everyone has something to offer here.
Q Was there a reason for playing the starters as deep into the fourth quarter as you did because that typically hasn't been your pattern in the past?
A Yeah, well we…I don't know what pattern is. We just do what we think is best in every game.
TE Rob Gronkowski
Are you feeling more comfortable now that the preseason is over?
Going into camp with the team, having all the preseason games, having all the practices, of course I feel a lot more comfortable. You are never 100 percent comfortable and during this week of practice I will be going out there and working hard to be 100 percent comfortable when it comes to the game.
You and Aaron Hernandez worked extra after practice with Tom Brady, do you feel that has been an important thing for you younger guys to try to build a rapport with your quarterback?
Yes, definitely. You need a good relationship and chemistry with your quarterback. I feel like I need to feel out the quarterback throwing the ball and of course the quarterback needs to feel out how I run my routes with my type of speed and everything. Of course we have to be in practice and that is why when it comes to practice we have to be out there practicing hard and we have about a week and a half to go to do so before the regular season.
Are you scared that if you make a big play against Cincinnati that you might black out?
Possibly, but I like it. It is a good thing when I black out so we will see.
RB Laurence Maroney
Were you wondering what your place is in the running back rotation? Are you the guy? Are you just one of the guys?
I am just one of the guys right now. Just basically being patient and sitting back and seeing how things play out. Like I said it is just one of those situations to where I am just going to always be prepared for anything for the best or for the worst. Whenever they call my number I am going to always be ready.
Do you expect to start next Sunday?
Around here you can't expect anything so all I can do is prepare and prepare to get ready as if I was going to start. If I don't, I don't and if I do, I do.
Has Coach Belichick spoken to you about what he expects from you?
Not really. He and I have not had any one on ones. We have a lot of great backs and as a group he expects a lot from us as a group and to go out there and perform. Like I said we definitely have a lot of great backs and so whenever they call my number I am going to always be ready.
How hard is it to be patient?
It isn't hard. You just have to be patient. You just can't rush into anything. You just have to sit back and let things work their way out. You can't really sit here and be upset about not playing. You just have to go out there and just stay prepared and always stay prepared.
Was there ever a time when you might have been more frustrated?
Not really. Not really because like I said I am always a team player. I always tell you guys from year in and year out, whether I get all the carries, no carries, or ten carries, I just want to win. I just want to be a part of a winning team and just go out there and help the team in any way possible.
QB Brian Hoyer
Do you feel good about your performance and how you are ending this preseason this year?
You always just wish that you could finish with a win. I wish I could have been out there on that last drive, but I got scratched up a little bit. There were some good things and there were some bad things so you just have to watch the film and learn what you can from it, move on, and get ready for the regular season?
What happened when you got scratched up?
Not sure. I have to see the film. I think I got hit and my arms were together so I basically braced my fall with my face. I am sure I will have to see it on film to see what happened.
Can you talk about the play of some of the young receivers?
It is good to see them go out there and give it their best. You try to get the ball to all of those guys and Darnell (Jenkins) did a great job, so did Rob (Gronkowski). A lot of guys made plays out there. I thought both of those tight ends played well and we started to run a little bit. It was just good to see them go out there and give it their best and let what happens, happen.
Did you talk to either of them beforehand?
I think I might have just said, 'go out and have fun and do the best you can, you can only control what you can control and that is what you do on the field.' That is probably the only thing I would say to those guys.
What was the atmosphere like in general?
Just excited about the opportunity to go out and play and just try to take advantage of those opportunities and like you said those younger guys. For me it was just really the last guaranteed opportunity that I would have extended playtime. I just wanted to go out there and execute, execute the offense well, and be a leader out there.
