1 00:00:30,319 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: Pats from the Past. Tune in is Matt Smith and 2 00:00:32,598 --> 00:00:35,119 Speaker 1: Paul Perillo offer in depth interviews with some of the 3 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,759 Speaker 1: greatest players and coaches in New England Patriots history. 4 00:00:37,839 --> 00:00:39,638 Speaker 2: Joined by the newarch member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, 5 00:00:39,719 --> 00:00:40,279 Speaker 2: Mike Gravel. 6 00:00:40,399 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: Find out what led to some of the greatest moments 7 00:00:42,519 --> 00:00:45,398 Speaker 1: in franchise history and unique behind the scenes insight and. 8 00:00:45,359 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 3: Please to be joined by former Patriot quarterback Brian coy 9 00:00:48,199 --> 00:00:50,598 Speaker 3: Or joined by number thirty seven on your scorecard, but 10 00:00:50,679 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 3: number one in our hearts at least Rodney Harrison. 11 00:00:53,439 --> 00:00:56,078 Speaker 4: Good to be home, Good to see you guys. 12 00:00:55,799 --> 00:01:00,919 Speaker 1: Search for Pats in the Past anywhere you get your podcast. 13 00:01:00,519 --> 00:01:05,918 Speaker 5: What makes the Marcus John good just AS's this question 14 00:01:07,719 --> 00:01:11,158 Speaker 5: his preparation. First off, he understands every punter's playing really 15 00:01:11,158 --> 00:01:13,999 Speaker 5: really well, so he understands where the punts are going 16 00:01:14,039 --> 00:01:15,919 Speaker 5: to be landing, so you can get a beat on that. 17 00:01:16,039 --> 00:01:18,439 Speaker 5: So him doing that allows him to have just that 18 00:01:18,559 --> 00:01:20,999 Speaker 5: little bit more space to kind of react and get 19 00:01:21,039 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 5: the returns started. And just that natural vision. He's got 20 00:01:24,438 --> 00:01:28,719 Speaker 5: a natural vision of filling returns, getting them set up, 21 00:01:28,759 --> 00:01:30,999 Speaker 5: setting up his blocks where it's a you know, middle 22 00:01:31,239 --> 00:01:34,479 Speaker 5: directional return and he's just pretty you know, that's what 23 00:01:34,599 --> 00:01:36,158 Speaker 5: he did in college and that's why he's been here 24 00:01:36,159 --> 00:01:38,719 Speaker 5: and been elite. Too bad he was hurt last year 25 00:01:38,759 --> 00:01:40,999 Speaker 5: because again he's just one of those guys. It's just 26 00:01:41,199 --> 00:01:42,518 Speaker 5: a very good, dynamic returner. 27 00:01:43,719 --> 00:01:47,199 Speaker 4: Very just asked that wasn't about the reporter on the radio? 28 00:01:47,639 --> 00:01:49,639 Speaker 5: Yeah, on the radio, Yeah, that was the first question. 29 00:01:50,559 --> 00:01:54,038 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's like Bryce Bearer had a couple of tough punts. 30 00:01:54,079 --> 00:01:56,719 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's a second question in. 31 00:01:56,879 --> 00:02:01,758 Speaker 3: The same wavelength, like did what specifically happen on those ponds? 32 00:02:01,759 --> 00:02:04,199 Speaker 5: And how do you fix that? Move forward? Yeah, you know, 33 00:02:04,439 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 5: for a punter, it's just like a quarterback. You're gonna 34 00:02:08,079 --> 00:02:10,879 Speaker 5: get a lot of opportunities, you know, get a lot more, 35 00:02:10,918 --> 00:02:12,758 Speaker 5: but you're no always gonna hit the ball the right way. 36 00:02:12,759 --> 00:02:14,199 Speaker 5: It's like a golfer, right, I mean, you're gonna hit 37 00:02:14,358 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 5: just off went off sometimes footwork, sometimes the weather, sometimes 38 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 5: your hands, sometimes your swing. I think there was a 39 00:02:20,399 --> 00:02:22,559 Speaker 5: combination of things in that and on those reps there, 40 00:02:22,599 --> 00:02:25,078 Speaker 5: and for a guy like Bryce, he makes mistakes. He's 41 00:02:25,079 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 5: a pro. Like he all week he's been working on 42 00:02:27,399 --> 00:02:29,839 Speaker 5: his on his footwork, his hand work, because it come 43 00:02:30,199 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 5: all those things came down to really your hands and 44 00:02:32,719 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 5: your footwork, not the kick, the leg of the swing, 45 00:02:35,719 --> 00:02:37,759 Speaker 5: not the weather. It was just like hands and footwork. 46 00:02:38,038 --> 00:02:39,479 Speaker 5: And so for him, it's like, all right, let me 47 00:02:39,479 --> 00:02:41,759 Speaker 5: get back to what I'm doing, let me refocus up 48 00:02:41,758 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 5: and have a great week. And I think he's done that. 49 00:02:44,038 --> 00:02:47,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, opening and kickoff and overtime, and I'm assuming that 50 00:02:47,279 --> 00:02:49,439 Speaker 3: was purposeful to try to make them return in and 51 00:02:49,519 --> 00:02:52,078 Speaker 3: get Brandon a chance there that everything can play. Maybe. 52 00:02:52,199 --> 00:02:55,319 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean we saw an opportunity right there. Are 53 00:02:55,359 --> 00:02:58,478 Speaker 5: guys executed. School are obviously sq to a high level there, 54 00:02:58,879 --> 00:03:00,599 Speaker 5: and we almost got an opportunity to win that game 55 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,399 Speaker 5: right there. Which I look back at that and if 56 00:03:02,439 --> 00:03:04,839 Speaker 5: we were to recover that ball and overtime off, that 57 00:03:05,359 --> 00:03:07,319 Speaker 5: you win the game. And it's all hindsight now, but 58 00:03:07,879 --> 00:03:09,479 Speaker 5: you try to put your guys in position right there, 59 00:03:09,479 --> 00:03:10,839 Speaker 5: and School is wheen of those guys is gonna put 60 00:03:10,879 --> 00:03:13,159 Speaker 5: himself in positioning throughout the week of preparation. And he 61 00:03:13,199 --> 00:03:14,839 Speaker 5: did that and he made a big play, and I 62 00:03:14,879 --> 00:03:16,758 Speaker 5: was it was real momentum to start the drive. And 63 00:03:16,799 --> 00:03:17,879 Speaker 5: that's what that's all you can ask for. 64 00:03:19,119 --> 00:03:22,439 Speaker 3: You mentioned whether just in your answer the price, what 65 00:03:22,599 --> 00:03:24,078 Speaker 3: was your thought on the weather last week? 66 00:03:24,119 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 5: And breezy, Like it was a breezy game. It wasn't 67 00:03:27,119 --> 00:03:29,759 Speaker 5: really windy. It was like it was breezy, so it 68 00:03:29,799 --> 00:03:32,638 Speaker 5: was going different directions, it was mixing up, so you 69 00:03:32,758 --> 00:03:34,719 Speaker 5: never really got to beat on it. It wasn't like 70 00:03:35,239 --> 00:03:36,719 Speaker 5: you feel good this way, you figure it that way. 71 00:03:36,759 --> 00:03:38,599 Speaker 5: It's more like, all R right now, it feels like 72 00:03:38,599 --> 00:03:40,159 Speaker 5: it's this way, let's just go with it this way. 73 00:03:40,359 --> 00:03:42,999 Speaker 5: And and so our punters are specialists, have to be 74 00:03:43,039 --> 00:03:45,519 Speaker 5: really keyed on that throughout the game. It's not easy 75 00:03:45,519 --> 00:03:47,319 Speaker 5: because it was like good, it'd be good for a 76 00:03:47,319 --> 00:03:48,759 Speaker 5: second and all of a sudden it just didn't want 77 00:03:48,759 --> 00:03:51,319 Speaker 5: to pick up a gusty a little bit again, breezy, 78 00:03:51,399 --> 00:03:53,559 Speaker 5: not crazy, but just one of those games that now 79 00:03:53,559 --> 00:03:56,479 Speaker 5: we're in late in the season, it's gonna happen quite 80 00:03:56,479 --> 00:03:56,719 Speaker 5: a bit. 81 00:03:57,359 --> 00:04:02,399 Speaker 4: Conversation out Joey Brice, even like before overtime. 82 00:04:01,999 --> 00:04:04,719 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, before over the time, Yeah exactly. If you just, hey, 83 00:04:04,759 --> 00:04:06,319 Speaker 5: what are you feeling right now? What are you thinking? 84 00:04:06,839 --> 00:04:08,639 Speaker 5: You know, you feel good both ways, you feel it 85 00:04:08,639 --> 00:04:12,159 Speaker 5: this way, and it's one of those like, hey it's breezy, 86 00:04:12,519 --> 00:04:13,839 Speaker 5: we can go either way with it. You want to 87 00:04:13,839 --> 00:04:15,559 Speaker 5: go this way, Sure, let's go this way because it's breezy. 88 00:04:15,599 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 5: We don't know what's gonna end up being at the 89 00:04:17,239 --> 00:04:18,559 Speaker 5: end of the day. You could pick up going this 90 00:04:18,639 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 5: direction all of a sudden. Sometimes it does that, and 91 00:04:20,919 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 5: that's why going in the pre game with those guys, 92 00:04:23,119 --> 00:04:24,359 Speaker 5: it was like, hey, look, we're gonna have to adjust 93 00:04:24,359 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 5: all game because this is one of those games where 94 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 5: it's it's not consistent going one way. 95 00:04:31,079 --> 00:04:34,959 Speaker 1: Seeing Jacky and maybe Jacky and Bell, yeah, seeing him 96 00:04:34,959 --> 00:04:38,239 Speaker 1: maybe take to some of the coaching on. 97 00:04:38,199 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 5: Specials always doing great. Yeah, I mean, Bell's light years 98 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 5: away from where he was when he first got here. 99 00:04:43,678 --> 00:04:45,959 Speaker 5: And that's just the progression of a rookie, right they 100 00:04:46,079 --> 00:04:48,879 Speaker 5: understand their role or I'm a special teams guy right 101 00:04:48,919 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 5: now before he graduates to be a starting tight end 102 00:04:50,879 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 5: hopefully one day, but right now, his role is to 103 00:04:52,958 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 5: play special teams and as a third tight end, and 104 00:04:55,479 --> 00:04:57,198 Speaker 5: I think he's owning that role and he's really coming 105 00:04:57,239 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 5: in extra meeting and he's getting better and showing up 106 00:04:59,879 --> 00:05:00,679 Speaker 5: on film because of it. 107 00:05:01,879 --> 00:05:04,318 Speaker 4: When you look at the Bears kickoff unit, they seem 108 00:05:04,599 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 4: like one of the teams a little more likely to 109 00:05:06,399 --> 00:05:08,958 Speaker 4: allow a return, whether intentionally or in or own intention 110 00:05:09,119 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 4: Just what do you see from them and is there 111 00:05:11,198 --> 00:05:13,518 Speaker 4: something they're maybe doing that they're more comfortable covering. 112 00:05:13,318 --> 00:05:15,959 Speaker 5: The returns than Yeah, I just think they're a team 113 00:05:15,958 --> 00:05:18,359 Speaker 5: that wants to put the ball in play or they 114 00:05:18,438 --> 00:05:20,119 Speaker 5: do a great job. I mean they got a heavy 115 00:05:20,119 --> 00:05:23,959 Speaker 5: personnel group, Like they're heavy handed outside linebacker linebacker types 116 00:05:24,239 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 5: doing a great job getting on blocks and punching at 117 00:05:26,879 --> 00:05:28,759 Speaker 5: the ball. They're a big time turnover team as well, 118 00:05:28,999 --> 00:05:30,439 Speaker 5: and I think high towers and a great job with 119 00:05:30,479 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 5: those guys are playing physical and downhill. So we definitely 120 00:05:33,198 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 5: got a true test here and they're gonna hang it up. 121 00:05:34,719 --> 00:05:37,278 Speaker 5: They're gonna they're gonna test our return game kind of 122 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 5: like Houston, right, Like, Hey, we got big bodies, we 123 00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:41,158 Speaker 5: got guys who can two gap you and can you 124 00:05:41,159 --> 00:05:42,679 Speaker 5: block us? Or you can you not? So we got 125 00:05:42,719 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 5: to own them to that role and come out and 126 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 5: play physical. 127 00:05:46,198 --> 00:05:48,038 Speaker 4: It's just a little bit of over your day for you, 128 00:05:48,159 --> 00:05:50,399 Speaker 4: knowing where you talk to us about the past, about 129 00:05:50,438 --> 00:05:52,758 Speaker 4: working ahead where you can now. 130 00:05:52,678 --> 00:05:56,118 Speaker 5: See the team and yeah, have you got there yet? 131 00:05:56,279 --> 00:06:00,558 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, I'm already there. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, it is, 132 00:06:00,599 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 5: but it's it's easier because you understand the team, right. 133 00:06:03,078 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 5: You're like, you kind of know the personnel pretty well 134 00:06:05,639 --> 00:06:07,878 Speaker 5: and you kind of know schematically what they're trying to 135 00:06:07,919 --> 00:06:09,759 Speaker 5: do just because you were there for two years and 136 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,079 Speaker 5: you kind of know the mindset over there. So yeah, 137 00:06:12,078 --> 00:06:14,399 Speaker 5: it's a lot easier this week, to be honest, got. 138 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:17,559 Speaker 3: Help Like they obviously play on Monday night, said they 139 00:06:17,599 --> 00:06:19,959 Speaker 3: have like kind of a short tweet coming up. 140 00:06:19,919 --> 00:06:23,238 Speaker 5: That it hurts them from a you know, preparation standpoint 141 00:06:23,239 --> 00:06:25,199 Speaker 5: for us even kind of to because you get a 142 00:06:25,198 --> 00:06:27,079 Speaker 5: lot of work done on Monday and with them not 143 00:06:27,159 --> 00:06:29,399 Speaker 5: playing an extra game until Monday night, you gotta do 144 00:06:29,399 --> 00:06:31,399 Speaker 5: all this stuff Tuesday morning, so you kind of lose 145 00:06:31,438 --> 00:06:33,399 Speaker 5: a bit of time on that. The good thing is 146 00:06:33,438 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 5: I know the team pretty well, so it's like whatever 147 00:06:35,759 --> 00:06:38,559 Speaker 5: they show, if they's showing anything new, then it was like, oh, okay, 148 00:06:38,519 --> 00:06:40,199 Speaker 5: that's new, but I kind of know exactly what they're 149 00:06:40,198 --> 00:06:42,959 Speaker 5: gonna do that. An the other team, though, I'll be like, damn, 150 00:06:42,958 --> 00:06:45,238 Speaker 5: I wish it was Sunday. Still, Yeah, did you. 151 00:06:45,479 --> 00:06:47,118 Speaker 3: Watch that Monday high game? 152 00:06:48,198 --> 00:06:51,039 Speaker 5: Like the Coach's eye and then they're just all film 153 00:06:51,078 --> 00:06:53,278 Speaker 5: the next day awesome. Next day, I might watch it 154 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:55,439 Speaker 5: a little bit of it, but I'm working getting ready 155 00:06:55,479 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 5: for Tuesday. Like, although I have to put that game in, 156 00:06:58,159 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 5: I'm still working on what they're doing now. So I 157 00:07:00,958 --> 00:07:03,158 Speaker 5: wish I could watch it as a fan, just gonna 158 00:07:03,159 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 5: sit down, have pizza, chill and just like have no stress. 159 00:07:06,078 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 5: But now I can't do that. 160 00:07:07,919 --> 00:07:11,159 Speaker 4: Do you have a strong connection with those last year? 161 00:07:11,719 --> 00:07:13,279 Speaker 5: Yeah? Yeah, well I feel like with all his players 162 00:07:13,279 --> 00:07:15,879 Speaker 5: and having O'shawn come here now, I already had a 163 00:07:15,879 --> 00:07:17,879 Speaker 5: relationship with him and kind of knew what he was about, 164 00:07:17,919 --> 00:07:19,919 Speaker 5: what he needs to work on, and that helped me 165 00:07:20,119 --> 00:07:22,839 Speaker 5: going forward. A guy at Chicago Bears, Daniel Hardy's gonna 166 00:07:22,839 --> 00:07:24,958 Speaker 5: be played on Sunday. He's a damn good especially player. 167 00:07:25,078 --> 00:07:27,159 Speaker 5: Had him for two years as well. So just knowing 168 00:07:27,159 --> 00:07:29,359 Speaker 5: those guys and knowing the backgrounds always helps you when 169 00:07:29,399 --> 00:07:32,999 Speaker 5: you're you're game planning or you're working. He's got a 170 00:07:32,999 --> 00:07:35,159 Speaker 5: lot of moving piece on offensive line. This year. Has 171 00:07:35,199 --> 00:07:39,879 Speaker 5: to forced him to do any extra Yeah? Actually has? 172 00:07:39,999 --> 00:07:42,439 Speaker 5: I mean we we We've actually set up another field 173 00:07:42,479 --> 00:07:44,719 Speaker 5: goal period throughout the week to get extra work on 174 00:07:44,839 --> 00:07:46,159 Speaker 5: and I think it's helped us a little bit from 175 00:07:46,159 --> 00:07:47,959 Speaker 5: a protection standpoint. We had our issues earlier. New were 176 00:07:47,958 --> 00:07:50,319 Speaker 5: against Seattle. Uh and I think we moving part too. 177 00:07:50,439 --> 00:07:52,319 Speaker 5: It does. It does hurt you because it affects us 178 00:07:52,359 --> 00:07:54,879 Speaker 5: as well. And you know, you can't play certain guys. 179 00:07:54,919 --> 00:07:57,479 Speaker 5: You can't play certain guys and technique is different, right, 180 00:07:57,479 --> 00:07:59,839 Speaker 5: and you're not always going full speed in practice until 181 00:07:59,839 --> 00:08:03,199 Speaker 5: you get into the gaming and then it's real. Yeah, 182 00:08:03,639 --> 00:08:06,239 Speaker 5: when do you stay in practice today? Huh? When do 183 00:08:06,279 --> 00:08:09,319 Speaker 5: you stay at practice? Yeah? That's ridiculous. That was God, 184 00:08:09,399 --> 00:08:12,119 Speaker 5: that was that was terrible. That was windy day. I 185 00:08:12,159 --> 00:08:14,959 Speaker 5: mean every day to is windy. It sucks. You can't 186 00:08:14,958 --> 00:08:17,679 Speaker 5: really Oh it's tough because you can't really get true 187 00:08:17,719 --> 00:08:20,279 Speaker 5: working like on especially with the ball flight. So it 188 00:08:20,439 --> 00:08:23,479 Speaker 5: just it makes it tough. But that's New England, I guess. Huh. 189 00:08:23,599 --> 00:08:27,518 Speaker 5: I mean it's unbelievable, unbelievable. I'm not used to it 190 00:08:27,519 --> 00:08:27,839 Speaker 5: at all. 191 00:08:28,439 --> 00:08:32,959 Speaker 3: It is always seem specifically windy here in Foxborough? Is 192 00:08:32,999 --> 00:08:35,238 Speaker 3: it Is it noticeably different than all players? 193 00:08:35,239 --> 00:08:39,239 Speaker 5: Even Oh? Yeah, I was in California. I mean it's perfect. 194 00:08:39,319 --> 00:08:41,999 Speaker 5: That's like saving five degrees is good, like no, when Yeah, 195 00:08:41,999 --> 00:08:46,279 Speaker 5: this is ridiculous. It's earlier. I gotta get used to it. Yeah, 196 00:08:46,279 --> 00:08:47,039 Speaker 5: I'm not used to it yet. 197 00:08:47,719 --> 00:08:49,839 Speaker 4: Different from field to field. If you guys are up 198 00:08:49,839 --> 00:08:50,999 Speaker 4: on top or if you're down on. 199 00:08:50,958 --> 00:08:54,479 Speaker 5: That, Uh No, I don't. It's still just as Wendy. 200 00:08:54,839 --> 00:08:56,358 Speaker 5: It's just you need two fields, so that's why we're 201 00:08:56,359 --> 00:08:59,759 Speaker 5: on the upper fields is always better from a logistics standpoint. 202 00:09:01,999 --> 00:09:03,799 Speaker 5: All right, all right, guys, I appreciate you have a 203 00:09:03,799 --> 00:09:05,479 Speaker 5: good one man Patriots Playbook. 204 00:09:05,719 --> 00:09:07,799 Speaker 1: Join John Brook as he brings you all the latest 205 00:09:07,799 --> 00:09:11,479 Speaker 1: Patriots Talk an expert commentary direct from Patriots HQ. The 206 00:09:11,519 --> 00:09:14,119 Speaker 1: show features interviews with New England and Opponent beat writers 207 00:09:14,159 --> 00:09:16,119 Speaker 1: that bring you a unique media view of the state 208 00:09:16,119 --> 00:09:16,519 Speaker 1: of the team. 209 00:09:16,599 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 2: But where the Patriots are concerned, Let's just get one 210 00:09:19,399 --> 00:09:22,039 Speaker 2: thing done and let's get it done right and then 211 00:09:22,079 --> 00:09:24,879 Speaker 2: we can worry about versatility. Am I lying to anybody here? 212 00:09:25,159 --> 00:09:27,479 Speaker 2: Let's just get one thing done. Let's get one thing 213 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 2: done right, and then we can move along. That kind 214 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 2: of my biggest thing. 215 00:09:31,519 --> 00:09:34,078 Speaker 1: Search Patriots Playbook anywhere you get your podcasts.