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August 14, 2007

Chatting with Bill

Hey all --

Bill Belichick just wrapped up his daily press conference, and among his topics today were Larry Izzo, preparing for Tennessee's Vince Young, and the balance of getting his team ready for the game with the Titans and installing New England's playbook.

Of Izzo, who has been a special-teams ace for the Patriots for several years, Belichick said he's a "very competitive, very professional guy, one of most professional guys I’ve ever been around. He doesn’t get a lot of reps on defense because that’s not his role, but when he does he rarely makes a mistake. In the kicking game, obviously he has tremendous experience, he has a great mentality for it, he’s quick, he’s instinctive. But he prepares probably as well as any player on this team."

Asked if Willie Andrews is a similar-type player on special teams, Belichick bristled a bit.

"That’s a big comparison to make. You're talking about a guy who’s been a special teams captain, been to Pro Bowls. That’s a big jump."

Because of the unique challenges Young presents as such an athletic quarterback, Belichick said the Pats will prepare for him.

"Sure. It's no different then when we played (Atlanta's Michael) Vick last year in preseason. You're getting ready for player you do have to play special attention to, especially at that position. They run plays that gives Vince a chance to do what Vince can do."

Belichick's staff did the same thing with Young at the Pro Bowl, he said.

Today's practice, much like last week, will focus on installation, but there is that balance to be aware of.

"We're trying to balance new installation and moving along in training camp, trying to evaluate players," he said. "We do it on team basis and do it on individual, case by case basis."

Practice (which today is open to the public) gets underway at 2:30 p.m. We'll be back with more at that time.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:35 AM | Permalink