Bill Belichick Comments on Analytics, Jimmy Garoppolo and More

In a wide-ranging discussion with reporters Friday ahead of the New England Patriots' Week 11 clash with the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Bill Belichick sounded off on a number of subjects, including his disdain for analytics. 

According to Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com, the future Hall of Famer downplayed the importance of advanced stats when asked about quarterback release times:

"

What the hell is that? You can take the advanced websites and metric them with whoever you want — I have no idea. I haven't looked at one, I don't even care to look at one. I don't care what they say.

As far as the quarterback goes, read the coverage, throw the ball to the open receiver. Take the best matchup. That's what it is in a nutshell. The quicker we're open, the clearer the picture, the sooner the ball is going to come out. If we don't have anyone open, who is the quarterback going to throw the ball to? It's timing, decision-making, execution by the entire offensive team. That's what the passing game is. Receivers have to get open and catch the ball. Quarterbacks have to read the coverage, make the right decision and make an accurate throw.

All the metric pages and all that, I have no idea. You'll have to ask that to a smarter coach than me.

"

Belichick is fortunate to have arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history at his disposal, Tom Brady, so there has never been much reason for him to delve deeply into analytics with relation to the quarterback position.

For as great as Brady has been and continues to be, Belichick suggested he is equally impressed with Brady's backup, Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo started the first two games of the season during Brady's suspension and went 2-0 with 496 passing yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Per Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com, Belichick believes there is no distinction between Garoppolo and his four-time Super Bowl-winning counterpart on the practice field:

The third-year signal-caller appears to be progressing nicely, but he was unable to help the Pats in a backup capacity during their 31-24 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week.

That marked New England's second loss of the season and its first since Brady's Week 5 return.

Seattle is a team that has long exuded confidence and swagger during head coach Pete Carroll's tenure, but Belichick didn't have much to say when asked about the swagger level of his own team, according to Phil Perry of CSNNE.com:

The Pats have made the playoffs and won the AFC East in seven consecutive seasons and 12 of the past 13 campaigns, which suggests the intangible swagger factor is ever-present.

New England is well on its way to another playoff berth, and every indication is that it is the odds-on favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Last week's slip-up notwithstanding, the Patriots have enjoyed a dominant year, and as Brady continues to find his groove, they will be an incredibly difficult out in the season's most important games and moments.

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