Bill Belichick and Tom Brady Answer Questions About the San Diego Chargers

Earlier this week, reporters caught up with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on a conference call and got their thoughts on playing the Chargers this Sunday in New England. They were asked various questions about who they thought the Chargers' key players were and various preparations they were going through to get ready for the showdown.

They also answered questions about what they thought about the opposing Charger squad as a whole and the mutual respect between the two franchises.

Here is some of the Q&A segment that can be viewed in its entirety on the Chargers' website:

Bill Belichick:

Q: They have had a change in personalities at defensive coordinator. Can you see change from the group that played Minnesota and the ones that played you last year?

A: "I think that (Dante) Hughes has come in and done a real good job for them in the nickel. We played against (Donald) Strickland (last year). They've acquired (Takeo) Spikes and (Travis) LaBoy. Both of them have played well.

"(Corey) Liuget is a good defensive lineman. We really liked him coming out of the draft. He’s an explosive player that’s strong at the point, athletic and can rush the passer. Bob Sanders is a very good addition and a strong football player. A playmaker. A big hitter. A fast guy. Very active.

"I think they've added some very good players to an already-good group. Greg (Manusky)’s done a good job with their defense. We played against him when he was at San Francisco and he did a good job there.

"Of course, he was there back in San Diego a few years ago before he went to San Francisco, so I’m sure he’s very familiar with the players and the scheme and I’m sure he’s added his own touches to it, but they look very good and sound in everything they’re doing.

"They do a good job of mixing man, zone and pressure. (They) change the front up, so they give you a lot to worry about and they have a lot of good players."

Analysis: When first looking at this response, it seems like, "Hey, Belichick is just naming off players on the Chargers and saying they are good", but when you really look at the personnel he names off, you can tell these are the players they are being focused on in coaches meetings.

He brings up Hughes multiple times throughout this interview. That tells me they may be looking to go after him early when he is in covering Wes Welker in the slot in nickel and dime coverages. The nickelback is the point of attack when they game plan for a lot of teams; they are always looking to get Welker the ball underneath.

Liuget, Spikes and Sanders all proved that they can be playmakers in the Vikings game. The Patriots have never faced Liuget and have faced Sanders and Spikes sparingly. The fact that Belichick brings them up tells me that the New England coaching staff are really trying to understand their game-play and, thus, have focused a lot on these players in film.

I don't think they will attack these players, more, they will just try to avoid being hurt by these Chargers players' game-changing abilities. 

Q: What is the real challenge in facing Turner and his offense?

A: "He has a very good scheme. He has a lot of different ways to attack you and he knows how to attack defenses. He doesn't attack them all the same. He specifically goes after what your weaknesses are and it’s easy to see when he’s calling plays how he’s trying to get at you and it’s very disconcerting because you know that he’s after an area that you’re vulnerable in.

"His formations are good. He forces you to make a lot of tough adjustments and forces your players to play out of their comfort zone and do things they’re not used to doing or do things they really don’t want to do that you don’t want to do scheme-wise.

"His formations, his utilization of the personnel, the way he moves guys around, his play-calling is very tough because he keeps you off balance. The bottom line is they execute well. They know what they’re doing. They know how to run the ball. They know how to throw it. They know how to pass-protect. They run different route combinations that put a lot of stress on your coverage match-ups.

"They get the ball down the field. They beat you with screens and check-downs and crossing routes. You've got to defend everything. It’s hard. They’re a good team. Even when it’s 3rd-and-20, you don’t feel very good about San Diego. Third-and-20, 3rd-and-3, they can pick up anything. That’s very dangerous, too.

"There’s not too many teams in the league you say that about, but it doesn't matter if they need one yard or a quarter of the football field, it seems like that’s easily within their reach."

Analysis: As much as Charger fans like to hate on Norv Turner, there is no denying that he is one of best play callers in the NFL, and Belichick knows it. This will be a battle of masterminds.

Keeping the opposing defense off balance is what these two offenses do best. Both quarterbacks have an innate ability to recognize defensive schemes and change their play call accordingly. This is why I think both teams will use the no-huddle offense at some point in this game. The QBs will not want the defenses to settle in and be able to take away what the offense is trying to accomplish.

If the Chargers are going to win, they are going to need to do exactly what Belichick is saying: convert on third downs, expose coverage mismatches and break big plays deep. If Belichick knows it, the Chargers coaching staff definitely knows it.

We know the Patriots will try to take away these things on defense, but the Chargers still need to execute. I do feel like Belichick is over-looking one part of the Chargers' attack: The running game.

I know this goes against everything I have said in the past, but if they can expose the Patriots on the ground early, they are really going to catch New England off guard. It sounds like the Patriots are preparing for an aerial assault, so the best way to counter that is with a dominant running performance. Not to mention that this will help the Chargers keep the ball out of Brady's hands.

Tom Brady

(His questions we more about his performance on Monday and his answers about the Chargers basically mirrored Belichick's responses ...But one thing stood out)

Q: I heard you petitioned your fans to get loud on Sunday and do some drinking. What are you hoping to see in the stands?

A: I was just trying to tell them to be hydrated and drink lots of water. Keep their fluids up, because it’s been hot out here and I don’t want anyone dehydrated.

Analysis: This Q&A speaks for itself. New England fans are going to be pumped up for this season opener against a rival AFC team. They know it's going to be a good game, and they are going to drink accordingly. Especially, when "god" himself proclaims that they do so.

Brady's politically correct answer is pretty funny, though.