11-13-08 Steve Mariucci, NFL Network Analyst

Pats and Jets tonight at Gillette Stadium -- you can see the game on the NFL network if you have that on your cable system here locally the game will be on channel five. The New Hampshire will be on channel nine. Now the up pregame show total access on location pregame show begins at 5 o'clock on the NFL network. It'll be hosted by rich guys and it includes Marshall Faulk Deion Sanders Adam chapter. And I next guest Steve Mariucci who joins us on the line Steve it's dale and Michael how are yeah.

Our guys are doing quite popular sport come over and -- and it's going to be let out there tonight we think a I think so.

eerie at as a former head coach in this league -- uniquely positioned to be able to comment on this. Given the situation with the Patriots this year and and the guys that bill -- has had to coach around what kind of coaching job as he done this year.

Terrific and I idea you know I remember going through a little bit little bit something like myself and -- Siskel and Ron Amadon. Got hurt early in the season in the third game on Monday -- remember the played very well and all the sudden. You -- you're starting quarterback can obviously the -- such -- one piece of the puzzle but it's a large piece. And Indy just -- hang on because you don't know. What the backup will do -- you'd know what that'll do the teams competent. And eat in in in -- illusion quote Joe. And you gotta find a way to get it back with the new car right in so I think. The Patriots staff. Have done pretty darn good job but this is what they've been doing all along now when guys get hurt and it's not just Tom. Tom Brady Mike -- running -- situations and crazy. And Benjarvis green hours like I I don't remember ever hear about the fact that until month ago and you plug in new guys and they get the job done that. That says the scouting departments and a terrific job they're adding depth to that team back ups in. Players there. 45 and their 53 player in the team they can. Play and inactive have a section three record and it looked like he have a chance to win that division terrific job by not only the coaching staff the scouting --

Steve of all the commentators on television you probably know Brett Favre. Better than anybody when you look at them now what differences do you see in 2008. From the Brett Favre. You saw and IDs.

Well he's Jack curry hair and gray beard. Yeah his people are straight dizzy he get braces -- current -- are.

intelligent differences. You -- did you encourage him to get braces.

Now side that look like that's and you know but our -- he is still pretty competent guy. Parliament. Guy that competes every day in practice every every snap on the field he's trying to make a play. Are you confident in his abilities and he's confident in his own arm but he's also confident in his receivers to make a play. And and you know most of the time it scores touchdowns and -- first down sometimes it does and he's an exciting guy and I. I just I just love watching that guy it not because -- coached him in his first four years in Green Bay but. Because a guy like 39 years old -- every down at that position as well as he is just. And I and I hope we all enjoy watching him because it's not going to be forever mean at some point he's done and we're going to miss that but I.

Well I'd want to know specifically do you think there are. Throws he can't make now that he could make. When he was 29 because that you set 39 years old you don't expect the guy to be due to be able to make every throw the football field.

Yeah I I think he'll attempt at every throw that he used to attempt. I think if you give a percentage mean you know may be as -- 93%. Of Woody used to be in terms of strength and and velocity and you know maybe maybe 89 some days maybe 98 some days but he's still he still throws as hard as maybe anybody in the league. I even even with a 39 year old --

Is there a fine line that that Eric Mangini walks that you had to walk as well where you want Brett Favre to breed to beat Brett Favre. Which also wanted to kinda stick with the game plan with sometimes even the play that you try to get him but to run out.

You know you gotta you've you've got to know what you're getting we -- we needed Brett okay. Because there are times. That in the -- just go back through his playing. Career. And look at some of his touchdown passes Keefe did -- their miraculously sometimes and many of those throws most quarterbacks would not even attempt they would pull it down and check it down to somebody else. So often times he gets those and really tight. Sometimes it's underhand sometimes it's unorthodox but some of the great plays that he's made. Have been successful so those those types of throws he continues to make. Sometimes they media they get intercepted. But that's which made him it's I expose -- risk high reward and most of the time that you reward. But what you you know he's trying to play. A close to the best run the football played good defense you know you just don't want to have a turnover. And and so you know he he continually say our separate you know. Be conservative. Be careful with the ball. That's it's hard for him two to understand be careful with the football he understands that but that's really not his style. You know he's like pistol Pete Maravich when he used to play basketball now he's going to be dropped them behind his back to his late take shots that most people are going to take it so. You know that's why he's an exciting player but he's you know he's got sixteen touchdown passes this -- only three guys that have more. You know he's got that that team -- first place in the division which is very exciting and and the but the becoming a complete team has not just about prep for you know it's about that deep and take the ball away. In the run game -- clicked and offensive line -- scrimmage I think they're becoming a more complete team each week.

I do want to ask you one more question about Brett and I have heard. A lot of the descriptions just as we all have when it comes to Brett Favre people call my guns leaguer they talk about his -- strengthen. How much enthusiasm he has for football not many people talk about Brett as a student you know better than most. What kind of student is he when it comes to film study and and breaking it.

He's terrific. He's diseases that is I've ever been around. That Steve young and has had. Jeff Garcia -- other hall of famers pro bowlers and he. That's not something that Brett Favre breaks about he doesn't he doesn't bring -- anybody's attention he you know. He's that this country bumpkin image from day one when he was in Green Bay and sort of enjoys it and he's -- that's fun loving kid kind of gunslinger. Description of and I think maybe he's he's okay at all that. Any never really care to talk much about as preparation but his preparation is unbelievable. You don't studies have our own peace studies in the office east peace. Hectic green Bay's last couple years he would. He would on his way to the locker room to a game on Sundays he would. Take a detour -- to the film rooms study a little bit more in the morning just because he wanted to make sure. He news which used to with everybody else because he's he's going to have to. Beat coach on the field all the young rookies that played with him and so. He's very bright if you've been around -- very Woody he's very funny. And to -- that you've got to be bright and he's just that but it's it's it's not something that he brings much attention to.

Have you seen Bill Belichick and and Josh mcdaniels slowly but surely takes some of the restraints on the -- off of Matt Cassel with these. Develop week to week.

I I see quarterback who's developing. In time I see. He's much improved over that first game that you know they want against the Jets -- to. He's starting to make plays and not only would his arm. But he's starting to be more decisive. And see his brain quick you know it is is is is working quicker he's making decisions quicker. He's more decisive. And he's been sacked now quite a bit keep that in my twenty ninth kind of -- that second in the league. Because sometimes a sack each year a little bit unsure of -- if you should hang onto the ball or work for your progression throw away where escape. And -- some last week run for a touchdown run for a first down he's getting out the pocket when he should. He's he's checked down when he should and he's really developing into a pretty darn good solid starting quarterback in the sleep.

Steve we were saying before you came on. That in any studio show needs to have our ex coach on there. And so you get a chance to. Work with that Deion Sanders must be pretty entertaining.

Talk about a loose cannon yeah talent -- up and he's a beauty not.

You mentioned pistol Pete Maravich earlier maybe he's the pistol Pete Maravich of.

And I need to get gave myself back on -- pistol Pete is Moslem my favorite players. Did have a good analogy would Brett Favre that's that's that.

And yet keep in mind my partners ten years older than you ourselves. Actually absolutely -- with repeated -- It has as much as we enjoy -- studio work I was wondering you want to coach again you want to -- head coach in in this league.

Well I don't sometimes they do and sometimes I don't -- I missed most of -- you know I. Coach for 29 years and loved every minute of -- college and pro. And with with with that's that is so I moved my family guys keeping and I spent a grinder. And for coach that's not a big deal because of offices and office and you still practice on -- dirt field and it's not a big deal for the coach but for the family it's part. And for -- my wife and my forte is it it's been great because we've got to see the world. But at some point -- states are going to make a family decision and in what's best for the family to I want them move them again and do this all over again for the nineteenth time. And I can't sort of don't and sweet love living in the Bay Area. In world together and I and I like acted like this job tonight. And know that we -- PS to talk about football c'mon. And so is -- there's there's there's been fun and enjoying myself. Do I get the urge to coach yeah absolutely terrible that we you try to get hooked on it. In the -- so you know the right thing comes up I would talk about it. In the meantime I'm having a ball.

Final question from me and and I don't think those of us who just watch the game ever have any idea. How many things are going on for a head coach on the sideline. On a Sunday afternoon or in this case of Thursday night. But I watch Mike singletary and and I watch what's happened to him out in the Bay Area. And I think I wonder if he realized how many things are going on -- he has to be concerned with what's -- what's been your thought on -- whether or not he's cut -- to handle this right now.

and -- it's been interest in because I'm right there are fortunate to have first and then. Listen to the talk shows and you know that's of -- but but you know you can't he can't possibly be ready to be it coached. Having been just you know. Position coach or whatever you do -- there's a lot of on the job training -- goes with it and that's just that's just. Part of it and so he's learning as he goes. He's got. He's got a good coaching staff with him the last you know the last few plays -- very unfortunate because the niners really should've won that game. They -- that was a tough situation because just by rule eagle. Frank Gore they -- know if he scored a touchdown. Or refused out on the longer -- two world where in the world he was down and in the replay what they were in the the -- they're looking at the replay trying to determine where they're -- to -- if it's a touchdown. And then if not where do they kept the ball. And then once they determine that set the -- already for played they had full they have four seconds left on the clock in the in the clock was going to wind and start. As soon as they're the umpire got out of their well you have to make a call -- the huddle. Not knowing exactly where the ball would be and they thought the ball if it's not a touchdown was going to be inside the one. And all the sudden they made a play call and it's on a two and I. And that was that was a difficult thing to officiate and to play call and it was part of Mike Martz. It was hard on Mike singletary and they're still hear about it. But it's just one of those type things that that you like capitals series back but Mike singletary. We love his background -- know the kind of character and he he has in his his kids go to the same school that that might my -- coaches sat back and California valley Christian preschool so I seem epic games and I see Mike Nolan and his kids and I seats. Produced these kids are all right there -- see those guys all the time. And there are good people and make terrible when he. And I think they will win it just you know they've got they've got to get through it and get some confidence in decide on a quarterback to.

While singletary thought he had a tough file -- Vernon Davis you can tell him yet to coach Terrell Owens and you had to Coates the Detroit lines so. He has.

Yeah have a you know why is that. When it's also been done when it's all said and done. You know I've got like TO make you better coach. You know oh yeah he gives you some great players you know but you know what he's a great player we don't know that but he makes you better coach because -- better prepared. To deal with others. That might be you know. Looked a little bit like that but. You know. Coaches have no regrets immediate you know you're you're really appreciate it that's what makes it so much fun when you have sixty guys locker room you know what -- different everyone's different. It's it's a very eclectic group and so you you enjoy getting to know them and they come in all shapes and sizes. But that's the draw that would kind of -- about coaching it well.

Total access on location begins at 5 o'clock today live from Gillette. Rich -- Marshall Faulk Deion Sanders Adam chapter and our -- Steve Mariucci coach we appreciate the time we hope we talked again in the future. You'd get it right there and that is Steve Mariucci now Bob Papa and Chris Collins -- we'll have the play by play call beginning at 8 o'clock tonight.