Tedy Bruschi, Patriots LB

Our weekly conversation with Tedy Bruschi brought to you by ESP alive Massachusetts with new low rates and rock solid financial stability. SP ally offers unbeatable life insurance coverage for your team at home process be ally Tedy Bruschi choice for life insurance. Is that SP ally dot com today now we're back to good morning mr. Bruce isn't going to happen hawk I've messed that up once earlier this year I felt awful about it all day and I. And want to have Bruce all the Alabama me again older and today. Kind of a tough day at the office for everybody here -- offense defense special teams nobody left out of the of the mystery here last night.

There -- one of those games where. You know we think are we going to to have time to make a few adjustments and and we want to come -- he -- are to establish ourselves in the second half to. On on towards that win the game but. Sort of fell out fell apart at the seems a little bit there with that with some of the turnovers in convergence that Pittsburgh was able to -- now let's yet. You look at the scoreboard and in late in the fourth quarter in the game sort of out of hand.

It does this seem. Like the matchup talk we ought to we do matchup with the game was going to be key matchup you know the senator verses this nose tackle line this receiver reverses. This quarterback for the safety versus tight -- we never I guess those of us now that never factor in turnovers. There's probably something that you guys. Talk about a lot when you turn the ball over five times. You pretty much yet you don't deserve to win.

Yeah I mean you talk about factors in the game but that that that's always that's always that's constantly developing I mean when when the weather service getting worse and worse and in the -- and the weather on the -- that's where I mean -- with the game's probably going to be ball security. And so. And that's something we obviously didn't have yesterday and I think. And the balls it's everywhere all over the place on the ground being kicked I mean batted in the air and and I know you know Slater does one have a player like that I mean guys -- batted in the -- and defensively as we want to force more turnovers so. I mean it's not it's that was -- the weather anything believe me Pittsburgh was also dealing with the weather also and I thought they did they did their job taking care of the ball than than we did and that turns out turns out to be the difference when they have consecutive positions that are. You know in the red zone or inside the thirty yard line whatever whatever was in that. -- defense it defensively you look at that situation and you say. Okay yes it's it's a first time second down third down but it's at this situation we've been dealt so it's -- what do we do just try to get three and out forces a three year past success and and keep us in the ballgame but. They were able to convert in the red zone. Tackling has been a real issue but this team this year. And we -- again last night it. I think I think he gets a lot tougher I think it's lot tougher especially in the elements he sometimes you have to adjust what you tackle sometimes. The usual armor on the -- can sometimes become. That the pants -- can can can get somewhat saturated in -- sort of slide off the -- have to pants the data suggests that accordingly and -- that I think they were there missed tackles on both sides of the ball I think you saw that I think Kevin had a great run one time when he made about 45 people miss and I think that's that that's just something where you gotta hustle to the on. When I sort of slows one guy down and then and then you've really got to sort of swarm the ball -- him now that way but. That also was an issue force and no this the sort of win one lose one win one lose one it's sort of situation that. To a successful teams don't have you know I mean you that you want to have streaks throughout the year and that -- we've had some. Some pretty long streaks here in the past and so when one lose one I mean he won a battle back and try to give back on the winning streak and I think. You know with four games left in the season I think you just have to look at it adds I mean -- I'd like to win all four you know but how'd he win all -- you start by one and one. And so we have to start by. That one isn't the next one is versus the Seattle Seahawks and we have a road trip coming up and so then it's like. How do you beat the Seattle Seahawks you know we're here and Monday and here in here on Monday and I've said it before it is just coming here and have a good Monday and focus on the next opponent and try to start streak.

when you think about your team and think about Europe play it. Everything that's happened in the first twelve games the year what's that thing. They keep you weapon that not that you and you say man if this had been done differently or packages do this is there one thing that is really. -- team I think.

The one thing I always think about after after a loss it is what more could I have done. You know one and at certain plays that in maybe I I made the tackle in and I saw the ball could have gotten that ball out. I had I think they ran sort of an off tackle -- to Mewelde Moore yesterday and I was sort of holding in my opinion and trying to get my -- and to get that on occasion with a balls went ten ended up guys just sort of coming in and you you try to get that quality -- slamming into the turf but that -- I've gotten a bomb out that I have. You know forced their -- is something I always think about what more could I have done and I think that's I think that's the way we all should look at it is. When you look at your individual performance and you can't really look at okay all right the offense -- the ball over we got some plays them pretty bad out there -- What can I do to help that I really can't do anything to help them as a defensive player. I have to look at what I can do -- my job in in it with in my job spectrum to help this team win. And so I was think about what more can I do what with how can I get better myself that's what keeps me.

Do you think that this team is is strong enough mentally for the task at hand you haven't had. I mean it's been a long time since this team's been faced with you know basically you you as you said you gotta win all four you gotta run the table here you -- start with Seattle you gotta roll right through Buffalo. Is this team strong enough mentally to pull -- off.

I think there are many individuals in our locker room that are definitely immensely strong for this but I think as you've seen. Over the course of the offseason and this season also we started incorporate some younger players into our team. And that means that let's start with Matt -- I mean let's start with some of the younger running backs we've had I mean some of the young defensive players we have there so. I mean there -- guys that I played with for awhile. That I know are mentally tough that can handle this -- can handle this streak did this -- this this next month of the season that we want to finish off strong on there they're funny guys had to do that but some of the young guys knew that we're going to see we're going to see what type of you know mental fortitude that they haven't I think what I am I'm trying to impart on a lot of these younger guys and all the all these other guys that are in the locker room that are definitely mentally tough are going to also try to help them and realized. This is how you become mentally tough and this is how you have to handle these situations -- to to be successful late in the season. It's a little scary -- you find out he's going to find out answers yes or no. With four games left in the season the answer is no. You know that's not a good thing in the answers yes. We could be talking about. Post season football -- little frightening that is so uncertain. It is but in my mind it also isn't that uncertain because up to this point have a lot of our young players showed some mental toughness and I see the answer is yes definitely have I mean. What type of I mean the type of games that. Two players what type of games Matt Cassel is that album and Jarvis Green Ellis on the successful games he -- how much Iraq you know some of the things that he's been able to along this year. I mean it's the end of the year also but. The beginning that in the middle you also got us learn some mental toughness and have been the toughest toughness -- it's not like okay here's the end of the year all right astounded me and be mentally tough you know they've been immensely Tampa to this point now so that gives me confidence that yes they will be. But still it's their first situation first first experience in this situation so what's another you know let's see -- everybody responsiveness.

You were very honest with this week or so ago and you told us about. The play where Rodney got hurt down in Carolina and you just snapped and you're over -- Tennessee Tennessee start there and and you -- honest about the emotion that you felt when a teammate. Got cheap shot it. Did your teammates feel that way when Wes Welker got lit up going across the middle. You know.

I I didn't get. I didn't and get a good view of it I haven't seen any any highlights of it or anything but. I think after the game talking to some of my teammates and also talk in the -- remember -- I think I think the one thing. I had some family in town I think the one thing they say it was was the ball wasn't near that -- that -- exactly so. They're I think there was a reason why the flag was thrown. You know I think and believe it was a personal foul penalty right -- so there I think the reason why the flag was -- because the officials deemed it that. Some if the officials Steve at that I think you know obviously as players are going to think he was maybe unwarranted and it was a unnecessary so. You know what you know that's how we gave it was out there I mean we're all trying to take our shots out there and I think that was that was that was so one of the better ones it just happened to be delivered by them to one of us.

There's a reason this call professional football and I I can imagine that it is tough one of the top moments is as a football player if you see something happen to a teammate. Is not professional football you might respond to might respond to play in the field might respond by just breaking up to a fight is it difficult. To be a professional football player in half to show restraint when your instincts say. You know what I'm about to knock yourself now for what he did my team.

Yeah I mean -- always mean that that's the one thing -- you got he's self control and it's -- that I talked about Latin Latin last week when I was talking about Tennessee in any type of is this when you've got to practice self control but. But you've got to understand. If you -- decided upon yourself to retaliate I think as players we are you always have to make sure to retaliate you know legally legally hands and 'cause if you if we retaliate illegally if you PCs have that you felt was it. Wasn't particularly legal within it within the confines of the rules I -- then all of a sudden maybe something happens to you -- you you her turf football team with fifteen yards and who knows on that particular play when you decide to retaliate and it's deemed illegal what the result of that play west. I mean. I decided to retaliate and in get a personal foul by hitting someone late. May be Ellis Hobbs gets an interception and takes it back for a touchdown and all of a sudden you know they get the ball first down in the and that scores negated so. That's something you really wanted to say to yourself are you from what -- I'm trying to get back at this guy just make sure it's it's it's it's been in between the whistles.

When you look at that they -- the game coming up in Seattle this week and you got the travel and and all that stuff that goes with it. What will be that the focus that you want your defensive mates to really grab hold of this week what's going to be the the theme for the week for lack of better term.

I think it's going to be the that same theme it's been over the past two maybe three weeks is that we've got a we've got to be successful on third down and we've got we've got to be successful in the red area and those are two areas that I mean I think I've mentioned it almost every week that we just got to continue to improve upon because. It's a type a situation of football that we pride ourselves upon them. And their big situations red zone as when they're about to score can you hold them to three can you take the ball away and third down is is basically. It's almost like the turnovers you win on third down in the punt team comes on in your office gets the ball and so those are two big situations for us that I think we have to continue to work on. And and it it is December and it's late in the season but it doesn't mean it's it's it's it's always. There's always opportunity for improvement within a season and so I think that those a couple of areas.

How much input do you have when you go to the sidelines. And I guess it's Matt Patricia who was who was wearing the red jacket again yesterday and dean was upstairs. How much does the defense say Matt. This isn't working and we need to look at this sore or you know we need to change to this how much of begin what is going in that direction. As opposed to just from the coaches do you guys.

No it's it's a two way street there there's a lot of there's lot of input that comes from some of -- players well I think it's you know we we give our suggestions about what we think but -- but we'd like to see out there what went what we've we feel we need to change up a little bit -- that you know it's always constant -- is going on with the coaches and they listen and we -- and so that's how we get our adjustments to.

you've been on teams that have been dominant. On third down in the red area 2003 -- great defensive team have been on teams that have struggled in the red area like this one and 2005 times. There are some struggles you noticed any difference in mentality. Is it purely at talent issue what is the difference between the team that gets it done. And it seemed that.

I think even last year we started the year terrible with the Raiders in the toward towards the end of the season we got better and we we became -- about. The better red area teams late in the season I believe that. In terms of mentality is it. -- I think our mentality is right going now America's and I I just say that because what's that in the huddle I think. Mentality in terms of realized with the situation as you know you're looking back -- goalposts you realize you're inside the twenty and you want to. You want to tighten up a little bit I think our guys -- realize and that but. I you can have the right mentality but she's still have to just execute he still have to excuse -- I mean whether -- nowhere ER not and you know the defense that's called if you don't execute that that one on one matchup you with that particular player. There's still going to be in the -- of problems so I think we just have to. Which sent to keep trying to improve in practice and you know carried over into the game that's you know I say that because that's the only way you can do it that's the only way we we hope to do.

You know it's happened before and I I think a lot of people here that needs now that's -- cliche are sure of course he's going to say that but we've seen it happen in 2005 would talk about that team. The beginning of the year. Given up forty points of the Colts on Monday Night Football and this is really getting drilled that at the end of the year. To shut people down they keep you crushed Tampa Bay and home you had some the Jets holding them them. Probably -- 150 total yards you know so these that they it can happen. Over evidence seeming seemingly overnight but it can happen with a lot of practice in and repetition.

Yeah at the change -- the call repetition on the practice habits I mean everything I mean. You talk about it and it seems like you say the same things but I think that's a great example that you just prop open and that that I think. On the show that year I mean we -- about improve and -- and and and getting better attitude than we did and and the only way you do are there are those simple things that. That even to the whole year which is trying to do better and that's that's that's just I do.

Two week road trip out west safe travels and best of luck to -- thank you that it Tedy Bruschi joining us here on Sports Radio W media.