Greg Bedard: McCourty played one of his best games as a Patriot

As he does every Wednesday at this hour. -- Boston -- Greg Bedard. The erudite beat writer covering the New England Patriots to the -- he everyday he argued IT EER he argued the ITE alert in the type of its all its language arts and -- and scholarly but if he keeps telling me. But according had a great game. I might have to read. That respect everything that air yet Nightline Greg exploitative and all the other controversy stuff. You think he had one of his best game as a patriot or my life and eyes light -- to Greg. Wednesday one of his well I you know I didn't cover his old rookie seasons so it's. It's tough for me to say I mean you know it would -- last yes at year -- I thought that -- a good percentage of acting government forty played well that was certainly one of his best teams in some time I mean. In order break up the more passes. I I can't think of the last time that a Patriots defense to back did that. Did you see the missed tackle on the had a well see now you know -- that wasn't even an attempt it was like -- flag football he wouldn't would have got them. Right I mean you know I can see why when you say that I think that. I think that that was caught by surprise because look he -- Gregory was coming up -- He knew he was coming up two guys tackle this one guy and when you work on this training camp you guys the outside guy forces be. The ball carrier inside to -- was waiting for. Gregory to do his part and -- maybe he should have. Not thought that format it is yet. This is something -- you know new teammate. The Chinese Government keep it there and Devin kind of got he was definitely surprised I mean I myself I put that on Gregory could definitely done a better. Yes but I mean. Gregory -- tackle the ground -- I put that all on him. The last interference call essentially gift wrapped the game for the ravens any dropped to under yellow I think Lance Easley had a great game Monday that little gaffe at the end it the okay -- -- -- wouldn't you say that that kind of wiped everything out when you're gonna fear all and put the team and Google range when your country element to me but who. You know Garrett at the ballot if you -- place. You know more on one play at the end of the game anymore not when I watch -- Go back I take everything. Out of context I watch all the operative played a watch all the defense to place all -- sequence so I mean that's. That the -- -- about the way the coaches watch it. If you wanna put more emphasis on the end of the game. That's fine I just don't do it I mean never. I think the bravest -- like 75 offensive plays in the game. It's hard for me to put more emphasis on one at the end of the game and the other. You know repeated to pick six in the first quarter does that not mean a lot I mean. -- about a optics company dropped two interceptions that's I mean I I. Lot of it was definitely a drop. And that's disappointing news option of the pitchers can mark him down on that the other one towards protection amendment defense to play. You know yet that was. Up and down but you know let's not forget the group that he that he did have some bad at that -- that you wanna look at and also the other thing and I think a lot of Iranians don't take this into account but I do. Is the techniques that the patriots are asking these guys apply. You know for example. The -- American coverage on -- missed first touchdown. -- I think that's an unfair position to put the quarterback and now Belichick certainly has his reasons for playing a guy in five man off coverage. I don't get it. I can see where it used to be effective. In an NFL where the quarterback could mean. Receiver play was enacted through the year. But today's NFL against the better teams I think that the patriots are a little bit deficient there. And I think it has to do a little bit with. The strategy -- to play the percentages strategy I think sometimes hurts the patriots in against the better team. All may be there were counting on a pass rush do you think that the lack of a pass rush left Courtney and and all the dvds. And I at a disadvantage. Absolutely it was. It was terrible. People can make an excuse that they want whether there was a lot of holding or whatnot. I didn't think it was anything outrageous. As far as holding calls. Are not holding calls for either side and you know what. It is -- to make -- point about the horn called. This is something we saw from the very first opening game the giants Palestinian but these official program problems -- cute things holding. And doubt -- contact it's going to be wildly inconsistent. It's been that -- and every game. -- you adjust or you're gonna lose patriots haven't adjusted. And if it cost them against the -- they had. No perhaps for community total quarterback pressures is. Pathetic. Greg do you think we're back this defense is back to square one where they were last year 31 or thirtieth and the National Football League in defense. I guess -- really good team -- I mean but again it's 95%. Of the leak. I think they can do just fine in the win. Individual matchups and things like that tribunal. At this I mean look it's very early they have a lot of new guys new pieces younger guys. In one thing that I've definitely learned is coming to cover this team is them as more more so than some of the previous teams about covered. The patriots on all sides of the ball get much better as the season goes along I mean you know -- where they were last year after Pittsburgh. The giants and I mean they were they were back. And look where they got by the embassies and so there'll be improvement. The big question in the ultimate question is against the better quarterbacks in more talented. -- penalty are they going to be able to do enough defensively. Two to come to win the game and you know with the first test of 2012. It was not good am but you know they they can get better. It briefly what did you see from Chandler Jones when you look at the -- I thought it would play pretty well I mean he didn't have many. I only had a 41 missed tackled on the field but I mean I. The patriots had six -- in the game yet for Kyle -- had to. So it's hard for me to knock. Sheila Jones that a Michael or played really well a couple their tackles played much president without ever going to. And that was a disappointment for the patriots I think. The patriot obviously with their defense to scheme in the way they played without bringing any blitzes simplest whites. They obviously thought they had an edge on the end in that just did not come to fruition at all. -- beaten Djokovic doesn't appeared to us. I -- you brick and and you are utilizing much closer -- doesn't seem like much of a pass rusher Greg. Yeah Jerry I mean yum. The way I don't if people look at the first three games this season you can you have to for the titans game now because Belichick -- -- where. At the front side pass rusher against a quarterback who it was more dangers outside part command in. Rob was really -- did not do very much on purpose. In the past first game I thought he was better and effective against the cardinals. He did not do much in the scheme. You know the patriots are so desperate for perhaps first at one point that they you know I know they had to build in -- for the no huddle offense and keep guys. Fresh as much as possible but the you know they're trying to -- music it's the other side -- he had some success against or. When I worked at right tackle last year and you know I had -- between one knockdown in the scheme. That's not good enough for him out of practice snaps that he played. -- let's turn our attention to the Monday night fiasco given a fresh takes or anything illuminating Forrest Gregg of out of your mind. Maybe discuss it for two days numbers one and you have any fresh take or any kind of insight forced from from your vantage point. He not -- you know I mean the only thing and I'll say is that -- You know I know everybody in the real officials back and like. You know where I sit what those real officials I think. And I know everybody want to make the -- to be out. -- about person Thomas and it's very easy to do so I would say that the real officials -- justice complicit in this in what's going on I think. The real officials are holding the game of NFL hostage as much as the NFL owners are. And I know that's not a popular opinion but I think what the real owners are what the real referees are asking for. Is. It's extraordinary. And I don't. While wanna -- game be better. I concede that a bonus -- for -- hard line in the sand because they just think it's it's a little ridiculous on the part -- free sparked. How long do you think it goes on Greg you get the sense that. It's an end soon. Well I wrote I wrote some good for the game is that you know while people or say another negotiating sessions and there's no hope. In August told by a couple -- people that there was no. And but I was also told that. This is the week that if something does not get done we can. It might not get done at all because. You want people don't realize is that the NFL does have some leverage in its innate they would use that leverage is. To do what Reagan did with aircraft controllers in the eighties which is to break Marmol -- yeah. You haven't issued a should've done that the off season Greg I don't know you can't fire all these guys and then go with the with the -- Easley is called the division three guys the high school refs if you fire him in the offseason brought in division one -- SEC refs ACC rifts. It be different deal you he wouldn't have the debacles again Monday night. Yeah I'm I'm not sure about when the contract ended and whether that was really viable maybe wants. But. You know I think -- goes into the point in the -- at that point work. If the real reps don't agreed to this deal than and it felt good to say or we're gonna hold up till Thanksgiving and called games over and hire all the division one. Officials that we can. And the rest you guys at a artillery. Is -- don't. Greg you think get a get a perverse kind of way the what happened Monday night actually my approach tract or delay is settlement because it seems to me if if I'm one of these these officials who have been locked out. I think I have a little more leverage based on the abomination that was Monday Night Football. -- went out -- a much less conciliatory mood this morning but it was you know last last week. Yeah I think that's. Spot on the -- -- of the dove real officials and every week I think they have. More and more leverage but as we get closer to. Thanksgiving and it felt like it has that -- leopard so. You know these are 22 people staring at each other right users which I think the -- on apple owners have spent more. And the real refereed. I just think that. People need to wake up and shoot the -- freezer. Are as much hole in the game hostages and nobody else. -- it's a -- ever quick question the Baltimore Sun reporting though that the league office has confirmed that the ravens John Harbaugh will not be fine. For bumping into the official on Sunday that if north part of that refute your -- from like what do you think this means for Bill Belichick. -- -- -- I thought that was initially ruling. You know I think I think. In looking at this I think the ultra risky on this a little bit I mean they're not connect car or call -- -- what he did. You know thing was I didn't I didn't see it was the -- -- caught on camera -- tell -- never sought. Yeah I mean see that that the difference I mean if if belt that would make contact with the refereeing on sought. Then you can see it but I mean age you know NBC reported -- -- -- it. -- about the problem for spell check and so for that reason I think you're a little bit of a fine but nothing major. Shanahan got 25 guys right next -- my -- is going to be Kyle Shannon gets point five grade for his behavior do you think it's a more than that or just about the sin. I think it is I think -- just about the same -- a little less I mean you know operate the official election ended in and that you know media picked up on that kind of reported. What he said with the F bombs on that's something that that the NFL -- can cut a different disrespect the vehicle could not ignore. Right and back to the ravens game for a second you give rave reviews. You give four point five stars out of five who called the star SARS in five stars to -- Brady. I've found that interest and is now heralding they do the fan poll of fans in the C minus. -- harsh. You think it was his best game yet and vintage Tom Brady -- and. By by farming you know people like to -- -- for. Kind of say Brady was about average the first two weeks and not that. The ravens game. Completed backed up my point of view because go go back and watched the -- -- Com from just about start to finish. Britney was awesome and -- game I mean you know I got that. Good the way our -- game is cycle through each play and have them. You know great guys I have my own rudimentary operating system and then at the end of day the in the game -- -- everything. And when I got on at the end of the game. You know I have thirteen -- plays for Brady type zero negative place. I mean if you're gonna knock him for two plays. The walker out for six yards on not third and goal. And boy it was probably a better option. In the and the other one with -- very final play army's third sixteen. The ravens finally long Brady. It pretty dot Ellerbe was going to be coverage and he came on what's and Brady didn't see that coming. The play before this Boulder's ball Brady thought they had that black the blocked up should have been. That was a mistake on the line I just operator was also in that game and it's a shame they didn't win that game because. I have great respect what poverty plays well when he completes 60% of his passes against the jets with the ravens or cardinals a team like that. That is playing football but that those are really tough defense is to go up. I give us a grade for Josh McDaniels and I don't include that in your report but why you know fifteen runs for for Danny wood and why. And eighteen runs in the second half when they just sit not on -- lead being too conservative in your opinion Greg. In. Not to question army and I wrote about -- wheels come off the team I actually thought Josh put together very. Very good game plan on utilizing this small personnel. Thought about quick to grievance. You know what I'm not a fan -- so far is I think that he's over thinking it too much I mean. That the big problem for the so often so far is way too many negative place I think -- triple. What they did at this point last year. That's a problem I mean -- the big problem and that's probably something that's job number one for them to correct right now when -- -- -- horses and halfback passes. That store I mean you know you're starting from ten yards behind line of scrimmage. And you got a long way to go get very fast. The fences. Just get back line of scrimmage and I just don't see how those plays over -- long are effective in the in in the NFL and I just think that -- speed dial back. Little bit and just. You know get back to fundamentals and you know let Brady -- Brady -- prepare you wanna run more I don't have a problem with that I would have liked to -- a little bit more -- came. What do you give -- incomplete for Sunday that many great targets no no catches in the second half. Yeah I think that. Couple things the ravens played some very good trap then they design the -- trapped coverages with rocket Brady's. Where would cardinals did the same thing and a lesser quarterbacks who have thought about three interceptions -- Brady saw right -- that I mean he did not -- against the cardinals but he didn't throw interceptions the ravens were doing some of the same types of things. Pretty digger double -- adept -- their -- is gonna I'd rather -- jobs start. That designing plays for Julian Edelman public -- designing plays to get robbed of open. While Aaron Hernandez out you -- you did block a little bit. Was an extraordinary the other thing is you know on all political ridiculed a little bit but some. And -- them you know -- some other media members for being a little critical of where gronkowski was would be ankle in training camp. I still think that's an issue I don't see the same explosion off the line. That I saw both Wear the ankle injury last year and now I think it's a work in progress for him I don't think he's. Physically where he was most of last season and and may need him to get that point person with her and is now. Greg found a question for me out what are we needed all about buffalo next week gives a nugget or two about the bills. Well I think the big thing is Tom how how the patriots just -- Dave Wannstedt coordinating the bills' defense. Obviously in Miami. That scheme has given -- problems in the past can be. The only Russian word play a lot of press coverage with. To see these over the top the patriots have a little little problem -- that. They should. This again you'd really like -- Hernandez. But you know they're gonna have to figure out a way to move the ball a little bit and out defensively. -- -- -- -- If the ravens were talked -- -- or even tougher and it should give Freddy Jackson back Stevie Johnson's tremendous. This is a good good offense but Ryan Fitzpatrick. Can definitely be baited in this some interceptions and then that's what the patriots settled for some. Enjoy the gamble talked next Wednesday Greg take care. Greg -- Boston Globe with Dennis and Callahan on AT&T hotline AT&T forgy LTE back your phone calls the -- dog joins us at 905.