Stop me if you've heard this before: New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick raved about the Rutgers football program.
During his weekly radio appearance on WEEI in Boston on Monday, Belichick was asked why he likes having Rutgers players on his team. Four Scarlet Knights are currently on the Patriots roster: Safety Devin McCourty, safety Duron Harmon, cornerback Logan Ryan and linebacker Jonathan Freeny.
"Again, they have been in a good program," Belichick said. "They are very well prepared. I think that what Coach (Greg) Schiano did at Rutgers in terms of the way he ran the program that those players that lasted with him and did well with him knew how to work, knew how to prepare, were team-oriented, were unselfish, understood situational football and having to make adjustments in games and weekly based on what the other team was doing. Communication on the defensive side of the ball, not just doing your job, but making sure everybody is playing together as a team and that it's coordinated, everyone understands how the people around them need to be in sync for the defense to work well."
Belichick and Schiano, who was named Ohio State's defensive coordinator last week, have been close for years. An unlikely pipeline has developed as a result, with 13 Rutgers alums playing for the Patriots during Belichick's tenure.
The four former Scarlet Knights currently on the Patriots have played important roles on the defense.
"I think all those guys have the same qualities — Devin, Duron, Jonathan, Logan — they are good players and they're good team players," Belichick said. "They are good teammates and they work hard it. They don't show up and let it happen, they actually work to be good teammates and good communicators and guys that want to take the extra step to make sure they get it right, not just for their sake, but for the entire unit and team. They all play well in the kicking game. They have given us plays, outside of just their defensive role. Again, I know that is something that was very important in the Rutgers program. They were always very good on special teams and those guys have helped us in the kicking game, too."
The comments are nothing new from Belichick, who has repeatedly sung Rutgers' praises through the years. Before his comments on Monday, Belichick hadn't raved about Rutgers/Schiano since ... Friday. It certainly doesn't hurt Rutgers to have the best coach in the NFL constantly touting the program.
During his weekly radio appearance on WEEI in Boston on Monday, Belichick was asked why he likes having Rutgers players on his team. Four Scarlet Knights are currently on the Patriots roster: Safety Devin McCourty, safety Duron Harmon, cornerback Logan Ryan and linebacker Jonathan Freeny.
"Again, they have been in a good program," Belichick said. "They are very well prepared. I think that what Coach (Greg) Schiano did at Rutgers in terms of the way he ran the program that those players that lasted with him and did well with him knew how to work, knew how to prepare, were team-oriented, were unselfish, understood situational football and having to make adjustments in games and weekly based on what the other team was doing. Communication on the defensive side of the ball, not just doing your job, but making sure everybody is playing together as a team and that it's coordinated, everyone understands how the people around them need to be in sync for the defense to work well."
Belichick and Schiano, who was named Ohio State's defensive coordinator last week, have been close for years. An unlikely pipeline has developed as a result, with 13 Rutgers alums playing for the Patriots during Belichick's tenure.
The four former Scarlet Knights currently on the Patriots have played important roles on the defense.
"I think all those guys have the same qualities — Devin, Duron, Jonathan, Logan — they are good players and they're good team players," Belichick said. "They are good teammates and they work hard it. They don't show up and let it happen, they actually work to be good teammates and good communicators and guys that want to take the extra step to make sure they get it right, not just for their sake, but for the entire unit and team. They all play well in the kicking game. They have given us plays, outside of just their defensive role. Again, I know that is something that was very important in the Rutgers program. They were always very good on special teams and those guys have helped us in the kicking game, too."
The comments are nothing new from Belichick, who has repeatedly sung Rutgers' praises through the years. Before his comments on Monday, Belichick hadn't raved about Rutgers/Schiano since ... Friday. It certainly doesn't hurt Rutgers to have the best coach in the NFL constantly touting the program.
