Rex Ryan is no stranger to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
The former Jets head coach became an instant thorn in the Patriots’ side when he came to New York in 2009. Known for his defense, Ryan led the Jets to three wins over their rival in his first two seasons, including a 28-21 win in their 2010 divisional-round playoff game.
Ryan is now the coach of the Buffalo Bills, and he will get another chance to make a statement against Patriots this Sunday. But just because Ryan is coaching in a new city doesn’t mean Belichick is expecting a whole new game plan.
“I think Rex’s schemes on defense, there’s a lot of carry over from what they did at the Jets to what they do at Buffalo,” Belichick said on WEEI’s “Dale & Holley” on Monday. “But from week to week he changes things up quite a bit, too, depending on who he is playing and what he’s trying to take away, what he’s trying to defend.
“But after you’ve seen him for multiple years, there aren’t too many times you look at it and see something he’s never done before — it might be something you haven’t seen in a half a season or something you haven’t seen in two seasons. But there aren’t too many things that are brand, brand new.”
Ryan, meanwhile, plans on having a few beers before he worries about the Patriots.
One player who will be key this weekend — and every time the Patriots take the field — is Rob Gronkowski. The tight end is off to a great start in 2015, and that’s in large part to his willingness and ability to improve as more and more defenses throw the kitchen sink at him.
“I think Rob has improved his route-running quite a bit,” Belichick said. “I think he has a real good understanding of how to attack the defender and defeat the leverage that he has, or take advantage of the leverage that Rob has — how to maximize that. I think his footwork, his understanding of technique and position have improved quite a bit.
“He has good speed, good hands, can go up and get the ball, but I think he’s done a good job of finding ways to create more space, especially as the coverage gets tighter. Obviously they are looking for him every week. He’s getting a lot of heavy coverage or guys trying to jam him, whatever it is. He’s had to get that production with much more of a bullseye on his back than a couple of years ago.”
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
