David Andrews talks Patriots’ mentality with Zolak & Bertrand
By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
David Andrews is in his fourth season as a Patriots captain, in just his sixth year in the NFL. He is viewed as one of the strongest leaders in the Patriots locker room. As a leader he’s doing a good job of keeping a level head despite the team’s struggles so far this season.
“I think there’s still a lot of football left to be played, [I’m] still positive,” Andrews told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand on Tuesday. “I thought the way we went out and played last week was much more how we want to play as a team overall. We just didn’t do enough little things to win the game. But, that was a winning formula for us.”
Even though they didn’t win, Sunday’s game against Buffalo was the Patriots most complete offensive effort since September. For that, Andrews credits the ground game, which was responsible for 188 yards. “I thought we ran the ball really well last week,” Andrews said, “Thought we were pretty physical team up front. We just kind of got into a little bit of a rhythm offensively.”
Of course, it didn’t end up being enough as the Patriots fell 24-21. Andrews cited penalties for the shortfall. “There were times during that game where we didn’t – where we got penalties and we’re playing the game from long yardage. And that’s really not any team’s successful, you know, way to play the game.”
Andrews also mentioned the Patriots’ slow starts as an issue. New England is the only team in the league to not score any offensive points in the first quarter this season (Devin McCourty had a pick six in Week 2).
“I still think we can start faster,” Andrews told Zolak & Bertrand. “You need to get some points in the first quarter, try to play from ahead.”
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The Patriots will attempt to turn around their first quarter woes and four-game losing streak this week against the Jets. As the team prepares to attempt to turn the corner, Andrews says he’s leading by example.
“I think as a player, my job is to come in and work my tail off every day and be the best player that I can be. I think we’ve got guys doing that. We can all do a little bit better job of that,” Andrews said, before acknowledging that no matter what happens in practice, things need to be cleaned up on game day. “We’re not playing good enough right now, doing things to hurt ourselves. It’s going to cost us. And you can see it – you do those things and it’s hard to win.”
Andrews also discussed his dogs – two German shepherds. Asked why he as a Georgia grad, didn’t go with a bulldog, Andrews replied, “Well, see, the problem is with a bulldog, like a bulldog’s too close to me. They fart, they snore.”
At least he’s honest about it.
You can listen to Andrews’ full conversation with Zolak & Bertrand below:
Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Patriots.
Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at Alexander.Barth@bbgi.com.
