Scott Zolak: Robert Kraft didn’t sound ready to move off Bill Belichick
On Monday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, Zo said it didn’t seem like Robert Kraft was ready to move off Bill Belichick while on College GameDay.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on prior to a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Football is the business for the New England Patriots…
Scott Zolak: You just asked me, what does this mean for Bill (Belichick)? I don’t think that that statement says I’m ready to move on from the coach.
Marc Bertrand: Even if he is, he’s not going to reveal it with a month left in the season. But just his mindset about the organization… does that sound like a guy who’s willing to clean house?
Scott Zolak: No.
Marc Bertrand: When he reveals to you how much he likes the fact that so many people have been there for so long. He really values longevity and people have been there for a long time.
Scott Zolak: That’s it. Keeps it rolling. Well, that’s part of it.
Marc Bertrand: Not really. Not right now. 3-10 isn’t keeping it rolling.
Scott Zolak: I’m totally with you on that.
Marc Bertrand: But football is the business for the New England Patriots.
Marc Bertrand: It is the business and the drafts haven’t been good enough and the roster building hasn’t been good enough and the coaching in-game has not been good enough. So my question, not just a football sense but in a business sense, at what point do you say we’ve got to make a change? Because our business is not doing all the things we think it’s capable of.
Scott Zolak: Plus, you have a massive set of clients that support the football end of it, that go to the functions, all the sponsorships, all the meet and greets, all the individual meetings and parties you have with these people that ask, how we doing? Like are we going to be better? We’re pumping a lot into this. We put our name on that sign. We don’t want a 3-10 team.
Marc Bertrand: The paper and packaging business is not selling as many things as a competitor is and you start losing market share, do you just sit there and say, we like we like our manager here because he’s been making boxes for us for 24 years?
Scott Zolak: No you don’t.
Marc Bertrand: I just can’t imagine that’s what they do. Maybe they do. I don’t know. I’m not familiar with it. I have no idea. But I feel like that was a genuine statement, that there’s a real appreciation for longevity.
Scott Zolak: Oh, I think that is a genuine statement. You go back to the question, because the question just wasn’t about football. It’s about you’re successful in a lot of different ways. You know, we’re here to talk about football, but how are you such a good owner of everything you do? The type of impact you made? And I think he kind of answered that. And he’s the one who brought up Bill for 24. He wasn’t asked about it.
Marc Bertrand: I know.
Scott Zolak: Like, that’s why I said that bodes well for Bill. That’s all. That’s not a massive statement as to whether Bill is staying or not. But the fact he brought Bill up and appreciates the 24-year approach here and having that stability, when I heard that I went woo.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 18: Team owner of the New England Patriots Robert Kraft looks on prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 18, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Patriots Ups & Downs: Who stood out in a solid win over the Steelers?
The New England Patriots may be only 3-10, but they deserve credit for going into Pittsburgh and pulling out a road victory over the still-contending Steelers. So, there are some accolades to go around. Here are 10 players we graded UP or DOWN based on their performance on Thursday night…
UP: QB Bailey Zappe
Dec 7, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) throws on the run against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. New England won 21-18. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Zappe earned his first win of the season as the Patriots’ new starting quarterback on the strength of an excellent first half. He threw three touchdown passes over the Patriots’ first six possessions of the game, building a 21-3 lead that would be enough to secure the win in the end.
Most impressive about Zappe in this game was his accuracy. He’s always had pretty good pocket poise and an underrated ability to buy time in there. But in this game, he was able to dance around and also deliver strikes that only the receivers can get. It was key to the Pats’ hot start on offense, and ultimately the win.
Zappe did throw an interception for the first time this season as the starter, as part of a cooling-off period in the second half. But the Patriots defense mostly kept the Steelers in check, resulting in strong complementary football. Zappe gets an UP for his first half alone, though.
UP: RB Ezekiel Elliott
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 07: Running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) of the New England Patriots dives for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The Patriots really needed Elliott to step up this week after news of Rhamondre Stevenson’s high-ankle sprain. For one week, anyway, he certainly did.
Elliott carried the ball 22 times at a meager 3.1 yards per carry, but his biggest impact came in the passing game. Elliott caught seven balls for 72 yards and a touchdown, as he finished off the Patriots’ opening drive with a catch-and-run (and dive) into the end zone. He also seemed to wear the Steelers down with his physical running as the game went on, which can provide more value than pure yardage.
If the Patriots are going to have any hope of winning more games down the stretch, they’re going to need to keep getting that kind of game out of Elliott, especially if he can make a difference as a pass-catcher.
UP: TE Hunter Henry
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 07: Tight end Hunter Henry (85) of the New England Patriots catches a pass for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
This one’s easy. Three catches for Henry, two of them touchdowns. Both scores were great throws by Zappe, but Henry also showed good body control and concentration to come down with the catches.
This was a much-needed offensive explosion for one of the Patriots’ leaders and most important offensive players. Just like Elliott, Henry is going to need to keep producing to give the Patriots chances to win down the stretch.
DOWN: CB J.C. Jackson
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 07: Wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a touchdown in the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Despite holding himself accountable, much more so than the departed Jack Jones, Jackson continues to be at best up-and-down in coverage. He negated his own interception in the first quarter with a handsy pass interference penalty, then gave up a touchdown to Diontae Johnson later in the first half. Jackson has been a weak point of an otherwise strong recent run by the Patriots defense.
UP: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 07: Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (7) of the New England Patriots celebrates after a reception in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Smith-Schuster had to have some kind of extra motivation to go into his old stomping grounds and beat his former team, because he made more impactful plays on Thursday night than he had the rest of the season combined. Four catches for a team-high 90 yards for Smith-Schuster, who made a great 37-yard catch to spark the Patriots’ opening touchdown drive. He, and the team, really needed that.
DOWN: RB Ty Montgomery
Dec 7, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New England Patriots special teams player Marte Mapu (30) recovers a blocked punt against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Montgomery (not pictured above) gets a thumb down for this game because he appeared to miss his blocking assignment that led to Miles Killebrew blocking a punt by Bryce Baringer, which set up a Steelers touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Montgomery was replaced on the next punt by safety Kyle Dugger (h/t
Kyle Dugger was in on the punt protection team in place of Ty Montgomery at right wing on that last punt, as the block had come on Montgomery's side.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 8, 2023" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mike Reiss). Hard to envision Montgomery seeing the field much if he can’t even do his job in punt protection.UP: LB Mack Wilson Sr.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 07: Linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (3) of the New England Patriots sacks quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Wilson had one of his most active games as a Patriot, highlighted by a great shoulder-tackle that stopped the Steelers short on a fourth down try. Wilson also had a sack and a pass breakup. He’s been underwhelming since coming to the Patriots in a trade with the Browns, but at least he’s still playing, unlike the guy he was traded for (Chase Winovich).
DOWN: ST Brenden Schooler
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 10: Brenden Schooler #41 of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Schooler can’t be committing penalties when he only plays on special teams. He got flagged for unnecessary roughness on the ensuing kickoff after a Steelers touchdown made it 21-10, sticking the Pats back at their on 11-yard line on a drive that ultimately stalled out.
UP: DT Christian Barmore
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 07: Christian Barmore #90 and Myles Bryant #27 of the New England Patriots sack Mitch Trubisky #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Another week, another strong effort for the big boy. Barmore continues to quietly dominate at the line of scrimmage without racking up counting stats. His pressure up the middle helped facilitate the Patriots’ effective DB blitzes, and also helped rush Mitch Trubisky into the throw that resulted in a Jabrill Peppers interception.
The Patriots need to give serious consideration into trying to lock Barmore up with an extension before he gets too expensive.
DOWN: LT Conor McDermott
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 07: Bailey Zappe #4 of the New England Patriots throws the ball in the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Not the most fair to single out McDermott, when Cole Strange could possibly get a down as well for their struggles against the Steelers’ Cameron Heyward. But McDermott also committed a holding penalty that killed a drive. The Patriots need better out of their starting tackles, especially when Trent Brown is banged up.
Next Patriots Ups & Downs comes after the Patriots take on the mighty Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium in Week 15.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content.
