FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- After a strong performance in Friday’s 30-7 win against the Carolina Panthers, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he is quickly turning the page to focus on Thursday’s matchup with the New York Giants and the impending roster moves.
“This is a short week, quick turnaround, and really a lot of things we have to tie up here in the next few days and then hopefully we’ll be ready to turn our attention next week to the start of the regular season,” Belichick said during a conference call Sunday. “Obviously roster moves will be coming. That will be part of the whole process too.”
NFL teams must trim rosters down to 75 players by Tuesday and 53 by Saturday.
“There could be some before,” Belichick about making moves before Tuesday’s deadline. “But I’m sure there will be some on Tuesday as well.”
Other notes from Belichick:
New practice squad rules. Belichick offered some perspective on the league’s expansion of practice squads from eight players to 10, saying there was some benefit to having two extra players but not a whole lot. “Overall, it’s still fairly marginal,” he said. “You know, there’s some. I mean, you’re talking about guys who are the whatever, 54th, 55th, 56th players, so they’re part of the team and all that, but if they were higher than that they wouldn’t be in that position, so that’s what we’re talking about. It can give you a couple more players on the field, but overall I think it’s, in the big picture, a marginal change.”
Competition continues at C and RG. The Patriots continue to shuffle offensive linemen at center and right guard. Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell vie to start at center and rookie Josh Kline, Jordan Devey and Connolly compete at right guard. Belichick still needs to see more before making any decision. “I think we’ll keep grinding away here in training camp,” Belichick said. “Once we, if we decide on something, we’ll decide on it. But I don’t have anything to announce on anybody.”
Moore’s adjustment to the NFL. Rookie defensive end Zach Moore is making a giant leap from Division II Concordia-St. Paul to the NFL. Though viewed as a two-year project player, Belichick already is seeing improvements from the sixth-round pick. “He works hard, he’s very conscientious, very attentive, really tries to do things right,” Belichick said. “He’s really done a good job of all the things we’ve asked him to do but it’s a big jump. He’s gaining on it, I’ll definitely say that. He’s definitely gaining on it.”