Patriots Bill O’Brien Reacts to ‘Interrogating’ Ex Cowboys
FOXBORO — While the New England Patriots’ days of dominating the standings are seemingly behind them, the intimidation factor of the “Belichickian” mystique is alive and well.
In fact, it already appears to have found rent-free prime real estate in the psyche of Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
As the Patriots (1-2) and Cowboys (2-1) prepare for their Week 4 matchup this weekend at AT&T Stadium, Schottenheimer expressed his tongue-in-cheek [with a twist of seriousness] belief that Pats coach Bill Belichick and his staff may be conducting some intense questioning of former Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Will Greer — both of which now wear Patriots blue.
In short, the Dallas OC has, at least, entertained the idea that Belichick and the Patriots may attempt to extract some of the signals and secrets of their offense from both Grier and Elliott.
“We know Will [Greer] knows where a lot of the bones are buried,” Schottenheimer said. “We know Zeke [Elliott] does as well … I’m sure [Grier] is definitely being interrogated and spending a lot of late nights with their defensive coaching staff.”
However, before conjuring images of Belichick engaged in a Jack Bauer-style debriefing of the ex-Cowboys pair, Schottenheimer was likely using a bit of artistic license to describe the intricate manner in which detailed-oriented staffs such as the Patriots will prepare for an opponent. As such, any inference of the Pats probing either Grier and/or Elliott is simply referring to a practice which happens across the NFL in every locker room.
In fact, Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien shared such sentiments when speaking with New England reporters on Tuesday via video conference.
“Interrogating?” O’Brien said with a quizzical chuckle. “Schotty is a good guy … I’ve known him for a long time. I think that’s the way it is every week and every year in this league. There are guys that come into your organization off of teams that you’re about the play … and it goes both ways.”
After all, Dallas employs a talented twosome of former Patriots as well, in cornerback Stephon Gilmore and receiver Brandin Cooks.
Though O’Brien may not be interested in using cross-examination to prepare for his opponents, his guiding hand on the Patriots offense has clearly had a positive effect. While the team struggled in nearly every facet of putting points on the board in 2022, O’Brien’s schemes have opened the field for the team’s sizable pass catching tight ends, while placing a greater amount of responsibility in the hands of quarterback Mac Jones.
Former Dallas Cowboys' running back Ezekiel Elliott practices with his new team, the New England Patriots.
Still, the Patriots have remained competitive in each of their three games based on the prowess of their defense — which despite their 1-2 record ranks ninth in rushing yards allowed and fifth in passing yards. Learning the hand placements on an expectedly extinct signal, or attempting to decipher the code within a since-retired play call, is unlikely to be a focal point of the Pats game-planning against a formidable opponent this week — a point echoed by O’Brien.
“Everybody’s got to be on the same page with what we’re doing,” O’Brien said in a more serious tone. “I’ve never thought in my years in the league that any of that was a real overriding factor in a win or loss. It comes down to the players on the field and coaches putting the players in the right positions to make plays. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Regardless of their preparation methods, the Pats will have their hands full with the Cowboys in Week 4. Dallas not only offers one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses led by quarterback Dak Prescott, they also feature as fearsome of a defensive front which can be found on the gridiron — led by linebacker/defensive end Micah Parsons, who is already garnering MVP consideration just three weeks into the season. In short, they will need more than outdated information to remain competitive with the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.
While only naivety would prevent anyone from thinking that New England may seek some extra wisdom and counsel from both Elliott and Grier, any competitive advantage to be gained from it is almost certain to be a major stretch, even by exaggeration standards.
“I don’t think that were trying to pull a light over anybody," said O'Brien. "There’s no ‘Tell me what you did on July 20, 2023’. We’re not doing that. We’re not interrogating anybody. We’re just trying to put together the best game plan we possibly can.”
