The Nest

According to the Patriots’ website, Bill Belichick (along with Falcons Mike Smith and Giants Tom Coughlin) has been nominated for Week 10 coach of the week.

You can cast your vote here.

With all the accolades Belichick has been receiving recently, it’s not hard to believe. He’s successfully maneuvered his team into a first place tie with the New York Jets (pending this week’s outcome on Thursday night) despite losing key players starting with start quarterback Tom Brady in Week 1, quarter 1. Among other key players, he’s lost Maroney, Harrison and most recently Adalius Thomas.

Belichick has so far proven he can win without the roster that tore up the AFC East last year.

Just a few of the many adjustments Belichick has had to make this season:

• The introduction of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, nicknamed the Law Firm by his team mates, has given the Pats a much needed shot in the arm of their running game. With Cassel still maturing in the field general’s role, New England needed to alter its offensive attack from being a primarily passing team to a more balanced run/pass threat
• Randy Moss has been all but neutralized as a deep threat for now so he’s been breaking off the deep patterns and cutting across the middle with some effectiveness
• Wes Welker has been mixing in some deeper patterns with his usual 7 and 8 yard completions

Can they sustain this momentum into the post season? My guess (hope) is that no matter what adversity fate and the rest of the league throws at him, Belichick will find a way to overcome. It won’t seem as effortless as some of last season’s matchups that were decided in the first 30 minutes of games but somehow it makes it more interesting. How’s he gonna pull the rabbit out of his hat this time?

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