Even before the trade of defensive line stalwart Richard Seymour, the Patriots defense had questions. The secondary has several new cast members and the linebacking corps looks thin, and even HC Bill Belichick seems to admit that this all could take a while. "You’re asking how they’re going to play? I don’t know, I can’t tell you that. We’ve been a multiple defense since I’ve been here, we’ll continue to be that. We’ll try to put the players out there that we feel are the best for the situation or the game plan or the team we’re playing, and that will be a weekly decision that will be modified during the course of the game as situations and personnel change. Some of that’s dictated by the offense, so if they put four receivers out there then I’m sure we’ll have a different group than if they put three tight ends out there," Belichick added. "Those things are all out of our control. Those are offensive personnel substitutions and we’ll match them up as best we can. You know, a lot of things like that we just have to react to. The players are going to play. I think they’ll all work hard, they’ll prepare well and hopefully we’ll play well. That’s our goal. I’m sure you’ll let us know how that goes." "What we’re going to have to do is we’re going to have to play good team defense," Belichick said when asked how the club might replace Seymour. "Whichever 11 players are out there on any given play, in any given situation, then those players are going to have to play that defensive play well. That’s what good team defense is. Which players those are and what situations those will come up in will vary quite a bit from game to game, and even within a game. But that’s the bottom line: we need to play good team defense. I think that’s what we’re all committed to doing here – players, coaches, everybody that’s involved.’’ Source: The Boston Globe
