Don’t be worried about Bill Belichick burning out at 70 years old. Devin McCourty, who’s entering his 13th season with the Patriots, says Belichick is the same as always.
In an interview with ESPN’s Mike Reiss, McCourty said he doesn’t notice any difference in the way Belichick is approaching his job this year. Full team offseason workouts started last week, and are continuing this week.
“I've always said, when people ask me what's Bill like, that he's the model of consistency,” McCourty said. “Showing up to your job every day, having the same attitude, the same messaging, and being able to do that over and over again is hard. He continues to come in here, Day 1 of OTAs, for however many years it is, and it's the same intensity.”
This will be Belichick’s 48th season in the NFL and 28th as a head coach. With no official offensive or defensive coordinator, it doesn’t appear as if Belichick is lightening his load. Reporters at practice last week said Belichick was heavily involved with the offense, overseeing drills and calling plays when the team moved to an 11-on-11 scrimmage.
Belichick has controversially placed longtime lieutenants Joe Judge and Matt Patricia on the offensive side of the ball, despite their lack of experience.
To illustrate Belichick’s hands-on approach, Reiss highlights a moment from last Monday’s OTAs when Belichick pulled practice-squad receiver Malcolm Perry aside and flashed his hands in front of him — demonstrating how he should attack the ball.
McCourty is used to seeing that kind of coaching.
“It's fundamentals, doing the right things, the small things over and over again. He never slips up on that," McCourty said. "This being my 13th year, I've seen that over and over again. It's hard to replicate, but I think getting an opportunity to play for him as a player has made me a better player.”
Famously, no NFL head coach has won a Super Bowl past 70 years old, and few have experienced significant playoff success. Belichick has a tall order ahead of him, and he seems to be up to the challenge.
Hopefully his assistants don’t let him down.
