New England calling near-mishap a teachable moment and moving on to Seattle
So, want to know the details of how the New England Patriots botched their first punt return of the season and nearly coughed up the football and changed the entire complexion of Sunday’s game?
Turns out it’s top secret.
OK, it might not be completely classified, but the Patriots are putting the early snafu behind them and moving right along. The past, after all, is in the past.
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Now if you forgot football was being played Sunday or simply chose to ignore it, here’s what you missed. Damiere Byrd was back as the punt returner. Battling the sun, he settled under it – and then J.C. Jackson got blocked into him. Clearly distracted, Byrd muffed it, but Jackson was there to save the day, jumping on the ball that allowed the offense to get on the field.
"That play right there specifically, that’s a good situational play. We obviously haven’t had that come up too much here so it’s definitely something we can learn from and improve on with the communication," special teams coordinator Cam Accord said Tuesday when asked about it Tuesday. "It was definitely a heads-up play to get on the ball … you have to have good ball security here so it’s definitely something we’re able to learn from and move forward with, just the communication and improve our communication moving forward."
On Miami’s next punt Julian Edelman was back deep, emphasizing the point that Bill Belichick does not mess around when it comes to fumbling a football.
Clearly it’s not something the Patriots want to have happen again, but they’ll be ready if it does.
"With that play and the different plays and feeling the ball, any time you can be at practice and any situation comes up, you make sure you address it the next day," Accord said. "You just try to keep putting the guys in situations that may show up in games, whether it’s a punt play, a kickoff play, even an offensive or defensive play.
"Just the more you can replicate plays, those situations are going to show up in practices and hopefully if you get them in games, you’ll be able to execute."
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