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In an interview with Chris Ryan, Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick discusses how players learn individual skills, plays, and team concepts during the OTAs (Organized Team Activities) and during the minicamp period of the pre-season. Mac Jones, the quarterback drafted in the first round by the Patriots, talks about how he evaluates his own progress during this preseason period.
OTAs are for new players and minicamps include veteran players. At this point, there is no contact, or pads and the emphasis is on conditioning and instruction.
Coach Belichick explains that there is no time to explain or to teach players individually, but he describes the instruction as a pyramid like process. Position coaches or veteran players work with individuals who are having trouble players understanding what has been taught.
Mac Jones, the rookie quarterback from the University of Alabama, has a reputation as a hard worker and as a winner.
“You can’t have too high of an expectation and put too much pressure on yourself. You just have to keep moving forward. Every day, I’m just trying to get better and learn from the guys who have done it and been through it.”
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