Is Bill Belichick scheming to get intel on Colts via ‘Hard Knocks’?
By Jerry Trotta
If the New England Patriots are to finish the regular season as the AFC’s No.1 seed, they’re going to have to earn it. Fresh off toppling Tennessee and Buffalo in back-to-back games, the schedule won’t get any easier coming out of the bye. After all, up next for the Patriots is a Saturday night showdown against an Indianapolis Colts squad that’s 7-3 in its last 10 games.
With Jonathan Taylor, the NFL’s leading rusher, a confident Carson Wentz, and an opportunistic defense that’s recorded a turnover in every game this season, the Colts have become a dark horse playoff threat in the AFC.
Taking that into account, you’d think Bill Belichick and Co. would have their work cut out in the film room this week. However, the Colts’ being featured on the first-ever in-season “Hard Knocks” could help the Pats out in that regard.
While we can’t know for sure if Belichick is going to dive into the latest episodes for some insight, his latest quote kind of tells you all you need to know.
Belichick says that the advanced scouting department studies "everything" pertained to an opponent, including Hard Knocks with the #Colts.
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) December 13, 2021
Belichick adds: "there are a lot of reasons I wouldn't be excited about [being on Hard Knocks]."
Patriots HC Bill Belichick clearly isn’t a fan of “Hard Knocks.”
During his Monday press conference, Belichick was asked whether someone in the organization was tasked with watching Indy on the popular HBO-NFL Films show to try and gain a potential edge before Saturday night.
"“We have people in our organization that scout the games in advance of when we play the teams,” said Belichick. “Starting two or three weeks before we play, they start to really track those teams and see how injuries have affected, if they have shifted their style of play, or whatever’s happened with the team.”"
If you think for a second that the six-time champ doesn’t have a group of assistants studying every second of every episode to see if the Colts carelessly disclosed any relevant information, whether it be on offense, defense or special teams, we have one question for you: Where have you been the last 20 years?
Belichick is essentially Sherlock Holmes when it comes to this kind of stuff. Only he knows what he’s looking for. Indianapolis never would’ve agreed to be filmed mid-season if it would put them at a competitive disadvantage.
Interesting exchange just now.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) December 13, 2021
Bill Belichick was asked if he assigns somebody to watch Hard Knocks to get info on the Colts.
In a long, meandering answer, he did NOT say “No”.
However, Belichick is a different type of crazy.
The fact he “wouldn’t be excited” if the Patriots were on “Hard Knocks” suggests he knows where to look and what to find.
We’ll likely never know if Belichick discovers anything, but if he has any say in the matter, New England won’t be featured on “Hard Knocks,” training camp version or in-season, while he’s pulling the strings.
