FOXBORO, Mass. — Bill Belichick wouldn’t say it Friday, but ex-Notre Dame head coach and -Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis did: Michael Floyd’s time with the Fighting Irish will help his transition to New England.
Floyd, who was claimed by New England from the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, played for two seasons under Weis at Notre Dame, where the Irish ran a similar offense to the one the Patriots use now under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
“How many places can you go to where you’re going to know 75 percent of the verbiage walking through the door?” Weis said on WEEI’s “Kirk and Callahan” show, via MassLive.com’s Kevin Duffy. “The verbiage is the same verbiage, with Josh’s tweaks and what’s matriculated over the past decade, the verbiage is still the same … There’s just a 25 percent spinoff in every system. You’ve got a guy who comes in here who doesn’t have to learn the system all over again. Mentally, you’ve got a big advantage over other guys because you already know what to do.”
Floyd has just three weeks to catch up before the Patriots begin their postseason run. The Patriots have just three healthy full-time receivers on their roster: Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell, so New England might need Floyd to contribute before the season is over. The Patriots also have Matthew Slater, who’s a core special teamer and rarely plays on offense, and Danny Amendola, who is likely out until the playoffs with a high-ankle sprain.
Here are some other comments from Weis on WEEI.
More Weis on Michael Floyd on WEEI pic.twitter.com/ivk8i8R33i
— Kevin Duffy (@KevinRDuffy) December 16, 2016
Charlie Weis tells @WEEI Michael Floyd is "hiding from me right now." Says they have a "father-son" relationship. Not just another recruit.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) December 16, 2016
Weis says "he's a good kid." Notes that Floyd's issues at Notre Dame happened after he left. "I really like the kid. He's been good to me."
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) December 16, 2016
More Weis on Floyd: "There isn't one time where it could have been avoidable very easily — by him not driving after having a few beers."
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) December 16, 2016
Weis to @WEEI on Floyd: "You're bringing a big, size guy. Big hands. Dropped a bunch of balls, but who knows what the story is behind that."
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) December 16, 2016
Weis alluding to tough-love he's feeling for Floyd right now: "I texted him give me a call . . . He doesn't want that call."
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) December 16, 2016
Thumbnail photo via Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports Images
