Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore's Anecdote Further Explains Bill Belichick's Insane Attention to Detail
By Kevin Aquino
If Bill Belichick wants to step away from coaching anytime soon, he should consider being a weatherman.
Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore provided Sports Illustrated with a scenario in which Belichick's aptitude for minutiae showed through an analysis of the wind.
Reporters get an up-close view here in Nashville as Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore works on his craft. Red zone a focus for Patriots and Titans today. pic.twitter.com/BwLvaTneqB
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 15, 2019
"He said, ‘When the ball is traveling in this certain direction, the wind is blowing hard enough where you should probably trail the receiver just a little bit because the ball isn’t going that deep,'" Gilmore said.
Belichick's brilliance comes from preparation for any and all scenarios, and the 67-year-old has the resume to show for it: most Super Bowl wins (6), most Super Bowl appearances (9) and most NFL playoff wins (31).
Most Bill Belichick interview ever, he's ready for the regular season.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 18, 2019
Q: You put out a statement on Josh Gordon today. Do you have anything add?
Belichick: "No."
Q: Not at all?
Belichick: "No, that is why we put out the statement."pic.twitter.com/4e9NAboRCC
Gilmore nabbed 2 interceptions and posted a career-high 20 passes defended in his First-Team All-Pro campaign last season, so he's no slouch himself. But Belichick's mind, which can sometimes be a little childish, is chock-full of schemes and ideas that have sustained the Patriots' success for years, and has made him arguably the greatest coach in league history.