Bill Belichick: Less meeting time, more padded practice time in college

When it comes to moving from the NFL to college football, coach Bill Belichick will have reduced access to players. But there’s one specific way in which college football gives a coach like Belichick more time to do his job.

“In some respects you have more time with college kids,” Belichick said during his introductory press conference. “Not as much meeting time, but more practice time. Certainly more opportunities to practice in pads and work on fundamentals and things like that. You know, it’s a trade off.”

It’s a potential net gain for Belichick. As of 2011, a new Collective Bargaining Agreement greatly reduced offseason workout and padded practices. College programs have no such limitations.

Ultimately, Belichick’s approach will be the same, when it comes to preparing his team to play.

“I want to be versatile and take advantage of the personnel we have,” Belichick said. “I believe in attacking a defense and defending what the offense does well. And that takes some versatility. All two teams aren’t the same. And I think you have to play them differently from week to week.”

The challenge remains getting the best possible players to choose to play for North Carolina. On that point, former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison explained on Friday’s PFT Live his recruitment to New England by Belichick in 2003. Rodney also said he has heard from multiple D-I college football players who want to play for Belichick.