It was interesting...I heard some local analysts discussing the Patriots-Titans game, and there was much discussion about who was calling defensive plays. Belichick himself is the ostensible Defensive Coordinator, though this doesn’t get much play.
Granted, while I don’t doubt he puts together the game plan (or is the major voice in the direction and approval of it) I find it difficult to imagine him directly calling the defenses in any case, but...people who watch more closely than I noticed a significant change in this over the last few weeks.
It made me wonder if Belichick was deliberately putting the responsibility for this on the backs of various people in case he got COVID and had to sit out. He does have a reputation for that kind of forethought.
Bill Belichick has always called the defense. The sports radio discussion in recent weeks has been whether he had passed the play calling to one of two defense assistants and had taken those duties back after their losing streak at the beginning of the season. They have now won six in a row.
Wouldn’t a Patriots-Buccaneers Super Bowl be delicious?