Highlights

HERM EDWARDS: “When you look at New England two things stand out right away: their offensive line which is composed of a group of veteran guys and their ability to run the ball. What I like about (their offensive line) is they’re always on their feet. They keep their feet real well. Good pass blockers and (they) do a good job when (you) try to bring pressure. So, it’s a good group of guys. The quarterback always feels comfortable in the pocket.

“They also have the ability to run the ball. I think sometimes that gets overlooked. They can run the ball very well. They can line up in two tight ends and just hammer at you. (Laurence) Maroney is a very good player. He is a guy who has good speed, can get outside and make big plays in the run game. He’s good catching the ball. Their tight ends are good. Wes Welker is the guy who is a big first down guy for them and on third down has caught a lot of passes and keeps the chains moving. Then Randy (Moss) is a home run threat. So, they’ve got a very good offense and scored something like 199 points in the second quarter.

“Defensively, Seymour, Wilfork, Ty Warren, Rodney Harrison – all those guys are good players. They’ve been in the system; they know the system. They don’t make a lot of mistakes. They play very consistent and if you make mistakes they take advantage of it.

“The pre-season is the pre-season and a lot of these guys didn’t play. But they will be ready to play Sunday. They’ve got a lot of pride, pride themselves on playing well at home if you look back at them over the years. They’ve won a lot of home games.

“They’re a very balanced team, never panic and just play their game. They never worry about the opponent. They have a way they’re going to run their offense and certain things they’re going to do on defense. They play special teams a certain way it and really doesn’t matter who the opponent is. They’re a very confident football team.”

Q: What are your biggest concerns going into this game and really into this season?

EDWARDS: “How we’re going to react, ‘cause you never know with young players. You go through a pre-season and all of a sudden the regular season will start, whether it’s New England or wherever opening day is opening day and you never know what to expect. You just don’t know because a lot of them have never been in an opening day in the National Football League. I’m excited for them and excited to see how they play. “If they can just withstand their emotions early in the football game, the anxiety they’re going to have and then battle back and understand it’s just a football game. Your emotions will take you only so far and then you have to have sound thinking. The speed of the game, I think, is going to change dramatically for a lot of these young guys. They’ve never played in a real NFL game yet, it’s just been pre-season games and that’s different than a regular season. How you prepare is very important because of the fact that you’ve got to think and it has to be natural. If you’re thinking about what you have to do you’re going to be a step late and if you’re a step late against these guys it’ll get you.”

Q: Do you like the fact that you’re playing New England or a team like this?

EDWARDS: “For where we’re at this just happens to be one of the better teams in football. But whoever we open up against with all these guys that have made our football team it’s a good test for us. This is a team that other teams are trying to emulate and that organizations are trying to emulate. You’re talking about a team that is consistently in the playoffs, won the trophy numerous times. I think any organization looks at them and says, what have they done to establish this?”

Q: Do you like the fact that no one is giving you a chance?

EDWARDS: “I don’t know that because I really haven’t paid a lot of attention to it. I’m focused on getting the players ready and I think they are too. I don’t look at that stuff. If they’re not giving us a chance so be it as long we feel we have a chance and are prepared. We’re going to prepare to win.”

Q: There are no cupcakes in this league, but would you rather go against a team like this that has been in the Super Bowl or a team that didn’t have quite the cachet?

EDWARDS: “Well eventually you have to play them all. Your schedule is your schedule and they were going to be on the schedule because of the way it shook out. Whether you get them first game, last game, middle of the season you have to play them. It just happens to be the first and on the road.”

Q: You’re not going to keep it close. You’re going to try and win obviously?

EDWARDS: “We’re going to prepare to win. We’re preparing to win a football game.”

Q: You’ve coached veteran teams and young teams. Is there any way to change the routine when you have a team this young as opposed to a veteran team?

EDWARDS: “Yeah, I think you have to spend more time in the classroom with these guys. You have to have more patience. You can’t give them too much too early. I think you have to make things very simple for them so they can use their talents and the gifts we liked when we drafted them. You don’t want to hinder them with a thought process of thinking too much. And you need to do it over and over until they feel comfortable. Once they feel comfortable you can add some things.

“And there is always the unexpected. You can anticipate they’re going to do this and they do something else. It’s part of youth; it’s part of growing up. A lot of them will grow up. You’ll watch it right before your eyes. They’re going to grow up and they’re going to have to play a team like this.”

Q: Any idea what your young guys think of this (New England) team?

EDWARDS: “No, they’ve only seen this team on television. They’ve been in college; they have no idea.”

Q: Is this more challenging than coaching a veteran team?

EDWARDS: “Oh, this is fun. This is so much fun. I mean, I can’t wait to get to work every day. I’ve always been that way but this is a lot of fun for me. For some people, probably they’re nervous. I can sense people are nervous but they don’t do what we do. They don’t coach them. They sit on the sides and watch and don’t know them like we know them. We’re with them every day. That’s what is good about coaching. You’re with them every day. They’re like your children and you’ve been around each other since spring ball. These guys have grown up, they’ve gotten better and they’ll continue to get better. That’s the growth process and for anybody who is not in the fray you’re not a part of the process. Coaches are and that’s what we enjoy. These players are excited about playing.”

Q: Can you talk about Tom Brady?

EDWARDS: “Here’s another guy who was not a high round draft choice and made the most of his opportunity. Came in when Bledsoe got hurt and really took off from there. He got better and better every year. I think their staff did a great job with him early. They’ve kind of evolved into this offense they have now compared to earlier. They were a little bit different when he was a young quarterback. They didn’t put a lot on his plate. They ran the ball and played really good defense. Led the league in takeaways and had a great kicker.

“As he evolved and matured they opened the offense up for him. Really, now they put it in his hands. They can throw whenever they want. They can run the ball, so it’s all evolved around him. Their offensive linemen have done a good job in that system and they’ve drafted well. They’ve added some veteran guys. So, they’ve given him some pieces to work with as far as skilled players. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, doesn’t turn the ball over and doesn’t get sacked a lot. But that’s just a part of his maturity and he continues to try and get better. He’s a workaholic. I’ve been around the guy and he is good for the league because of how he works and is about the team.”

Q: Is Branden Albert ready to practice?

EDWARDS: “Yes he is. He’s good to go. He’s working. He’s excited. Big smile on his face. Big smile on everybody’s face.”

Q: How concerned are you that he hasn’t been able to work given the position he’s being asked to play?

EDWARDS: “No more concerned than I am taking all those young guys up there to play (New England). He’s just another young one who’s going to have to play. That’s OK. That’s what we said we were going to do and good for us because we stuck to our guns through this whole process. Now it’s time to go play and you can’t all of a sudden when it’s time start questioning what you’re doing. We have a certain way we do things around here now and I think it’s good for the organization. We will reap the benefits. It all starts somewhere and it starts this year with the direction we’re headed.

“These young players will play. There is no doubt. I don’t have any question about that.”

Q: Was there a time in these last six months where you thought you might not stay young?

EDWARDS: “No. Now, there is always that sense. It’s like being in a card game and then you go I’ve got some bad cards and I’ve got to throw them in. You’ve got to play ‘em. You can’t throw your hand in. You’ve got to play. I think if we’re going to be truthful with ourselves we’ve got to do it.

“The season always brings anxiety because now you look at your football team and the average age is 25.3 years. You say, these guys are young. They’re going to play.”

Q: Are these the three quarterbacks you’re taking into this season?

EDWARDS: “Yes, but how it works out two or three is still up. We know who number one is and we want to make we can protect him.”