Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Welker: Talib hit a 'rub play' we ran in New England

BY NICK ST. DENIS

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick wasn't a fan of Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker's pick-hit on Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib in the AFC Championship game.

According to Welker, however, Belichick should have been plenty familiar with it from Welker's days with the Patriots.

"We ran the same play," Welker said Tuesday (via WEEI) when a Boston Globe reporter asked if Welker learned the play from Belichick.

Welker collided with Talib going across the middle when trying to get Talib off his coverage of Demaryius Thomas. Talib was injured on the second quarter play and didn't return.

"It's a rub play that everybody runs," Welker said. "It's one of those deals where you try to get a rub on that guy and really, if you can get him to go over the top of you, the more separation the other receiver will have.

"That's what I tried to do to get Demaryius a little more open and unfortunately we collided."

Last week, Belichick called Welker's collision with Talib "one of the worst plays I've seen" and "a deliberate play by the receiver to take out Aqib; no attempt to get open."

Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily