October 22, 2025 • 10 mins
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addresses the media on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I guess, Karen, you a big head now or now.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Are you cuche? How are we doing.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Defense the best you will have faced?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
I mean I think just statistically in play style, you know,
they're playing at a high level. They're playing a lot
of confidence. It's a lot of speed, a lot of disruption.
They don't give you a whole lot of time to
make decisions.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And then there's enough you know, change ups in there
that you know you just have to be good.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
You have to be sound and you can't hold onto
the ball.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, coverage is sticky and the linebackers are fast.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Your run defense.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Doesn't matter what the finished the stats metrics is with
the list of the league, aside from the obvious talent,
what is allowed to that group to be So for
seven weeks, I think that we've improved our tackling. We've
improved continued to improve of our technique, you know, and
again it hasn't been perfect, but it's it's just about
coaching edge wall and swarming and and making sure that
(01:12):
you know we do those things and you know we've
done them. Sometimes we'll have to continue to do them.
That's the thing about this league is you don't stats
and metrics numbers don't mean anything.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
You have to go out there and and be able
to prove it.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
And I know that they'll have a good plan, uh
for for how they want to run it. And it's
a physical group of of linemen and their tight ends
are blocking well, you know, and Quen Shawn is rushing,
you know, running hard, physical, So they've done a nice job.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Howl your experience. How was the blocker handle? The level
of success and good? More than I mean, I think
we always just try to stay consistent.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
We've tried to say, keep that message going, try to
have a you know, a new plan, new preparation, and
new opponent each and every week, you know, try to
celebrate the success that we've had, but then clearly move
on and focus on the next challenge. And we'll have
to do that this week, and you know it's a
(02:15):
big one, you know, coming back home and just making
sure that you know, we won't take anything for granted
in our preparation. This is a different unit, a different
team than than Tennessee, and so that we have to
just get going, learn them, learn a play style, try
to match their speed the best that we can in
practice and be ready to go for it on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Why you kill her first time tour?
Speaker 1 (02:41):
I just you know, he was a very productive college player,
and you know he's improved his fourth down ability and
has experience there.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Killansons named the AFC Defender of the League.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Just what have you seen from him this season and
what does it mean for him to bring that honor.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I mean he's showed up in the offseason ready to
learn and work and earn a role, and he's done that.
And I would say that he's an important member of
the punt team, something that he's taken very seriously since
he got here and trying to do those things and
help us on a punt team and then taking advantage
(03:20):
of his opportunities.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Speak good special teams as a teammate and a colleague,
Bubba than Trump in the quality's a demonstrated as a
player and also as a coach that they make him
a future of the pick coach.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Great competitive spirit as a player, I mean, he was
a Tasmanian devil. Enjoyed a time with Bubba immensely and
then being able to be with him in Cleveland last year.
It was fun to just see his relationship and connections
(03:53):
with the players. The way that he coaches, his energy
is evaluation of players. So he's done a great job
in his role and I'm sure that if presented with
those opportunities he would he would do an amazing job
with any head coaching opportunities that would come his way.
Like like you mentioned this offseason one to play man coverage,
(04:14):
it feels like the past couple of weeks you guys
have kind of gotten away from that.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Has it go more of a product of.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
The game plan or your execution would actually play man?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Probably a little bit of both, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
So when we play man, we got to not let
our man catch the ball and we got to be
able to get to the quarterback and and force them
to you know, to get rid of it maybe before
those routes can separate or run away.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
A lot of CP's question. A lot of times coaches
say that how teams responded success at adversity, and coaches
that we can see like how that how that translates?
Have you noticed anything specifically where you're interested to see
how this team would deal with success when you guys
started stacking, you know, wins.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Well, first off, I don't know who CP is I apologize.
I know, Chris, I just didn't know CP.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, We're just I don't really. We've tried to keep
it the same and we've tried to coach the same.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
We've tried to show them the things that they've done
well and that we have to continue to do and enhance,
show them the things that we have to improve on,
and then eliminate the stuff that that's going to get
us beat coming out of that game. And show them
the corrections and the emphasis that we put on the
run game and the things that we when we did
it well, when we didn't do it well. You know,
coach ball security, coach our identity, practice our identity every
(05:33):
single day. I don't know how else to do it. No,
I just you know, I mean it's you kind of
just got to stay consistent and focus on these things and.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
You'll practice it every day.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Sorry.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
So you've been around Jim Schwartz the last year obviously in.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Tennessee to talk about identity.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
What would you how would you describe against his preferred
identity defense.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Well, they're fast, you know, I mean, they're they're disruptive,
you know, they they they put pressure on the quarterback
and they do it through through their their players and
their identity, you know, I mean, they're they're they understand
what they want to do and how they want to play,
(06:17):
and they want to force into mistakes. H if you
give up loose plays or guys get on the edge
of somebody or somebody you've got an elite edge rusher
on the outside, and if you know you can't step up,
it's going to be hard to to protect, you know,
and then the corners are going to be sticky, and
you know, the linebackers are all can run. Safeties are
(06:39):
very good tacklers. And that's the thing that I've noticed
is that you know, if a ball breaks, it's eight
yards is a really long run for this against this team,
because the safeties are such good tacklers.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
You know, Grant and Ronnie.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Listen to winning a home game versus the road game
over years football.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Can it be Can it be somewhat of a distraction
eating back home?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
No?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I don't think the numbers would tell you that.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I don't know. I mean, I think you play well,
and you take care of football, create some explosive plays,
get off the field on third down, score touchdowns in
the red zone. I would say that no matter where
you are, what time zone you're in, that those things
would always translate, and you know, maybe the defensive communication
(07:25):
would have to be improved or maybe eye contact their
hand signals as opposed to being able to hear you know.
I mean, if you're playing well enough and your fans
are into it, and there's it's loud, you know, I
mean communicating different things that are happening that don't happen
on the road, you could practically yell out to the
(07:45):
defense on the road as quiet.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
As it is because a lot of drink may be
so appy.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
I mean, I think that I think receivers are helping them.
I think that the ability to step up in a pocket.
But you know, I probably you know, special talents as well,
maybe staying calm and the things that they've worked on
and he's practiced as far as when he's on the move,
you know, to be able to still gilt, stay in
(08:15):
phase and not open up his body or let things
you know, get loose, which would lead lead doing erratic
or an errant throw.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Like we have a nasty vote trail a little while,
just what if anything in the way of an update
can you up?
Speaker 1 (08:28):
I would say that his spirits are good, he's feeling good,
he's been in, he's been meeting with coaches, been in meetings.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
So I appreciate you asking, I do you know?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
And there'll be a treatment plan here coming up that
he'll have to follow. But but right now, it's good
to see him. It's good to see him in and
his you know, spirits are good. You've played against some
of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Bar Marino, Elway
played with the greatest quarterback of all time.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
We just Drake may fit into that conversation right now.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
I mean I never played those guys when they were
that young, but I did play against those guys. I
mean I played against Dan Marino when his cleat was
like twelve inches high because of his achilles and it
was on the dirt infield. Yeah, you know, too early
in his career to understand. I think Drake's so excited
(09:26):
just to be leading this football team, and it's fun
to watch him want to prepare and get better and
improve every day. Got another question to I know you
were kidding, what I mean.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Have you ever seen a quarterback kick this hout for
such an extended period? I try not to focus on that.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I think we focus on what's going on this week
and what corrections need to be made. And the good
thing is is there's a lot of things that we
can improve.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
There's so much that we can improve.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
In all three phases right and still be able to
win a foototball game. But we have to to improve
on them and correct them, you know, or or we're
gonna The unfortunate part is you're gonna have to learn
from losing, and I don't want to do that.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Like, what are ongoing conversations and Drake about the slide
uh wwenty contacts?
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Why when he can as there?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
You know?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
What are the conversations Like, is in an ongoing process
with him? Mark?
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I know we talked to him about making great decisions
like the rest of the team, and that would be
a good decision for him to make. But again, like
all the other conversations we have with players, those will
remain with us. But that's part of making great decisions.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Thanks guys, Thanks
I guess, Karen, you a big head now or now.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Are you cuche? How are we doing.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Defense the best you will have faced?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
I mean I think just statistically in play style, you know,
they're playing at a high level. They're playing a lot
of confidence. It's a lot of speed, a lot of disruption.
They don't give you a whole lot of time to
make decisions.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And then there's enough you know, change ups in there
that you know you just have to be good.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
You have to be sound and you can't hold onto
the ball.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, coverage is sticky and the linebackers are fast.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Your run defense.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Doesn't matter what the finished the stats metrics is with
the list of the league, aside from the obvious talent,
what is allowed to that group to be So for
seven weeks, I think that we've improved our tackling. We've
improved continued to improve of our technique, you know, and
again it hasn't been perfect, but it's it's just about
coaching edge wall and swarming and and making sure that
(01:12):
you know we do those things and you know we've
done them. Sometimes we'll have to continue to do them.
That's the thing about this league is you don't stats
and metrics numbers don't mean anything.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
You have to go out there and and be able
to prove it.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
And I know that they'll have a good plan, uh
for for how they want to run it. And it's
a physical group of of linemen and their tight ends
are blocking well, you know, and Quen Shawn is rushing,
you know, running hard, physical, So they've done a nice job.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Howl your experience. How was the blocker handle? The level
of success and good? More than I mean, I think
we always just try to stay consistent.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
We've tried to say, keep that message going, try to
have a you know, a new plan, new preparation, and
new opponent each and every week, you know, try to
celebrate the success that we've had, but then clearly move
on and focus on the next challenge. And we'll have
to do that this week, and you know it's a
(02:15):
big one, you know, coming back home and just making
sure that you know, we won't take anything for granted
in our preparation. This is a different unit, a different
team than than Tennessee, and so that we have to
just get going, learn them, learn a play style, try
to match their speed the best that we can in
practice and be ready to go for it on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Why you kill her first time tour?
Speaker 1 (02:41):
I just you know, he was a very productive college player,
and you know he's improved his fourth down ability and
has experience there.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Killansons named the AFC Defender of the League.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Just what have you seen from him this season and
what does it mean for him to bring that honor.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I mean he's showed up in the offseason ready to
learn and work and earn a role, and he's done that.
And I would say that he's an important member of
the punt team, something that he's taken very seriously since
he got here and trying to do those things and
help us on a punt team and then taking advantage
(03:20):
of his opportunities.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Speak good special teams as a teammate and a colleague,
Bubba than Trump in the quality's a demonstrated as a
player and also as a coach that they make him
a future of the pick coach.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Great competitive spirit as a player, I mean, he was
a Tasmanian devil. Enjoyed a time with Bubba immensely and
then being able to be with him in Cleveland last year.
It was fun to just see his relationship and connections
(03:53):
with the players. The way that he coaches, his energy
is evaluation of players. So he's done a great job
in his role and I'm sure that if presented with
those opportunities he would he would do an amazing job
with any head coaching opportunities that would come his way.
Like like you mentioned this offseason one to play man coverage,
(04:14):
it feels like the past couple of weeks you guys
have kind of gotten away from that.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Has it go more of a product of.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
The game plan or your execution would actually play man?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Probably a little bit of both, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
So when we play man, we got to not let
our man catch the ball and we got to be
able to get to the quarterback and and force them
to you know, to get rid of it maybe before
those routes can separate or run away.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
A lot of CP's question. A lot of times coaches
say that how teams responded success at adversity, and coaches
that we can see like how that how that translates?
Have you noticed anything specifically where you're interested to see
how this team would deal with success when you guys
started stacking, you know, wins.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Well, first off, I don't know who CP is I apologize.
I know, Chris, I just didn't know CP.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, We're just I don't really. We've tried to keep
it the same and we've tried to coach the same.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
We've tried to show them the things that they've done
well and that we have to continue to do and enhance,
show them the things that we have to improve on,
and then eliminate the stuff that that's going to get
us beat coming out of that game. And show them
the corrections and the emphasis that we put on the
run game and the things that we when we did
it well, when we didn't do it well. You know,
coach ball security, coach our identity, practice our identity every
(05:33):
single day. I don't know how else to do it. No,
I just you know, I mean it's you kind of
just got to stay consistent and focus on these things and.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
You'll practice it every day.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Sorry.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
So you've been around Jim Schwartz the last year obviously in.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Tennessee to talk about identity.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
What would you how would you describe against his preferred
identity defense.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Well, they're fast, you know, I mean, they're they're disruptive,
you know, they they they put pressure on the quarterback
and they do it through through their their players and
their identity, you know, I mean, they're they're they understand
what they want to do and how they want to play,
(06:17):
and they want to force into mistakes. H if you
give up loose plays or guys get on the edge
of somebody or somebody you've got an elite edge rusher
on the outside, and if you know you can't step up,
it's going to be hard to to protect, you know,
and then the corners are going to be sticky, and
you know, the linebackers are all can run. Safeties are
(06:39):
very good tacklers. And that's the thing that I've noticed
is that you know, if a ball breaks, it's eight
yards is a really long run for this against this team,
because the safeties are such good tacklers.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
You know, Grant and Ronnie.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Listen to winning a home game versus the road game
over years football.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Can it be Can it be somewhat of a distraction
eating back home?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
No?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I don't think the numbers would tell you that.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I don't know. I mean, I think you play well,
and you take care of football, create some explosive plays,
get off the field on third down, score touchdowns in
the red zone. I would say that no matter where
you are, what time zone you're in, that those things
would always translate, and you know, maybe the defensive communication
(07:25):
would have to be improved or maybe eye contact their
hand signals as opposed to being able to hear you know.
I mean, if you're playing well enough and your fans
are into it, and there's it's loud, you know, I
mean communicating different things that are happening that don't happen
on the road, you could practically yell out to the
(07:45):
defense on the road as quiet.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
As it is because a lot of drink may be
so appy.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
I mean, I think that I think receivers are helping them.
I think that the ability to step up in a pocket.
But you know, I probably you know, special talents as well,
maybe staying calm and the things that they've worked on
and he's practiced as far as when he's on the move,
you know, to be able to still gilt, stay in
(08:15):
phase and not open up his body or let things
you know, get loose, which would lead lead doing erratic
or an errant throw.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Like we have a nasty vote trail a little while,
just what if anything in the way of an update
can you up?
Speaker 1 (08:28):
I would say that his spirits are good, he's feeling good,
he's been in, he's been meeting with coaches, been in meetings.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
So I appreciate you asking, I do you know?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
And there'll be a treatment plan here coming up that
he'll have to follow. But but right now, it's good
to see him. It's good to see him in and
his you know, spirits are good. You've played against some
of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Bar Marino, Elway
played with the greatest quarterback of all time.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
We just Drake may fit into that conversation right now.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
I mean I never played those guys when they were
that young, but I did play against those guys. I
mean I played against Dan Marino when his cleat was
like twelve inches high because of his achilles and it
was on the dirt infield. Yeah, you know, too early
in his career to understand. I think Drake's so excited
(09:26):
just to be leading this football team, and it's fun
to watch him want to prepare and get better and
improve every day. Got another question to I know you
were kidding, what I mean.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Have you ever seen a quarterback kick this hout for
such an extended period? I try not to focus on that.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I think we focus on what's going on this week
and what corrections need to be made. And the good
thing is is there's a lot of things that we
can improve.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
There's so much that we can improve.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
In all three phases right and still be able to
win a foototball game. But we have to to improve
on them and correct them, you know, or or we're
gonna The unfortunate part is you're gonna have to learn
from losing, and I don't want to do that.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Like, what are ongoing conversations and Drake about the slide
uh wwenty contacts?
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Why when he can as there?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
You know?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
What are the conversations Like, is in an ongoing process
with him? Mark?
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I know we talked to him about making great decisions
like the rest of the team, and that would be
a good decision for him to make. But again, like
all the other conversations we have with players, those will
remain with us. But that's part of making great decisions.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Thanks guys, Thanks
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.