July 30, 2025 • 10 mins
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addresses the media on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, hey Karen, real quick before we get started. Just
the cadence of this thing. Not having talked to you
guys yesterday, I want to just send our thoughts and
prayers to the league, to the league office.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Been in that building.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I've got a lot of friends in that building, and
so I just want to make sure that on behalf
of our football team, our players, our staff, everybody here
that they know that we're thinking about them.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
What do you got? My six? Practice is a curious
what have you seen that's pleased you the most? And conversely,
what have you seen that's kind of caused a little consternation.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Listen, It's like when Carter my Son texts me every
day back in Nashville, how I was practice? And I
say every day some good, some bad, and you just
have to keep with the process. You have to keep
getting guys that you feel like. I feel like some
guys are improving. I do. That would be the positive thing.
(01:02):
But you have to put all this thing together. A
receiver wins and the quarterback doesn't have time, or you know,
the defense maybe gives up a few plays but then
kind of comes back and responds. I think those are
the things that we're looking for is making sure that
and I think, to our players credit and our coaches credit,
(01:23):
you've seen them fix.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Mistakes with the way that practice is structured.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
You know, there's time that if something happens that maybe
they need to make an adjustment with something that the
defense did that's probably going to come back and repeat
itself in practice that they've been able to do that
and they go over to the side say hey, let's
run it this way, or the defense makes an adjustment
in a coverage, or you know, maybe how they're going
to set the front. So those are things that are happening.
(01:48):
I appreciate that we're trying to practice the way that
we're going to try to play and that we need
to continue to improve and focus on these fundamentals, and
I think that's what's going to get us through.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Here on a long, long road of the season. Christian
Gonzales went down the other day and he updates on
him and where he is. No updates.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I mean, I wouldn't expect him here this week, and
you know, just like everybody else, I know he's working
extremely hard to get back and you know, focus on
what he can do as opposed to what he can't, but.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
You know, I wouldn't expect to see him this week.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
You described Mike at day off for Carlton Davis's maintenance.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Is that still the case with him? Would you still
call that there's a plan.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
I mean, I think it's just making sure that he's
ready to go. It's a long season veteran player. You know,
there'll be guys and have different plans. Like I said,
where whether that be Morgan or maybe Harold today, really
just trying to put this thing all together and make
sure that everybody that needs to get to work for
(02:50):
an evaluation purposes for a lot of different reasons.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Sometimes it is.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Health related, but but also I feel like, you know,
Harold won't be out there, or Morgan may come out
for individual or some players may come out for team.
Try to just give everybody what they need for the season.
Return from Andrew well again a player that worked extremely
hard to get back.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
And to be ready to go.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
And I feel like just my first year with Jim
and his staff and Frank and our return to play,
and you know the way that we can you know,
do their rehab and then transfer over to to Frank
and his staff and he knows how we practice and
working on those skills and the drills that the the
coaches are going to have them do.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
So he worked extremely hard with those guys, to his credit.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
And then you know, I would say that there's there's
been some positive things that he's done, you know, since
he's been back, so.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Focus on getting back as quickly as possible.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I didn't see the mental airs which sometimes occur when
you are getting the installation but not able to go
and rep it, you know. So we'll see how today
goes with with Jalen and the rest of the guys.
Sorry Wallace left guard and what was it about his
skill set that led you guys move him from top
of a big, strong, powerful kid and just looking to
(04:14):
put everybody in an opportunity for them to excel and
uh a place to compete, which he's done. I would
say that it's been headed in the right direction these
last couple of days since we put pads on. I
think he's gotten more comfortable. I think he's you know,
they all have everybody he's going to make a mistake,
(04:35):
it's but I think that there's been a lot of
really positive plays and then you know, continue to move forward.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
It's a player, either player players high. So, now as
a coach, do you see this, this is the right opportunity,
were the players with such ability to establish themselves on
both sides of the role or you rather wait and
let it play out to the season.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
I think we need to focus on the defensive players
playing defense and the offensive players playing offense. And then
if that kind of happens organically and we we we
need somebody or somebody stands out.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
You got any candidates, Okay, Marcus?
Speaker 1 (05:21):
We need Marcus to be an elite punt returner and
his ability to help the offense and be able to
gain extra first downs, and so if he can do that,
which he has.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I think we'll start there.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
You know, Marcus is I really you know, he practices
very hard, very instinctive, plays outside, plays inside.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's really getting a nice feel for for that position.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Asking him the blitz and the coverage and just all
the different looks. So excited where he's at, and uh,
he could certainly be a candidate, uh to to play
play offense just because his skill set and in the
way that he moves. Go ahead, how would you describe
your conversations with.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
What you enjoyed? Oh, Joe's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I mean, I just appreciate him, you.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Know, just from the time that I got here reaching out.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
You know, he we're probably different personalities, and I think
that that's probably the thing I appreciate most about him.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
He's always trying to learn.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
And and gain knowledge, uh different ways about building a team,
about strategy, about scheme, about inspiring players to do their
job better. So I always love my conversations with him,
and I'm excited that he could come out here with
his Sun today. Sons of football player at Xaverian outside linebacker.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Named the off season Award win Yes, Pop and Tonga. Specifically,
what went into the criteria.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I would say daily improvement one. And there were a
lot of really good candidates and unfortunately guys have to
miss for well whatever reason, and they, you know, say, hey,
I'm not gonna be able, I'm not going to be here,
which is fine, it's voluntary. But I would say that
that being here for the program is a stipulation daily improvement,
(07:25):
how hard, the intensity in which they work, the leadership
in which they showed, and and again the improvement that
that's the most important thing is where they come in
in April and then where they leave in June is
probably a really good indicator as well. Spoke yesterday about
(07:48):
Josh mccalis wants the quarterback room to stress the defense
of their athleticism to their legs.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
I saw a couple quarterback run plays, or at least
option to run. What is? What is? Are you reporting
on plays from prout? Just well, you know you said
you saw, but he was talking about I know it was,
I know it was. Yeh.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Does Drake have to prove to you that he can
handle some of that stuff just in terms of like
being smart about his body and putting himself at risk.
I mean, we're not We don't need to run over
every player on defense, and nor should we try. You know,
it's critical that that those plays are available to us, uh,
and we do a good job of picking and choosing
(08:33):
the appropriate time and then when when they do have
the football in their hands, that they have to be
able to secure it and be able to.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Protect themselves.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
And use the rules to their advantage, you know, being
able to give themselves up. Uh. It is something that's
critical and I and I get that that a lot
of these young players, they feel like they're fearless and
that's that's great, but you know, we just have to
make sure that we're making great decisions. I would say
(09:09):
that the group of players that I talked about when
Karen asked me what I was, I don't know happy with.
I'm not sure if I'm ever happy Karen. But DJ
is one of those players that's improved from the end
of the spring until now, and he's taken advantage of
some players that aren't there.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
So then he moves.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Up a group or whatever that may be, and therefore
he's taken advantage of his opportunities, and you know he'll
continue to earn more opportunities. But you know, DJ's is
an improved player through the short time that we've been here.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
We see what we see, you know, in the middle.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
But like that, like maybe Vince will Fork, how much
did they help everybody else around them because of what
they do?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Well?
Speaker 1 (09:54):
They're different players, there are different skill sets, different size,
and so you know, Milt's gonna be able to do
things that maybe other interior players don't do and use
his speed and his quickness and.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
You know, hopefully continue to disrupt and then allow the
linebackers to play off of them, and and and and
play a certain style.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I always it's important that the linebackers know who's in
front of them and that they get to know how
they play certain blocks, and then have to know that
a player changes and you know, they may play a
little blocks a little differently. It's not it's never going
to be just one size fits all. Can you just
describe what the expectation or plan is for him practicing.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
The rest of the week. I would anticipate him being
out there today. After that, I'll keep you updated. That's it.
Thank you guys, appreciate it.
Okay, hey Karen, real quick before we get started. Just
the cadence of this thing. Not having talked to you
guys yesterday, I want to just send our thoughts and
prayers to the league, to the league office.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Been in that building.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I've got a lot of friends in that building, and
so I just want to make sure that on behalf
of our football team, our players, our staff, everybody here
that they know that we're thinking about them.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
What do you got? My six? Practice is a curious
what have you seen that's pleased you the most? And conversely,
what have you seen that's kind of caused a little consternation.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Listen, It's like when Carter my Son texts me every
day back in Nashville, how I was practice? And I
say every day some good, some bad, and you just
have to keep with the process. You have to keep
getting guys that you feel like. I feel like some
guys are improving. I do. That would be the positive thing.
(01:02):
But you have to put all this thing together. A
receiver wins and the quarterback doesn't have time, or you know,
the defense maybe gives up a few plays but then
kind of comes back and responds. I think those are
the things that we're looking for is making sure that
and I think, to our players credit and our coaches credit,
(01:23):
you've seen them fix.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Mistakes with the way that practice is structured.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
You know, there's time that if something happens that maybe
they need to make an adjustment with something that the
defense did that's probably going to come back and repeat
itself in practice that they've been able to do that
and they go over to the side say hey, let's
run it this way, or the defense makes an adjustment
in a coverage, or you know, maybe how they're going
to set the front. So those are things that are happening.
(01:48):
I appreciate that we're trying to practice the way that
we're going to try to play and that we need
to continue to improve and focus on these fundamentals, and
I think that's what's going to get us through.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Here on a long, long road of the season. Christian
Gonzales went down the other day and he updates on
him and where he is. No updates.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I mean, I wouldn't expect him here this week, and
you know, just like everybody else, I know he's working
extremely hard to get back and you know, focus on
what he can do as opposed to what he can't, but.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
You know, I wouldn't expect to see him this week.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
You described Mike at day off for Carlton Davis's maintenance.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Is that still the case with him? Would you still
call that there's a plan.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
I mean, I think it's just making sure that he's
ready to go. It's a long season veteran player. You know,
there'll be guys and have different plans. Like I said,
where whether that be Morgan or maybe Harold today, really
just trying to put this thing all together and make
sure that everybody that needs to get to work for
(02:50):
an evaluation purposes for a lot of different reasons.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Sometimes it is.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Health related, but but also I feel like, you know,
Harold won't be out there, or Morgan may come out
for individual or some players may come out for team.
Try to just give everybody what they need for the season.
Return from Andrew well again a player that worked extremely
hard to get back.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
And to be ready to go.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
And I feel like just my first year with Jim
and his staff and Frank and our return to play,
and you know the way that we can you know,
do their rehab and then transfer over to to Frank
and his staff and he knows how we practice and
working on those skills and the drills that the the
coaches are going to have them do.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
So he worked extremely hard with those guys, to his credit.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
And then you know, I would say that there's there's
been some positive things that he's done, you know, since
he's been back, so.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Focus on getting back as quickly as possible.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I didn't see the mental airs which sometimes occur when
you are getting the installation but not able to go
and rep it, you know. So we'll see how today
goes with with Jalen and the rest of the guys.
Sorry Wallace left guard and what was it about his
skill set that led you guys move him from top
of a big, strong, powerful kid and just looking to
(04:14):
put everybody in an opportunity for them to excel and
uh a place to compete, which he's done. I would
say that it's been headed in the right direction these
last couple of days since we put pads on. I
think he's gotten more comfortable. I think he's you know,
they all have everybody he's going to make a mistake,
(04:35):
it's but I think that there's been a lot of
really positive plays and then you know, continue to move forward.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
It's a player, either player players high. So, now as
a coach, do you see this, this is the right opportunity,
were the players with such ability to establish themselves on
both sides of the role or you rather wait and
let it play out to the season.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
I think we need to focus on the defensive players
playing defense and the offensive players playing offense. And then
if that kind of happens organically and we we we
need somebody or somebody stands out.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
You got any candidates, Okay, Marcus?
Speaker 1 (05:21):
We need Marcus to be an elite punt returner and
his ability to help the offense and be able to
gain extra first downs, and so if he can do that,
which he has.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I think we'll start there.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
You know, Marcus is I really you know, he practices
very hard, very instinctive, plays outside, plays inside.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's really getting a nice feel for for that position.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Asking him the blitz and the coverage and just all
the different looks. So excited where he's at, and uh,
he could certainly be a candidate, uh to to play
play offense just because his skill set and in the
way that he moves. Go ahead, how would you describe
your conversations with.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
What you enjoyed? Oh, Joe's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I mean, I just appreciate him, you.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Know, just from the time that I got here reaching out.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
You know, he we're probably different personalities, and I think
that that's probably the thing I appreciate most about him.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
He's always trying to learn.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
And and gain knowledge, uh different ways about building a team,
about strategy, about scheme, about inspiring players to do their
job better. So I always love my conversations with him,
and I'm excited that he could come out here with
his Sun today. Sons of football player at Xaverian outside linebacker.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Named the off season Award win Yes, Pop and Tonga. Specifically,
what went into the criteria.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I would say daily improvement one. And there were a
lot of really good candidates and unfortunately guys have to
miss for well whatever reason, and they, you know, say, hey,
I'm not gonna be able, I'm not going to be here,
which is fine, it's voluntary. But I would say that
that being here for the program is a stipulation daily improvement,
(07:25):
how hard, the intensity in which they work, the leadership
in which they showed, and and again the improvement that
that's the most important thing is where they come in
in April and then where they leave in June is
probably a really good indicator as well. Spoke yesterday about
(07:48):
Josh mccalis wants the quarterback room to stress the defense
of their athleticism to their legs.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
I saw a couple quarterback run plays, or at least
option to run. What is? What is? Are you reporting
on plays from prout? Just well, you know you said
you saw, but he was talking about I know it was,
I know it was. Yeh.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Does Drake have to prove to you that he can
handle some of that stuff just in terms of like
being smart about his body and putting himself at risk.
I mean, we're not We don't need to run over
every player on defense, and nor should we try. You know,
it's critical that that those plays are available to us, uh,
and we do a good job of picking and choosing
(08:33):
the appropriate time and then when when they do have
the football in their hands, that they have to be
able to secure it and be able to.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Protect themselves.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
And use the rules to their advantage, you know, being
able to give themselves up. Uh. It is something that's
critical and I and I get that that a lot
of these young players, they feel like they're fearless and
that's that's great, but you know, we just have to
make sure that we're making great decisions. I would say
(09:09):
that the group of players that I talked about when
Karen asked me what I was, I don't know happy with.
I'm not sure if I'm ever happy Karen. But DJ
is one of those players that's improved from the end
of the spring until now, and he's taken advantage of
some players that aren't there.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
So then he moves.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Up a group or whatever that may be, and therefore
he's taken advantage of his opportunities, and you know he'll
continue to earn more opportunities. But you know, DJ's is
an improved player through the short time that we've been here.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
We see what we see, you know, in the middle.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
But like that, like maybe Vince will Fork, how much
did they help everybody else around them because of what
they do?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Well?
Speaker 1 (09:54):
They're different players, there are different skill sets, different size,
and so you know, Milt's gonna be able to do
things that maybe other interior players don't do and use
his speed and his quickness and.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
You know, hopefully continue to disrupt and then allow the
linebackers to play off of them, and and and and
play a certain style.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I always it's important that the linebackers know who's in
front of them and that they get to know how
they play certain blocks, and then have to know that
a player changes and you know, they may play a
little blocks a little differently. It's not it's never going
to be just one size fits all. Can you just
describe what the expectation or plan is for him practicing.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
The rest of the week. I would anticipate him being
out there today. After that, I'll keep you updated. That's it.
Thank you guys, appreciate it.
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