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Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel joins live! The Greg Hill Show
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00:00How big of a factor was the weather yesterday?
00:04I mean, I think it was probably a little bit.
00:06I mean, it was slick.
00:08It was the wintry mix.
00:09It wasn't just snow.
00:10I mean, it was, you know, but everybody played in the same conditions.
00:16I thought it was a little bit of a factor.
00:19I mean, I don't know if it mattered, I guess, in the outcome of the game.
00:23But, you know, I mean, it was noticeable.
00:28Is it a disadvantage when you're a quarterback like C.J. Stroud
00:31who plays inside a good part of the team?
00:33Again, having never played quarterback, I couldn't tell you.
00:36I'm sure there's a lot of guys that have played in elements and had good games.
00:42I'm sure it's different.
00:43It's probably hard to recreate that weather in Houston
00:47or whether you're in a dome or not.
00:51Mike, when you look at this defense, especially, you know,
00:53what you guys were able to do again yesterday,
00:57talk a little bit about what, you know, obviously these players,
01:01coaching staff defensively, the approach that you take in every week.
01:05What are you seeing?
01:06What are you loving from what they're doing?
01:08Well, they play hard.
01:09I think that that's the thing.
01:10They play full tilt to the tackle.
01:11I think that they prepare.
01:15They try to have, you know, an understanding of what the plan is
01:19and what we need to take away or what we're trying to do each and every week.
01:22I feel like they're building confidence each and every week.
01:26I think, you know, they knew that the red zone wasn't where it should be
01:32throughout the year.
01:33Guys, you know, teams didn't get down there a bunch,
01:36but when they did, they were scoring touchdowns.
01:38And, you know, we've gone on a pretty good red zone streak here defensively
01:42the last probably three games.
01:45Back to the weather, because it seemed like what you said after the game
01:47was you were going to celebrate it, but the guys weren't satisfied.
01:49So they weren't blaming any of the mistakes on the weather.
01:52What did you mean by not satisfied?
01:54And is it just they believe that they could play better than what they put
01:56out yesterday despite the win?
01:58Well, I mean, I think we are trying to, you know, enjoy these things,
02:03but also not get caught up in thinking that this is the end of the journey.
02:08You know, we have another huge opportunity in front of us,
02:11an exciting one that our fans and everybody, a part of our ownership
02:16and team and everybody should be excited about.
02:20Can you believe you're here?
02:22Like that, given where you were, where you started,
02:24your introductory press conference last January, February,
02:27all the games and all the practices in between,
02:30that you are one win away from the Super Bowl.
02:32You know, I joke about this, but I probably, it's serious.
02:36This is, with no expectations, you can't be disappointed.
02:39So I just try to come to work each day and figure out, you know,
02:45what it is that we have to do.
02:46And if we're getting ready for games,
02:47then I'm going to try to get everybody prepared and try to have a, you know,
02:51a plan.
02:52And then if we're not,
02:53then we'll figure out what part of the off season that we're in.
02:56So I just haven't gotten caught up into it too much.
02:59I just want to try to, you know, be great for everybody here.
03:04Mike, when you start to look at where you are offensively
03:08and maybe a little bit of the struggles that you're having,
03:11but you're making the big plays when you need to make them most,
03:14what are some of the things,
03:15especially from maybe an online quarterback standpoint,
03:18ball security, be able to create points off the turnovers?
03:22What do you think you guys got to do a little bit better this week?
03:25Take care of the ball.
03:27Not let the quarterback get hit.
03:29You have been very good about not letting the outside noise affect you guys.
03:34But after in the locker room,
03:36a lot of guys said they saw what ESPN that that entire panel picked the
03:39Texans.
03:39I knew they wouldn't listen to me.
03:41And then the Texans defense was such a big point of conversation going into
03:47this one.
03:48Do you feel like your guys take that as a chip on their shoulder?
03:51Whatever they take to go and play well, I'm all for.
03:54Yeah.
03:54Whatever it is.
03:55I mean, I don't, I mean,
03:57we have to try to outplay the other team's defense each week.
03:59And, you know, if we get the ball down,
04:03and if there's a turnover,
04:04we have to go out there and sudden change and, you know,
04:07all those things.
04:07And so whatever motivates them,
04:11I figure that they're going to be motivated by something.
04:13I hope it's just to make the plays necessary to win.
04:17The thing I appreciate is that we're working together and fighting together
04:21to create turnovers.
04:22There's a lot of group efforts going into those turnovers,
04:26whether it's, you know,
04:28a pass rush or somebody tips a ball or, you know,
04:31the call and the disguise or whatever that may be.
04:34I think that that's been the thing that's, you know,
04:37I've enjoyed watching.
04:39Maybe a little bit different this week in your approach because you're
04:42favored in this game.
04:45I don't know if that'll be a different approach.
04:47We'll just try to come up with a message and come up with some keys and a
04:51game plan that we feel like gives us the best chance to go out there.
04:54And I don't think anything's going to change whether we're favored or not
04:59favored, or, you know, we just got to go back on the road.
05:02How much does it change your approach given Stidham in there for Bo Nix,
05:05who's done for the year?
05:06Do you rely on any of the coaches here that had coached him when he was here?
05:10You know, he hasn't thrown a pass since 2023.
05:12So we'll have to kind of figure out.
05:14I'm sure that, you know, again, we, I like Jared.
05:17I know that, you know,
05:18we did a lot of work on him in the off season here, free agency.
05:21And, you know, Josh has coached him.
05:26He's probably, you know, ready to go,
05:29obviously preparing as a starter each and every week.
05:31And really early in the preparation,
05:35not sure how much things will change based on the quarterback in there or what
05:40they're asking him to do.
05:41And, you know, we'll just have to, you know,
05:43get started here today.
05:44And, you know,
05:45they got an extra day on us to get going with this preparation.
05:48How do you handle that balance?
05:50Because it is such an interesting dynamic that nowadays guys,
05:54with social media and being able to see what people are saying about,
05:59you know,
05:59them or the team and the respect and, you know,
06:02who they're picking.
06:03And how do you handle that balance of like, all right,
06:05guys,
06:06we need to focus on what's going on in these walls and not let the
06:09outside distractions bother us,
06:12but knowing it's a social media world and it's like at their fingertips.
06:17Well,
06:17I think there's things that are interesting and there's things that are
06:19important.
06:20And we try to focus on the things that are important and not the things
06:23that are interesting.
06:24There's a lot of things that are like, okay, you know what I mean?
06:26This is,
06:26this is cool,
06:28but we have to focus on what's important.
06:30And that's, you know,
06:31how we prepare each and every week and,
06:34you know,
06:34our identity and the belief that our guys have in each other.
06:37Those are the things that are important.
06:39Any thought to going out a day early?
06:40I don't know what you've done in the past when going to Denver to get ready
06:42for the altitude.
06:43How do you guys prep for that?
06:46Physiologically,
06:47it takes about a week and a half.
06:48So they weren't going to let us go last Thursday to get ready for it.
06:53You know,
06:54a day doesn't,
06:55isn't going to do anything,
06:57you know what I mean?
06:57Other than mentally,
06:58I think the better you play,
07:00the less effect it'll have.
07:02I mean,
07:03but physiologically,
07:04unless you're out there a week and a half early,
07:07that,
07:08you know,
07:09so I've been out there before and,
07:12you know,
07:12we'll have to play well and,
07:14you know,
07:16be ready to go.
07:17And that's just what it is.
07:19I love when they cut to you on the sideline after a touchdown,
07:21but you keep a pretty good poker face,
07:23the Kayshaun Booty touchdown catch.
07:25How unbelievable was that for you as a coach to watch?
07:30Because you kept it pretty professional,
07:32but internally you must have been freaking out like everybody else.
07:35Sure.
07:35And I think that just Kayshaun's growth as a,
07:40as a person and as a teammate really just seen them open up since,
07:44since I've been here.
07:45And,
07:45you know,
07:46he's really trusted Todd and Todd Downing and his,
07:51you know,
07:51the rest of the receivers.
07:53And that's a,
07:54it's a really good group just from the standpoint that everybody helps,
07:57everybody contributes.
07:58You saw it again last night.
08:00And so anytime the Kayshaun,
08:02I do feel,
08:03I like his competitiveness and that showed up last week,
08:07showed up last night and I'm,
08:09I'm happy for him.
08:11You are,
08:11you make it a point and,
08:13you know,
08:13I caught a glimpse of it on social media in the tunnel after the game
08:18celebrating.
08:19I forget who it was.
08:20You were celebrating with,
08:21do you ever get an opportunity or a chance to just sit there and kind of
08:25reflect on the genuineness that your players believe and have in you?
08:33Cause it's so difficult to find,
08:35especially in the world of sports and in football.
08:38But like,
08:39I believe just watching it,
08:41I'm not part of it,
08:42but I feel like they really believe that genuineness that you give them.
08:46I mean,
08:46I try to be as authentic as I possibly can every single day.
08:51It's not all smiles.
08:52I mean,
08:52it's not.
08:53And so,
08:54but I try to get around the building.
08:57I try to have some sort of relationship with,
09:00with each and every guy.
09:02I appreciate,
09:03you know,
09:04what they do and how they play and their,
09:06their style and their demeanor and all that other stuff.
09:09And yeah,
09:11I don't know if I reflect back on it.
09:13I appreciate it.
09:14I try to do it every single day.
09:17Not just,
09:18you know,
09:18that little snippet after the game.
09:21How do you feel like Drake's handled the playoffs so far,
09:24the pressure of the playoffs and in the locker room and out on the field?
09:27Yeah.
09:27I don't think the pressure of that,
09:30I think that there's been some,
09:32you know,
09:33plays that again,
09:35the ball security and the things like that,
09:37but you know,
09:38this is the ball securities.
09:40You know,
09:41we have to all take ownership.
09:43We've been through this earlier in the year.
09:45So,
09:46you know,
09:46we have to take care of the ball and then we have to take care of the guy
09:50with the ball.
09:50We have to protect the guy with the ball.
09:52So there's a little bit of twofold there and then I'll have to improve.
09:55But I don't think the pressure,
09:58you know,
09:58he's made some big time throws.
09:59He made a big time throw on fourth and one and blitz zero and he made some
10:03other really good throws.
10:05And then there was other times where the receivers,
10:07you know,
10:08helped him out.
10:08And whether that's Kayshawn or,
10:10you know,
10:11Stefan and third down.
10:13But I think it's been the pressure.
10:16I don't think has been an issue protecting him.
10:19Do you feel like Will Campbell's been at a hundred percent?
10:21A hundred percent.
10:23How do you mean a hundred percent health wise feeling good coming back?
10:27Yeah.
10:27I don't think there's anything that's limiting him.
10:30Okay.
10:31Yes.
10:31To just,
10:31you know,
10:32we'll want,
10:33he has high expectations for himself and we have high expectations for him
10:38too.
10:39And each opportunity out there is a learning experience.
10:42And,
10:42you know,
10:43he signed up to play a tough position,
10:45right?
10:46Just like Gonzo.
10:47Okay.
10:47Go ahead.
10:48No,
10:48go ahead.
10:48Yeah.
10:48Just like Gonzo and CD,
10:50you know,
10:50there's just places where,
10:51you know,
10:52you have to be great.
10:54And that's the investment that we make in those players.
10:56And those are the guys that we want out there.
10:59And you just have to come back,
11:01bounce back.
11:02It's like giving up a pass or a touchdown for a corner.
11:05Like you got to line back up and you got to keep playing and CD challenges
11:09and competes.
11:10And sometimes they call them and sometimes we intercept them.
11:13And sometimes we bat them down.
11:14We had 14 PBUs.
11:16So we,
11:17you have to play aggressive out there.
11:19Cause if not,
11:19it's just going to be a lot of pitch and catch.
11:21It's not,
11:22saw Ty law on the field pregame talking to Gonzo.
11:25Just be careful there.
11:26He's always advocating,
11:27telling these guys they deserve more money.
11:29So just be careful.
11:30All right.
11:30Ty's,
11:31Ty's got a lot of stories.
11:32Yes,
11:33he does.
11:33He tells a lot of stories.
11:35Some are accurate and some aren't.
11:37Well,
11:37that was,
11:37I was going to ask,
11:39I mean,
11:39did you have a flask in the locker room?
11:42I've never had a flask.
11:43You didn't have a flask in the locker room?
11:44These stories sound good nowadays.
11:47Ty sells a liquor for a living.
11:50So he's trying to push,
11:51push his product.
11:53Okay.
11:53So you're not,
11:54don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.
11:57Okay.
11:58It's all right.
11:58The story is always better than the facts.
12:00Anyways,
12:00but you talk about Will Campbell and he signed up to play a hot position.
12:04It doesn't get any easier this week with Benito and Cooper.
12:08That's the league.
12:09That's the NFL.
12:10So what are some of the,
12:12you know,
12:12I know it's,
12:13you can't,
12:13you can't really give us all the insight that you give them,
12:16but you know,
12:17you played that position.
12:19You can help better than anybody.
12:21What are some of the things that maybe you're telling them,
12:23Hey,
12:23here's what you might want to think about going into these games,
12:26especially when you got these unbelievable.
12:28I mean,
12:29every play is different.
12:30Every,
12:30you know,
12:31scheme is,
12:32you know,
12:32play call dictates,
12:34you know,
12:34what the depth of the quarterback is or where the launch spot or where the
12:38slide protection is or any of those things.
12:41So again,
12:42it's about us staying balanced.
12:45You don't want to turn games into a drop back game in this league.
12:48You don't want to do that.
12:50You know,
12:50when you get behind and you're forced to throw and get into a drop back game,
12:53that that's not where we want to live.
12:55We want to continue to stay balanced and,
12:57you know,
12:58make sure that we're all doing our part to protect the guy with the ball.
13:01And usually that's the quarterback.
13:04And we've talked about this.
13:05When the quarterback gets hit,
13:07bad things happen for the offense and good things happen for the defense.
13:10Mike,
13:11you deflect almost all praise and give it to the players.
13:14I'm curious,
13:15what has this team taught you,
13:17if anything,
13:17as a head coach?
13:18What is,
13:18what has this season brought you that you've witnessed with these guys that are
13:22on this team?
13:22Yeah.
13:23You know,
13:24so just going back and,
13:25you know,
13:26trying to reflect on,
13:27you know,
13:28coming here with Robert and,
13:30and Jonathan,
13:31uh,
13:32giving us the support to,
13:33to build this thing and giving us the support to work with,
13:37with Elliot and Ryan and stretch myself.
13:39And,
13:40and I'm thankful for that.
13:42And,
13:42um,
13:43I think that those guys let me do my job.
13:46They've allowed us to,
13:47the resources to go and build something in the off season.
13:50And when you talk about that,
13:51it was about bringing these guys together.
13:53And I think just appreciating everybody's journey,
13:57whether it's a high draft pick,
13:59whether it's an undrafted player,
14:01whether it's a player that had been on a few teams before this and is getting
14:05a new opportunity,
14:06or is one of those free agents that we talked about is,
14:10is taking a lot of pride in,
14:12and just building the team and then protecting the team.
14:15And,
14:15um,
14:16I think that's probably the thing,
14:18uh,
14:19that I,
14:19I love,
14:20just to do is see the guys come together and the relationships,
14:24and then they go out and they play together.
14:26And I think that's reflective of kind of the feelings that I get watching them
14:31interact with each other,
14:32um,
14:33throughout the week.
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