PATRIOTS NEWS Terrell Williams is Vrabel's Defensive Coordinator

[Huckleberry1]

This is one of those, "In Vrabel we trust" hires. Hes been around a while. Never been a DC. In his stops in OAK and MIA before TN the run Ds were passable except for 2016 in MIA.

I'd be curious to hear what Godchaux has to say about him. He was his position coach back in 2017 w/ MIA.

I agree, it’s mostly trust that Vrabel is making a good decision, however Rob posted a fairly detailed coaching history for him yesterday and it looks like he’s a really good coach. Either way it’s hard to see him doing worse than they did under Mayo and Covington.

 

[Nunchucks]

How does this work when you're off thinners? I was under the impression that your blood returns to normal and his risk is removed.

It may or may not, he still might play.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Don't know the guy. Don't care. Just make our defence better please. Thanks.

I think it can only get better and I’m good with this hiring.

I just read they ran a four man front in Tennessee.

Not to harken back to the golden days but the all encompassing all devouring amoeba D/ front? I’m sure depending on the opponent things will change outside the base D.

 

[Ray Ray 717]

Finally, we hire a guy outside of the organization.

 

[Ray Ray 717]

Looks like a guy that wakes up at 3am and has the worst cup of black coffee. Good for football IMO.

Where as Mcdaniel's yells at the starbucks barista for not shaking his expresso enough.

 

[DarrylS]

Glad to see we have coaches on board early as I seem to remember last year the hirings were spread out..
Plenty of time to evaluate prospective talent, draft prospects and existing talent..
Also time to iron out any differences...

 

[RobertWeathers]

I agree, it’s mostly trust that Vrabel is making a good decision, however Rob posted a fairly detailed coaching history for him yesterday and it looks like he’s a really good coach. Either way it’s hard to see him doing worse than they did under Mayo and Covington.

Yep. Hes been around. It says something that solid coaches like Dan Campbell (who was in MIA w/ TW) and Vrabes hired him.

..and yea...Can't get worse.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Anyone know what scheme he’s going to bring to New England? I believe Detroit plays a base 4-3 but their most used defense is a 4-2-5 nickel. Can someone confirm?

One mistake Covington kept making was sticking to base defense too much. The last few years, when our defense was decent, we were operating in nickle with more defensive backs on the field. So I believe we'll be going back to seeing a lot more of that.

 

[Ollie]

Their last 11 games inc playoffs they allowed 22ppg at QB ratings were typically in the 100s (except Darnold).

Losing Hutch and several players on D absolutely caught up with them.

How much does one positional coach take responsibility for the overall defense performance? injuries withstanding.

 

[Ollie]

They weren't a juggernaut before the injuries either.

They played a lot of scrubs like the colts, bears, titans and jags.

They gave up a avg of 22 points for the year, 32 for the last 2 months if the season.

If you just look at their schedule, any reasonable offense they ran into they got destroyed on defense.

They gave up a avg of 12.2 points to the Cardinals, Titans, Jags, Colts, Cowboys and the Bears times 2.

So the injuries do matter as to why their PPG skyrocketed over the last two months. But also their pre injury defense was really low because they did their job against the scum of the league.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't think the Lions defense was anything special. Injury or not.

If he were the DC there i might be more concerned

 

[RxJock1120]

Barmore is done. The treatment for blood clots is blood thinners, which are dangerous for athletes, especially in a contact sport, because you can bleed to death. A deep bruise turns into life-threatening internal bleeding. That's what Barmore is weighing: retire now with my millions of dollars and enjoy life on the beach and whatever other pleasures I can pursue, or continue to play and risk death. I know which one I'd choose. It's not worth it.

Plenty of players have come back from blood clots, David Andrews included.

The issue is the severity and if doctors are able to get it under control and keep under control without meds.

If they can't wean him off the blood thinners I agree that he is and should be done with football.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Barmore is done

David Andrews would like a word.

If Barmore had a second clot, then likely he is indeed done, as he would need to stay on anticoagulants

 

[RobertWeathers]

How much does one positional coach take responsibility for the overall defense performance? injuries withstanding.

Some. I also look at the players he developed as rookies and FAs that played well.

With starters, DET was the #3 run D in YPC in 2023. While Glenn deserves some credit, so does TW.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Barmore is done. The treatment for blood clots is blood thinners, which are dangerous for athletes, especially in a contact sport, because you can bleed to death. A deep bruise turns into life-threatening internal bleeding. That's what Barmore is weighing: retire now with my millions of dollars and enjoy life on the beach and whatever other pleasures I can pursue, or continue to play and risk death. I know which one I'd choose. It's not worth it.

Bruschi returned from a stroke, so Barmore could return from blood clots. But he should only do what’s best for his health, and if he’s being advised to hang them up he should do so. This may well force the Patriots to draft Mason Graham come April.

 

[PatsfanTN]

Bottom line is, every single one of these hires is an upgrade over this years staff. I’ll fight anyone who disagrees

 

[jdlboot14]

Well, the only concern is it's another DL coach without coordinator (play calling) experience.
That's exactly the experiment we just tried with Covington - and it was horrible.
I hope Vrabel has that figured out.
Curious - it's odd seeing him have the DL coach/run game coord. - as in, offensive run game?

 

[PatsFan2]

Well, the only concern is it's another DL coach without coordinator (play calling) experience.
That's exactly the experiment we just tried with Covington - and it was horrible.
I hope Vrabel has that figured out.
Curious - it's odd seeing him have the DL coach/run game coord. - as in, offensive run game?

Vrabel is more hands on like BB and not like you know who pass the Mayo.

 

[Dedhampatsfan]

Bruschi returned from a stroke, so Barmore could return from blood clots. But he should only do what’s best for his health, and if he’s being advised to hang them up he should do so. This may well force the Patriots to draft Mason Graham come April.

I tend to think Barmore's career is over, though we'll have to wait and see. If so, Mason Graham is the guy to fill his role.

 

[manxman2601]

I found this interesting because it's focused on Shane Bowen's defense but particularly on Terrell Williams' D-line. No guarantee he'll play this way here but an insight nonetheless.

 

[hornetfb85]

Well, the only concern is it's another DL coach without coordinator (play calling) experience.
That's exactly the experiment we just tried with Covington - and it was horrible.
I hope Vrabel has that figured out.
Curious - it's odd seeing him have the DL coach/run game coord. - as in, offensive run game?

I see the discussion because of their position they coached, but looking at Williams experience compared to DC…