Vrabel's Staff Discussion Thread (Discuss related news here)

[Patsgofor4]

Seems like kind of an odd choice….former college WR, and only 29-years-old, but Vrabel was obviously impressed by him during his year in Cleveland. JMD is probably going to be the de facto QB coach anyway.

 

[ralmat55]

McDaniels picked Vrabel up from the Airport?
He was Vrabs guy all along.

Saw a comment on YouTube that this comment refers back to Josh McDaniels as a Coaching Assistant picking up Vrabel when he came in as a visiting free agent back in 2001. It’s funny how we’re all so quick to think conspiracy these days.

 

[ralmat55]

Seems like kind of an odd choice….former college WR, and only 29-years-old, but Vrabel was obviously impressed by him during his year in Cleveland. JMD is probably going to be the de facto QB coach anyway.

Josh McDaniels was only 28 years old when he was named QB coach in 2004.

Grant is from Connecticut and played WR at Assumption College in Worcester. It’s an intriguing hire.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Seems like kind of an odd choice….former college WR, and only 29-years-old, but Vrabel was obviously impressed by him during his year in Cleveland. JMD is probably going to be the de facto QB coach anyway.

As you said Vrabel worked with him last year
Not bringing him in as a assistant but the QB coach suggests that Mike seen something special in this kid

 

[Ross12]

Seems like kind of an odd choice….former college WR, and only 29-years-old, but Vrabel was obviously impressed by him during his year in Cleveland. JMD is probably going to be the de facto QB coach anyway.

I am surprised they have a QB Coach at all - Josh has been the combo OC/QBC for almost every year he was with NE.

As you said I’m guessing Josh will probably still have a huge hand in QB development but they wanted this other guy too. Very young and limited experience but seems focused on QBs. First became Assistant QB Coach in 2023 when Browns had their crazy run of winning with many different QBs. So, color me interested at least.

 

[mgteich]

I am surprised they have a QB Coach at all - Josh has been the combo OC/QBC for almost every year he was with NE.

As you said I’m guessing Josh will probably still have a huge hand in QB development but they wanted this other guy too. Very young and limited experience but seems focused on QBs. First became Assistant QB Coach in 2023 when Browns had their crazy run of winning with many different QBs. So, color me interested at least.

Josh should have a QB coach, essentially an assistant to Josh in that role. I still hope for more help.

 

[mgteich]

and we sit hoping that we will get 4 good men to be WR and OL coaches.

 

[Ross12]

and we sit hoping that we will get 4 good men to be WR and OL coaches.

Yeah I am very curious who these will be.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

NFL owners voted to eliminate one of Bill Belichick's favorite loopholes from the rulebook

Bill Belichick used the loophole against the Jets last year, only to see the Titans give him a taste of his own medicine in the playoffs.

www.businessinsider.com

NFL owners voted to eliminate one of Bill Belichick's favorite loopholes from the rulebook

Bill Belichick used the loophole against the Jets last year, only to see the Titans give him a taste of his own medicine in the playoffs.

www.businessinsider.com

Ah yes - so it was indeed Bill that came up with this. But nuts that he used it in a 33-0 game, very much unlike what Vrabel did. [Edit - someone pointed out that this was deliberate as he wanted to demonstrate the loophole]

Vrabel used it in a crucial situation.

Here's the Vrabel video:

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I am surprised they have a QB Coach at all - Josh has been the combo OC/QBC for almost every year he was with NE.

As you said I’m guessing Josh will probably still have a huge hand in QB development but they wanted this other guy too. Very young and limited experience but seems focused on QBs. First became Assistant QB Coach in 2023 when Browns had their crazy run of winning with many different QBs. So, color me interested at least.

Belichick wanted as small of a coaching staff as possible. His view was that it was easier to maintain the message that way - easier to get jumbled the more people it goes through. That’s the opposite of most NFL head coaches who have larger coaching staffs to try to share the load and get specialized treatment. Given this hire, I suspect McDaniels prefers this way to Belichick’s.

 

[captain stone]

Zak Kuhr

KUHR'S COACHING CAREER

2009-10……………..Edward Waters College………..quarterbacks/running backs/special teams
2011-12……………...Ohio State University………….intern
2013……………Old Dominion University…running backs/asst. special teams/graduate assistant
2014………………..James Madison University……..running backs
2015………………..James Madison University……co-offensive coordinator/running backs
2016………………..Rutgers University……………..running backs
2017………………..Texas State University…………co-offensive coordinator/running backs
2018………………..Texas State University…………assistant head coach/co-offensive coordinator/running backs
2019………………..University of Texas…………….assistant coach
2020………………..Tennessee Titans……………….quality control
2021-23…………….Tennessee Titans……………….assistant inside linebackers
2024………………..New York Giants……………….defensive assistant

Not impressive, at all. I hope he's just a gopher or some other slappy.

 

[captain stone]

Nice to see that Coach Pees has been staying healthy over the years.

 

[captain stone]

As I recall, after that Jets game BB said he was trying to expose a flaw in the rules so the league would change it. The score was 33-0 so using it in that game didn't benefit the Patriots. If he were really trying to use it for gain, he'd have waited for a close game.

Like a playoff game...?

 

[Love The Drake]

Nice to see that Coach Pees has been staying healthy over the years.

What’s his workout routine?

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Like a playoff game...?

I thought i remember recently reading that BB was pissed because while the rule was applied appropriately in the Jets game, the officials didnt quite apply it correctly in the Titans game. I dont remember the article or the specifics but someone else may

 

[captain stone]

Having worked with AVP before maybe that is a benefit to helping bridge Maye from one system to the other.

Why not just keep TC Mac in the first place, to help keep at least one of the voices in Maye's ears the same?

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Nice to see that Coach Pees has been staying healthy over the years.

My daughter went to school with his grandson. Annually we do an event where Dad’s come into school for early breakfast with the kids and bring a speaker.

Dean was kind enough to step in a few years ago.

Incredibly kind, sharp as heck.

His son was on staff with Arthur Smith in Atlanta then went to Chicago so my daughter lost a buddy.

I was the only Pats fan there obviously (Atlanta area) and I got to chat him up about the dynasty years.

Favorite comment was someone else made a joke about Welker dropping a pass to ruin the perfect season and Dean got very serious and said “wouldn’t have mattered if Asante Samual makes an interception that hit him right in the hands”.

I laughed my ass off at that one. Have a signed falcons ball from him.

He shared some really neat stories about coaching Ray Lewis which I had somehow forgotten about. Basically said that TB12 and Ray were cut from similar cloth as competitors.

Good guy.

 

[DaBruinz]

Vrabel brings offensive Assistant Ashton Grant from Browns to be QB Coach.

This one is perplexing. I'd have preferred the guy from Minnesota.. Unless he turned Vrabel down.

Patriots reportedly hire Ashton Grant as quarterbacks coach

Grant worked with Mike Vrabel in Cleveland last year.

www.patspulpit.com

 

[Dec54]

Vrabel brings offensive Assistant Ashton Grant from Browns to be QB Coach.

This one is perplexing. I'd have preferred the guy from Minnesota.. Unless he turned Vrabel down.

Patriots reportedly hire Ashton Grant as quarterbacks coach

Grant worked with Mike Vrabel in Cleveland last year.

www.patspulpit.com

This is a strange one. Maye needs the best coaches around him.

 

[DaBruinz]

I definitely like the hiring of Dews to be the RB Coach. I think that bodes well for Stevenson and Gibson.

I'm leery of the hiring of Piraino. Lots of negative things about him in regards to Hamstrings and soft tissue injuries. Anyone know if Vrabel is on good terms with Alex Guererro and TB12? Is the TB12 facility still at Patriots Place?

I like the hiring of Williams. I think we're going to see some surprises in terms of the personal on the defense. The only ones safe are Gonzalez, White, Dugger, and Barmore (provided he's healthy). I don't expect Jon Jones back unless it's to be a Free Safety. He was toast last year.

I stated before that I hate them bring back McDaniels. I think that he's too predictable in his play-calling. As I stated, the only one more predictable than McDaniels was AVP. And I didn't think that was possible.

Vrabel supposedly worked with Ashton Grant last year in Cleveland. Grant supposedly worked with the QBs there. That may or may not be a good thing considering how Zappe and Thompson-Robinson performed for Cleveland.

It looks like John Streicher is going to be to Vrabel what Berj Najarian was to Belichick. This should bode well for Vrabel.


It will be interesting to see what position Zak Kuhr will hold.

Still no news on Brian Belichick and Mike Pellegrino, I'm hoping that they stay and can work with Williams. They are excellent position coaches.

It will be interesting to see if Vrabel keeps Slater and Hightower around.