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

[n1997y]

This shouldn’t be a matter of choice. Scar needs to do as he is told and come in and coach the OL coach.

You out of your mind?

Scar would laugh, and continue doing whatever he damn well pleases.

He’s earned the ability to do that, and you nor anybody else is man enough to take it away from him.

He’s also earned a lifetime pass to go anyplace, wherever and whenever he wants, in Patriots Place as far as I’m concerned. And I hope Bob Kraft agrees.

 

[n1997y]

we have such a random group of "big" names on offense now. JMD, McAdoo, Marrone, Thomas Brown.
It's going to be curious to see how this gels together.

See next to last bullet in summary of Bedard, below.

Bedard had a pretty detailed article on the coaching hires.
Highlights
-Ownership had no influence on Josh Hire
-Interview process with Josh was extensive
-Vrabel had Josh at top of list with Arthur Smith and Rees but Vrabel was scared by the revolving OC position at Titans and never had such an experienced OC as Josh and thus was very appealing to Vrabel and was likely his top choice all along.
-Vrabel does not have a McShay/Shanahan style preference
-League source says people don't understand how much work Josh did last off season to update is offense.
-Vrabel related hires under Josh were all mutually agreed to, most of Josh's former coaches were already employed. Vrabel did not sit in on Downing interview, wanted Josh to not be influenced by him being there
-Thomas Brown blew away the interview and chose Pats to learn under Josh and have some stability
-Marrone is a veteran coach that's been in many systems and was type of O line coach Vrabel/Josh wanted.
-Dante and Marrone know each other so not unlikely Scar will drop in once in a while.
-Team source said all the coaches are at hotels away from family and working non-stop and 100% in lockstep
-Vrabel excited by the staff he put together.

Lots of very reassuring stuff in that. I’m most encouraged by the highlighted lines. Last line (despite not being highlighted) is the one that I find most encouraging. If Vrabel is happy with the staff he put together that means he likes their style and expects them to mesh well with each other. With him having been a head coach before I expect he has a good sense about those things.

I think the glass is much more than half full.

I expect the sequence now will be:
1. staff works very closely together to hammer out details of what they want the team to be, on both sides of the ball.
2. results of step 1 inform evaluation of players on roster now, and those available through trade, draft, and free agency.
3. we see much roster churn as existing roster is culled and new players are added.

Hearing they are holed up in a hotel shows step 1 is proceeding apace. They need to get steps 1 & 2 finished before free agency starts, and they need to get well into step 3 before the draft. From Kupp’s tweet the trade window is already opening, or opens soon. It’s going to be a busy spring.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Sarcasm....

 

[signbabybrady]

It seems like we have a ton because Belichick always had the smallest coaching staff. So any increase will seem huge by comparison.

Just for reference I counted the staff from 2018:

Including Bill, Josh, and any assistant with an actual position to coach there were 11. Flores was basically DC but listed as LB coach plus Daly, Stephen, Boyer. On offense Josh, Ivan, Oshea, Caley, Scar. In addition to these 11 there was also Ernie and Bielema as top assistants to Bill. So 13.

plus an additional 7 coaches listed as assistants & these weren't slouches: Schiplinski, popovich, atif Austin, Brian, Peligrino, Covington, Achord.

So that's 20.

 

[Huckleberry1]

You can complain about any of the hires individually. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

But from an experience point of view everyone seems to be getting slotted in a rung or 2 below the highest levels they've achieved.

And the unfortunate reality is that just like the Boston Media there are some here who want to complain about anything and everything.

 

[Huckleberry1]

It's kinda funny watching people complain about Todd Downing as the WRs coach when he's got experience at OC, Pass Game Coordinator, and several other position coach spots. Downing is more experienced than pretty much anyone on 2024's coaching staff, but somehow, he stinks. I don't really get it. Seems like a guy who should be at least around average as a WR coach, which is a massive leap up from what we've had at WR coach the last few years.

That’s what happens when people are experts about things they know absolutely nothing about.

 

[Real fan 02]

I didn’t think Slovak was awful in Houston.

I think he just got another OC job didn't he?

 

[Real fan 02]

You can complain about any of the hires individually. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

But from an experience point of view everyone seems to be getting slotted in a rung or 2 below the highest levels they've achieved.

I absolutely love scarr coming back on as an Advisor. This staff is a total 360 from last season. This only spells great things for Drake and the rest of the team.

 

[Real fan 02]

I absolutely love scarr coming back on as an Advisor. This staff is a total 360 from last season. This only spells great things for Drake and the rest of the team.

@signbabybrady

Really shaping up for the team to be much better. I can imagine we are in on kupp getting him as soon as the new league year opens be huge and also would help allure other FAs. Kupp can still play at a high level and brings championship pedigree to the WR room.

 

[Love The Drake]

I think he just got another OC job didn't he?

Nope still shows unemployed.

 

[signbabybrady]

@signbabybrady

Really shaping up for the team to be much better. I can imagine we are in on kupp getting him as soon as the new league year opens be huge and also would help allure other FAs. Kupp can still play at a high level and brings championship pedigree to the WR room.

Let's get through Superbowl but I can't wait for free agency to start

 

[Real fan 02]

Nope still shows unemployed.

My bad LTD.. I was thinking of Caley!!!

 

[Real fan 02]

Let's get through Superbowl but I can't wait for free agency to start

Same here.. fly eagles fly!...

 

[Sect140]

Let's get through Superbowl but I can't wait for free agency to start

I can’t wait for mini camps and then training camps.

 

[Real fan 02]

I can’t wait for mini camps and then training camps.

Yes!!!! I want to see who we bring in, how the roster comes together.. so much projects to happen this off season. It feels familiar to the 2021 off season.. where there was breaking patriots news each day in the offseason.

 

[mgcolby]

I absolutely love scarr coming back on as an Advisor. This staff is a total 360 from last season. This only spells great things for Drake and the rest of the team.

One thing I feel confident about having this staff. Our defense not allowing our opponents to score on 14 of 17 second half opening drives or whatever it was.

 

[Dec54]

It seems like we have a ton because Belichick always had the smallest coaching staff. So any increase will seem huge by comparison.

Is there a ceiling as to how many coaches the NFL allow per team?

 

[Real fan 02]

One thing I feel confident about having this staff. Our defense not allowing our opponents to score on 14 of 17 second half opening drives or whatever it was.

Yes!! And not being run on 17x in a row. Also being about to really have a game plan that can be effective, in-game adjusting, Having a coaching advantage. Personally I feel like we have the best coach in the AFCE.

 

[Dec54]

I can’t wait for mini camps and then training camps.

I know I feel the same, great expectations. Good to be back on the rails again

 

[RobertWeathers]

Personally I feel like we have the best coach in the AFCE.

McDermott lost a lot of points with me vs KC. Clock mgt. Not overruling the play calling. Cook only getting 16 touches.

I don't think Vrabes makes those mistakes.