Mike Vrabel Pre-Draft Press Conference 4/15

[JohnJH]

Trade down draft Simmons trade back up for Higgins or Tet.
That’s getting the most out of the draft.

Simmons knee concerns me. He might not be ready until mid-season at least. I'f rather go for Conerly Jr. instead. But I agree with your strategy.

 

[PatsFan2]

Not a fan of Hunter (he's also not what this team needs now). However they do it, they need a LT who can start on Week 1 who's a serious improvement over last season (although the bar is pretty low on that). Maye's health (and future) depends on it.

 

[BobDigital]

So something occurs to me. How sure are we Vrabel is the long term guy? And if not how long do we keep him?

Could it be after seeing the dumpster fire which was Mayo last year even a small bit of competence is causing complacency? I am for one all for moving on from Vrabel next year if a good candidate is available.

 

[Steve102]

Does anyone find this concerning? It feels very much like I won't be your friend if (like in elementary school). This kinda makes me want to take him off the board. I posted awhile back that I had a concern about him doing this and I would pass on him, but then I was ike nah he is too good a talent but I am back on the don't touch him train.

I dunno man. If I was a gm/coach in the nfl, I’d want to interview this kid. I am not so sure I’m going to take a tweet with an out of context quote and then take a kid off the board. I like the swagger, but this sounds like his former HC feeding the hype, building his belief in himself up. His former HC was one of the few guys to come into the NFL and back up the bluster.

Anyone coming out of that program is going to have that swagger from having being told by Prime how good they are. Do you immediately have to deal with that. I think you have to coach the kid up, but I suspect he’s either going to come in and be dominant or he’s going to fail at one side or the other. If he fails, and flames out, you’re going to hear from Prime that X team ruined him, and the media will run with it. That part might make me move the kid down the draft board… the arrogance of the player and his entourage. If, after interviewing him, he is a humble, straight up kid, then I probably would just ask him “WTF does this mean?”

I’m not sold that he can do what he says he can do. The Colorado Buffalos ain’t the NFL.

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

So something occurs to me. How sure are we Vrabel is the long term guy? And if not how long do we keep him?

Could it be after seeing the dumpster fire which was Mayo last year even a small bit of competence is causing complacency? I am for one all for moving on from Vrabel next year if a good candidate is available.

I get what you're saying, but do we really want the Pats to become one of those franchises moving on from coaches after a year or 2?

Yea Mayo was a bonehead move and he wasn't ready, but I think Vrabel should be given a minimum of 3 years to see.

Personally, I hope we're at the start of something very special and Vrabel will be the HC for a long time.

 

[whybob]

This team is more then an LT away. Take whatever BPA your scouting department has identified. Possible an LT is that guy, but I'm not reaching at 4 if it isn't.

 

[Huckleberry1]

So something occurs to me. How sure are we Vrabel is the long term guy? And if not how long do we keep him?

Could it be after seeing the dumpster fire which was Mayo last year even a small bit of competence is causing complacency? I am for one all for moving on from Vrabel next year if a good candidate is available.

Not me, I’m all in on Vrabel I don’t want them playing musical chairs with coaches.

 

[Ian]

So something occurs to me. How sure are we Vrabel is the long term guy? And if not how long do we keep him?

Could it be after seeing the dumpster fire which was Mayo last year even a small bit of competence is causing complacency? I am for one all for moving on from Vrabel next year if a good candidate is available.

Like anyone else, have to let it play out. But his track record is strong, and having watched/listened to each press conference thus far, there's already a night/day difference ahead of where Jerod Mayo was. It feels much more structured with a significantly more solid plan in place. Obviously, we won't know until they hit the field what that translates to, but there's a calm confidence there and guys respect him. And he won't do/say a lot of the stuff we saw Mayo do that ultimately caused issues and cost him his job. I'm more curious about the player development, which was lacking last year and Vrabel's been around the block enough where I truly believe that will be an improvement this season.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I'd bet $ that there won't be a player in street clothes sitting on a barrel during practice.

 

[TommyD4207]

Simmons knee concerns me. He might not be ready until mid-season at least. I'f rather go for Conerly Jr. instead. But I agree with your strategy.

It's tough, because you're right, Simmons probably won't be ready until November - and even then, what % of his best will you be getting? The tough part is, before the injury, he was probably the best LT prospect.

If Left Tackle wasn't such an obvious and glaring need for *this* year, I'd be all in on taking Simmons only, because picking someone like that at 4, someone who's supposed to be foundational for years to come, would make sense.

I like Conerly more than most, I like Ersery more than most, but the top LT prospect who can play this year, would be Membou in my mind. There's no law that says they can't take two tackles either. They can certainly use two.

 

[Steve102]

Like anyone else, have to let it play out. But his track record is strong, and having watched/listened to each press conference thus far, there's already a night/day difference ahead of where Jerod Mayo was. It feels much more structured with a significantly more solid plan in place. Obviously, we won't know until they hit the field what that translates to, but there's a calm confidence there and guys respect him. And he won't do/say a lot of the stuff we saw Mayo do that ultimately caused issues and cost him his job. I'm more curious about the player development, which was lacking last year and Vrabel's been around the block enough where I truly believe that will be an improvement this season.

I am certainly not looking to talk about a possible move on from Coach before we even roll the balls out for practice. I don't really understand the agenda here. He was clearly the best available this off-season. Further, I cannot see who an alternative would be in 2026, if he somehow fails miserably, which is very unlikely. Seems Bob D doesn't like Mike.

Personally, I can see this being a very long term hire.

 

[JohnJH]

Because Maye's shiny new weapon will mean oh so much when his knee is blown out, he's a Tua with CTE's, or becomes another early retirement Andrew Luck from a lack of a good OL.

 

[JohnJH]

It's tough, because you're right, Simmons probably won't be ready until November - and even then, what % of his best will you be getting? The tough part is, before the injury, he was probably the best LT prospect.

If Left Tackle wasn't such an obvious and glaring need for *this* year, I'd be all in on taking Simmons only, because picking someone like that at 4, someone who's supposed to be foundational for years to come, would make sense.

I like Conerly more than most, I like Ersery more than most, but the top LT prospect who can play this year, would be Membou in my mind. There's no law that says they can't take two tackles either. They can certainly use two.

Sure! I'm not opposed to them taking three OT's high in the draft.

 

[KCSVEN]

So something occurs to me. How sure are we Vrabel is the long term guy? And if not how long do we keep him?

Could it be after seeing the dumpster fire which was Mayo last year even a small bit of competence is causing complacency? I am for one all for moving on from Vrabel next year if a good candidate is available.

Mayo didn't do anything right from day one, all the signs were there. Vrabel has succeeded elsewhere and is doing the right things. Vrabel should be here for a long time, if he has talent he'll make the best of that talent.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

It's tough, because you're right, Simmons probably won't be ready until November - and even then, what % of his best will you be getting? The tough part is, before the injury, he was probably the best LT prospect.

If Left Tackle wasn't such an obvious and glaring need for *this* year, I'd be all in on taking Simmons only, because picking someone like that at 4, someone who's supposed to be foundational for years to come, would make sense.

I like Conerly more than most, I like Ersery more than most, but the top LT prospect who can play this year, would be Membou in my mind. There's no law that says they can't take two tackles either. They can certainly use two.

I wouldn't fixate on the "this year" aspect of it. This team made some nice moves, but they still started out as one of if not THE least talented team in the NFL. Despite the moves they've made, I think anyone objectively looking at this roster has to say it's one of the least talented in the league. There's a lot of talent in this league. Now, with good QB play and good coaching I think this team could outperform its overall talent level and push for .500 record and a playoff spot, but with that still awful overall talent level I don't think they should be viewing this year as the be all and end all.

If they truly think Simmons is the best long term LT I wouldn't take a lesser guy on account of needing one "this year" because with their talent level they shouldn't be viewing this as a make or break year.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Trade down draft Simmons trade back up for Higgins or Tet.
That’s getting the most out of the draft.

Simmons blew out is patellar tendon AND has red flags around football character . Bad combo for rd 1

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Mayo didn't do anything right from day one, all the signs were there. Vrabel has succeeded elsewhere and is doing the right things. Vrabel should be here for a long time, if he has talent he'll make the best of that talent.

This. It’s become (by comparison) clear just how woefully incompetent Mayo really was.

Kraft badly F’d that up

 

[TommyD4207]

I wouldn't fixate on the "this year" aspect of it. This team made some nice moves, but they still started out as one of if not THE least talented team in the NFL. Despite the moves they've made, I think anyone objectively looking at this roster has to say it's one of the least talented in the league. There's a lot of talent in this league. Now, with good QB play and good coaching I think this team could outperform its overall talent level and push for .500 record and a playoff spot, but with that still awful overall talent level I don't think they should be viewing this year as the be all and end all.

If they truly think Simmons is the best long term LT I wouldn't take a lesser guy on account of needing one "this year" because with their talent level they shouldn't be viewing this as a make or break year.

The "this year" desperation is in an attempt to limit Maye's future concussions due to Verdarian ****ing Lowe.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

The "this year" desperation is in an attempt to limit Maye's future concussions due to Verdarian ****ing Lowe.

Yeah I get that but they can’t afford to take a LT and that guy doesn’t actually solve the position. This team is so weak overall that if they want to turn it around in any sort of reasonable timeline they need to bat pretty close to 1000 with their high picks. They can’t afford to take lesser prospects because the better prospect will be out until November or whatever it is. They’re too lacking in talent to do that.

Lowe also isn’t AS BAD as people make him out to be. The problem is that he’s not starting caliber but was still our 2nd best OL last year. He needed to be helped like the weak link he is except we were so bad that he wasn’t close to the weakest link. AVP’s scheme also doesn’t help OTs much in general, which was a bad fit. This year he’ll actually have 4 starting caliber (albeit not necessarily strong starting caliber) players with him and better scheme so he should get more help.

I’m never going to argue against protecting Maye better, but this idea that having a bad OL means he’s going to die is overstated. Most QBs that are high picks go to terrible teams and a bad OL is often a reason for being terrible. Many QBs had to grow around that as a young player. Guys can get hurt on any play. It’s part of the game.

LT is their biggest need IMO so im all for actually solving the position. But they need a guy to actually solve it. Better than Lowe is not the threshold for actually solving their LT problem. They need an actual solution and they don’t have resources to throw high picks at someone who isn’t that. This team is too lacking in talent to not bat close to 1000 in the next few drafts if they want to turn it around in a reasonable timeframe.

 

[stinkypete]

The thing with Hunter is he is only “generational” as a two way player. CB alone is a lower value position in the draft - unless you think this guy is going to be a tackling version of Deion Sanders, no CB is good value at #2. As a WR he’s compared to Garrett Wilson or DeVonta Smith, good, but not elite.

I agree with Harbaugh, not enough hours in the day for Hunter to play both full time.

As for LT, I’m resigning myself to Campbell. We got burned waiting until round 2 a year ago, and all the round 2 talent have major question marks too.

My plan as of now would be Campbell in round 1 and Donovan Jackson round 2. This way we have a LT who may need to kick inside balanced by a LG who has handled the tackle position against high level competition. This gives us insurance at LT and elite upside at LG.