The Official Vrabel vs Ben Johnson Discussion Thread

[Toofy]

Enough of suspense and formalities. Ben Johnson is done with interviews. We will know if he wants to come here as first choice or not. If it's latter announce vrabel as HC tomorrow .

Welcome aboard Coach Vrabel. Let's start the Maye era and dynasty 3.0 .

 

[Toofy]

I think it will depend upon what they get done in free agency. If they can shore up the interior DL then Carter makes a lot of sense, if they can’t I would go with Graham. However I think Vrabel’s priority will be putting together the strongest OL possible.

Maye can compete with a semi decent Oline if scores don't run up to mid 20s or 30s and for that we need a playmaking DE. Sign the beast.. on board with Carter.

I think we should go defense with number 4 . If Carter is not available go with Graham. Unless someone wants to trade up for Sanders and we get a haul of 2026 first rounder and 2025 first rounder less than pick 14.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Enough of suspense and formalities. Ben Johnson is done with interviews. We will know if he wants to come here as first choice or not. If it's latter announce vrabel as HC tomorrow .

Welcome aboard Coach Vrabel. Let's start the Maye era and dynasty 3.0 .

They’re negotiating with Vrabel. He wants to be here. Kraft wants him here. They’re going to get it done.

 

[mgteich]

If Williams is actually good then that is a good destination for him. They already have a QB1, WR1 and decent RBs. They just need to patch up their OL and they will have something going on offense. Plus, him leaving means one of their division rivals (the Lions) would automatically be weakened on offense.

CHI needs to know if Williams is any good, and if he is their future QB. Bringing in Johnson will help them find out.

 

[Sect140]

Yeah Gibbs is 250 carries. 14 avg.. over the season

I will say though.. I've looked into the Titans running game percentage each season and its about 49% over Vrabel's time..

Detroit has moved to 47% this year... having previously been around 44%.. Looking at the home and away difference is telling.. Home 44% Away 52% for past season

Saying that I guess it is how the RBs are utilised that may be a difference.

Montgomery probably had more carries a game than Gibbs.

 

[mgteich]

I read Tom Brady is personally talking to Johnson’s agent and my guess they are trying to sell him on Sanders. Don’t forget Tom recently worked out with him Brady having access to the teams and players is a cheat code for the Raiders that should be ours.
Krafts screwed up.

Does Johnson get to go somewhere else if the Raiders don't get Sanders.

 

[mgteich]

you don't think another qb could jump up draft boards after the combine ? cuz that's what i'm hoping.

There is more of a chance that one of the top QB's moves down.

 

[mgteich]

Jennings had a decent year. Bentley's been injured. Talent level is not high....to say the least.

The ILB's are one player away from being a very good group

Bentley, Tavai, Ellis, Mapu plus a top addition makes a reasonable group.

 

[Zuma]

The ILB's are one player away from being a very good group

Bentley, Tavai, Ellis, Mapu plus a top addition makes a reasonable group.

Both Bentley and Tavai will be 29 next season. Mapu (who probably played more S in 2024) will be 26 and has played a total 17 games in his career / starting 10. Who are the others? I don’t agree they’re one player away from being very good.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Both Bentley and Travai will be 29 next season. Mapu (who probably played more S in 2024) will be 26 and has played a total 17 games in his career / starting 10. Who are the others? I don’t agree they’re one player away from being very good.

One player who needs to rebound from his dog **** year is Dugger. He was absolutely useless

 

[Toofy]

Both Bentley and Travai will be 29 next season. Mapu (who probably played more S in 2024) will be 26 and has played a total 17 games in his career / starting 10. Who are the others? I don’t agree they’re one player away from being very good.

Doubt tavai stays here after his comments ..

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

One player who needs to rebound from his dog **** year is Dugger. He was absolutely useless

Hopefully the new staff helps him, some say he wasn’t being used the way he should be. If they can’t find a way to use him to his strengths gotta cut bait with that contract

 

[signbabybrady]

One player who needs to rebound from his dog **** year is Dugger. He was absolutely useless

Part of a quick turnaround we all hope for is that with better coaching and adding some pieces with the cap space we will need some guys to play back to previous levels. Onwenwu, Dugger, Bentley, and Andrews to name a few.

 

[RobertWeathers]

They’re negotiating with Vrabel. He wants to be here. Kraft wants him here. They’re going to get it done.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I like Mike Vrabel. He turned the Titans into a playoff team.
Yes things went downhill after a while but he's proven he can be a head coach at the NFL level.
He also has credentials as a former Patriot player who contributed a great deal to our Superbowl teams and has championship rings to his name so he also has credibility he can sell to the players.

On the other hand, don't expect Vrabel to be an innovator or an offensive genius. Expect him to bring a hard nosed, blue collar attitude to the team. That's fine it has worked before.

The question is will it be enough to turn this team back into contenders?

Ben Johnson just coached the Lions to one of the best offensive teams in the NFL in terms of points and yards and an impressive 15-2 record.
With a young QB and an offense in desperate need of an overhaul, one could argue that Ben Johnson is the best candidate to accomplish that task.
He will also overhaul our personnel department and bring in people to revamp what has been awful scouting and drafting for nearly a decade now.
These are things that tick boxes spelling success for me.

In the end I want the Patriots to return to the top of the ladder so I think you need to take risks and go for Ben Johnson here. His ceiling is higher as a head coach than Vrabel.

I understand those who want to play it safe and bring in Vrabel, but I feel Johnson is the superior candidate if your goal is to end up on top of the league again. Ben Johnson could do a wonderful job of developing Drake Maye and crafting an offense around him to maximize his talents. That could get us to ring #7. That's worth taking a shot on imo.

How do you KNOW he will "He will also overhaul our personnel department and bring in people to revamp what has been awful scouting and drafting for nearly a decade now." He WON'T BE the GM.
2nd of all, he's going to be tied up being the Chief of the ENTIRE Operation, which he's NEVER been, do you really believe a 1st time HC will be massively involved in the offense?
I just don't see what other people are seeing, I don't believe he will be Andy Reid/Sean Payton etc..., they LEARNED.
Not in the beginning at least, maybe I'll be wrong, and would be EXTACTIC to admit.
I just don't see it IMHO.

 

[festy1986]

Doubt tavai stays here after his comments ..

They can't release him because he actually cost more money.

So who's gonna trade for a dude who's one bad season away from a locker room distraction?

 

[Big Bucks]

Montgomery probably had more carries a game than Gibbs.

14 games 185 attempts is 13avg

 

[Sect140]

Montgomery probably had more carries a game than Gibbs.

14 games 185 attempts is 13avg

Thanks.

 

[Ring 6]

The ILB's are one player away from being a very good group

Bentley, Tavai, Ellis, Mapu plus a top addition makes a reasonable group.

Bentley is one-dimensional and everyone here thought he sucked until he got injured and became an excuse. Tavai is a backup/special teamer, Ellis is awful, should have been in the practice squad, has awful
read, react and run fill skills and Mapu is a safety.
It’s much, much closer to a liability than a strength

 

[Foxypats]

If Vrabel was the choice all along, why even interview Ben Johnson and waste his time ? It is things like this that piss me off about Kraft, he has no regard for other people , he keeps repeating the same mistakes hoping for a different result . He is so locked into the past, that he can't see clearly. I am very surprised that Ben actually agreed to the interview, if Vrabel is announced as Head coach on Monday that means that them interviewing Ben was a total farce . If this was a true hiring process, then they should have asked Joe Brady and a few others for an interview.
I still think Ben would be a better choice even though I know that is slim to no chance of that happening.