Vrabel: “I don’t think we have a very deep team”

[One-If-By-Sea]

Role players are R4 to R7 in the draft. If you package your late round picks to move up in R1 and R2, you sacrifice your cheap role players, the team's depth.

 

[DC Patriots]

I think Caleb Lomu is about to remind folks how impressive it was that Will Campbell and Jared Wilson were able to start as OL linemen immediately after being drafted. Especially with Wilson changing positions.

I am aware that after Campbell got hurt they fell apart a bit. And Wilson looked lost sometimes. But those guys were warriors.

To be clear. I think Caleb Lomu was a great pick. He has the potential to be a 10 year starter. But he’s not an NFL ready tackle on day 1 like Campbell was. Which is why he was available when they drafted.

 

[Wozzy]

Vrabel is specifically talking about the third linebackers. I don't think he even mentioned the line.

Other than Iton, Muma looked like the worst player on the field.

The DL are the first line of defense. The only way the Eagles could run the ball so easily is because the three defensive tackles in front of the linebackers were nonexistent.

Vrabel also mentioned OLB, he was talking to Jacas and Swinson. He was talking to all his ILB’ers, being a defensive coach he was mainly talking to his guys.

Last season Elliss started off the season slowly, had to learn the system… by the end of the year he was one of the best defenders on the team. Camp is a process, it sometimes extends into the regular season.

 

[scott99]

Very interesting comment by Vrabel. This is definitely a shot at Wolf and his drafting. Especially in 2024.

 

[PatsFan2]

Very interesting comment by Vrabel. This is definitely a shot at Wolf and his drafting. Especially in 2024.

Not really most HC's would say that in this age of FA and the cap; it's not unique. The good thing is our Drafts have looked solid since Vrabel came on. IF Lomu - Jacas - Raridon and Prunty all contribute this year: Good Drafting = Great Depth.

 

[tasmlab]

Last year's team probably wasn't very deep either, but nobody expected it to be and they were pretty lucky with injuries compared to the other AFC playoff teams (and the usual AFC playoff teams who didn't make it in 2025).

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Very interesting comment by Vrabel. This is definitely a shot at Wolf and his drafting. Especially in 2024.

It all depends on how comments are framed. Mike Florio, of all people, actually put the comments in context:

Was it, Vrabel was asked, a shot at the front office?

“We are the front office,” Vrabel replied, via Mike Reiss of ESPN. “We are all making the decisions. We’re all included in this. It was about the young guys we have to develop. You can see that the players we kept out of the game, those are the guys. And we have to be able to find some guys behind them to be backups, to be the first guy in. To be the third outside linebacker. Be the third inside linebacker. Be the sixth offensive lineman. These things that are so critical. Be the third safety.

“So those are the things that we are trying to develop, and I guess that’s what I was referencing. I can walk back, and I’ve already talked to [executive V.P. of player personnel] Eliot [Wolf] this morning, and these aren’t issues. I’m not in a subtle context — that wasn’t that. They asked why we didn’t play the guys, and [the answer is] we have to have everybody we have available and then continue to develop and see some guys that went out and played like they did on Saturday night to continue to build that depth.”

Mike Vrabel explains his comments about lack of depth on roster

After New England's Week 2 preseason game, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel explained that he hasn't been playing key starters in the preseason because "I do not think we have a very deep team."

www.nbcsports.com

 

[TommyD4207]

I think “we’re not a deep team” was Vrabel talking through the media to his team, specifically challenging those young backups. They need to grow up and take those jobs. There were also some injuries.

That being said, I do think there are some inherent flaws with how they constructed this team. They should have either paid Tonga or found a replacement. And I don’t mean another hard working blue collar barely 300 pound guy like Durden… I mean another 340 pound athletic guy. One good nose tackle allows Barmore and Williams to thrive. Iton shouldn’t even be on an NFL roster at this point, he certainly shouldn’t be starting at NT in game two of preseason.

They also did nothing to improve the backup guard situations. They brought in Caedan Wallace, Mehki Butler and Andrew Rupcich… these guys are unathletic jags… weak stiffs. The signing of Van Roten was a result of this oversight.

This team could make some really smart roster moves after cutdown day and bolster their ranks, but they’ll have to create some roster spots to do so. They can’t unnecessarily carry 7 WR’s.

I get the Tonga second guess, but in reality, he had one good month, and then fell off a cliff.

 

[patfanken]

I agree.

Look at the roster objectively:

QB: If DeVito is starting....our over/under for wins will probably drop 3-4 games.
OL: Interior is a problem....we are basically betting that AVT plays 17 games at LG. Ditto for Onwenu.
TE: Not too bad, but losing Julian Hill hurts.
RB: Not bad. I like it...I think our 3rd back will be a surprise. And Gilman will help off-set losing Julian Hill.
WR: Deep right now, but I expect one guy to be the odd man out. Think we roll with 6.
DL: Beyond Barmore and Williams we have Durden and Farmer....that's it man...
DE/OLB: We don't have much beyond Landry. Jacas looked very raw yesterday. Dunno about Dre'Mont Jones and Swinson.
ILB: We're ok here....Spillane and Ellis...and Britt....and a rookie...
CB: We are screwed if one of Gonz, Davis, and/or Jones misses time. I like the developmental guys we have, but they aren't ready for prime time, IMO.
Safeties: Woodson and Byard...nice. And I like some of our developmental players here too.
K/LS/P: We are OK here, but with Barringer feeling sick...we were using a 3rd QB to punt last night.

I think you are a bit hyperbolic in your assessment of certain position groups. For example, CB. If anything, preseason has shown that we have done a good job with our back up CB's. Prunty, Vildor, Woods, Dial. etc have all shown flashes that they can be adequate depth. I also like the safety depth. Pettis has shown he can play last season and Saunders impressed on Saturday.

Our OL depth is clearly uncertain, but we are MILES ahead of where we were last season both in terms of quality of the athletes and their numbers. Lomu and Bryant are solid as back up OTs and Brown and VRoten both have proven they can back up at OG. Riz looks solid at C the other day even though he had shaky G play around him.

Mike is right, we do NOT have proven backup play, and I would like to see more at edge and LB, but remember, he not only held out the starters, he also held out some of the subs, like VRoten and Riardon, Henderson, etc.

Personally, I think our depth is a little better than Mike let's on, but it isn't at the same level as, say, the Eagles and their ilk.

I know the logic behind WHY, Vrabes isn't playing the starters, BUT I wish Maye and the first team would get just a couple of series preparation at live speed before the opener, or the first quarter is going to be an eye opener for all of them. Especially in Seattle after they lower their Superbowl banner.

 

[n1997y]

They have Douglas and Chism for the slot, they should keep those two… but Douglas could still be traded if the compensation is good. They have Williams for depth on the boundry, they could also slide DeGennerro and Dorner onto the PS so they’d have some depth.

I’d be okay trading Douglas and riding with Chism and DeGenarro as backup. But I like having all three more, it’s just that Douglas is up for his new contract at the end of the year and if he’s not in their long term plans getting any return by trading him seems prudent.

I don’t think they’ll enter the season with two RB’s only but they could risk it since they have some depth there with Larison and Jam. Even if one is poached they still have the other. But I suspect they’ll enter the season with three.

There’s also Haskins in addition to Lan and Jam. So there’s even more depth there.

 

[KCSVEN]

Brilliant strategy! Don't poach the guys we cut, they suck, but we'll just sign them to the practice squad anyways. Chess vs Checkers!

 

[Hyped]

I think you are a bit hyperbolic in your assessment of certain position groups. For example, CB. If anything, preseason has shown that we have done a good job with our back up CB's. Prunty, Vildor, Woods, Dial. etc have all shown flashes that they can be adequate depth. I also like the safety depth. Pettis has shown he can play last season and Saunders impressed on Saturday.

Our OL depth is clearly uncertain, but we are MILES ahead of where we were last season both in terms of quality of the athletes and their numbers. Lomu and Bryant are solid as back up OTs and Brown and VRoten both have proven they can back up at OG. Riz looks solid at C the other day even though he had shaky G play around him.

Mike is right, we do NOT have proven backup play, and I would like to see more at edge and LB, but remember, he not only held out the starters, he also held out some of the subs, like VRoten and Riardon, Henderson, etc.

Personally, I think our depth is a little better than Mike let's on, but it isn't at the same level as, say, the Eagles and their ilk.

I know the logic behind WHY, Vrabes isn't playing the starters, BUT I wish Maye and the first team would get just a couple of series preparation at live speed before the opener, or the first quarter is going to be an eye opener for all of them. Especially in Seattle after they lower their Superbowl banner.

I want to keep Drake out. Live game speed is different from scrimmages for sure...especially with the red jersey, but we have a solid defense that can keep scoring low for the first 1-2 quarters while Drake warms up to live game speed.

 

[BobDigital]

Depth is often overrated. Health of your starters and particularly your key starters is more important. You will not have depth everywhere. You are lucky if you have it in a few spots. And hopefully of you have an injury it is to a spot that you gave depth, and not one of your absolutely key guys.

 

[rkarp1]

how do you complain about depth when you let Tavai, Gibbons, Mapu, Jennings, Tonga and Lowe all leave, while sitting on $30m in cap space

 

[Kdo5]

how do you complain about depth when you let Tavai, Gibbons, Mapu, Jennings, Tonga and Lowe all leave, while sitting on $30m in cap space

Wish they kept Tonga. Even Lowe IMO had turned into a capable backup which is kind of funny after how much we hated him as a player for a long time.

 

[Uptown]

 

[p8ryts]

Wish they kept Tonga. Even Lowe IMO had turned into a capable backup which is kind of funny after how much we hated him as a player for a long time.

Agree with Tonga. I was never a Lowe hater. He always played when he was hurt. He was adequate in pass blocking but not great at run blocking. However, the coaches didn't like him enough to play him in the SB instead of a one legged, weak, rookie.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Vrable clearly was trying to light a fire under the guys on the bubble - but I don't think it was just motivation. I think he's not happy with the quality of players and we may see some new names on the PS when all is said and done as cuts get underway.

I'm sure knowing that the late pre-season trades are heating up, in that respect Wolf and Vrabel were smart to get the Boutte deal done before the Texans went shopping elsewhere.

There may be some interesting cuts coming and there's also an opportunity to stash some guys with experience on PS after the cutdowns

2026 NFL 53-man roster deadline: Cut candidates, trade targets

With the deadline to trim NFL rosters looming, which notable players could be traded or released in the coming days? Kevin Patra puts the spotlight on 22 candidates.

www.nfl.com

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]