TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 9/3
Follow us
Follow Us
🕑 Read Time: 7 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots Transcripts
HOME > Patriots Blog > Patriots Transcripts
Here’s what Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to say to reporters on Wednesday September 3, 2025:
On if we are expecting to have Christian [Gonzalez] out there, and if not, is it safe to say he likely won’t be available?
“I wouldn’t say that. He’s continuing to work, and he’ll do some stuff on the side, but I’m not going to rule anybody out. Stacey [James] just made an announcement about the injury report. So we’ll continue to work and treat and make sure that we’re doing everything that we can to help him, and he’s doing everything he can to get back out on the field. That’s the only update I have right now.”
We won’t see him today?
“No, it didn’t sound like it.”
On if he’ll continue to avoid the IR or if that’s a possibility?
“No, he just won’t be out there today, Mark [Daniels]. Can’t tell you much other than that.”
On how much does a guy like him need to practice before he would feel comfortable putting him in the game:
“It won’t be today, so I apologize. But that’s where it’ll be. I mean, I do like where he’s at from an engagement standpoint. We’ve been through this with other players and like where he’s at from that standpoint. In the meetings, locked in. Following along a practice, which is difficult to think that a player that’s not in there can follow along. I’ve been through that as a player and a coach, and I think he’s done a nice job of being able to do that.”
On if it’s important for players to get to 100%, and is every player different? Because-
“Well, every player… I don’t use percentages, but again, I’ll remind you what we talked about as far as when I try to make decisions about players and returning. One, can they make it worse? And can they, two, protect themselves? We can all say what we want about this game, but, you know what I mean? It’s violent. Can you protect yourself? And can you do your job up to the standard that we expect and that the player is used to? So, those are the things that I’ve tried to use when making decisions. Maybe I’ll add some to that, but that’s what I’ve tried to use in my other experience in this position.”
On the initial reports, and I know that didn’t come from him, but the initial report is-
“Yeah. Please, guys, this is the first Wednesday of the season, and he’s not going to be at practice. Just please use your time as efficiently as we can about our team, about the Raiders. I know Christian is a large part of our team, but he’s not going to be out there today. That’s all I can update you with.”
“Do you have anything else since I cut you off?”
I’ve got to write about the Raiders this week. I know week one is always tricky, but the fact that they bring in Gino [Smith], they have Ashton Jeanty…
“They have terrific young skill players.I mean, Brock Bowers plays like a wide receiver. He’s a willing blocker. Jeanty, powerful, fast, continues to move his feet after contact, breaks a lot of tackles. Speed on the outside, savviness with [Jakobi] Meyers, big physical offensive line. So that’ll be a challenge when you talk about that. Gino really does a nice job of taking care of football, very good completion percentage. So he knows where he wants to go with football.”
On how tough is it to get ready for an opponent with a first-year coach and if he has to go back to what Pete [Carroll] has done with other teams:
“Well, I mean, they have a first-year defensive coach with a coordinator that’s in there and done stuff. And then they have a new offensive coordinator who’s been in the NFL and has also come from The Ohio State University. And so that’s a pretty unique, I think, blend of what we have to try to anticipate. We’re not going to be… There’s going to be numerous plays in the game that we won’t have seen or we won’t have run in practice in this preparation. That’s how it goes. I mean, that’s going to be like that every week. But just trying to get themes and concepts ideas of what they may want to do defensively with Pat [Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham] and Pete’s style and scheme, and then what they may want to do from offensively from what Chip’s [Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly] done in the past in the NFL, what he’s done in college, and what Gino likes. Certainly, quarterbacks in this league like things, and we’ll get things added. So I’m sure there’ll be things that he’s liked that they’ll run from plays he liked in Seattle.”
On that overlap, which goes to Pat Graham having seen Josh McDaniels’ offense a million times from being here, and the Patriots and Josh also having attacked Pete [Carroll’s] defense in different ways, Super Bowl, playoff games, and [former Raiders coach] Gus Bradley’s defense with the Chargers and if he tries to game plan out how the Raiders will react to what his team is doing, etc:
“The one thing you don’t want to be is too cute, certainly in week one or at any time, and think, ‘Well, they know and they think we’re going to do this, so then we’re going to do this.’ I think we have to be really sound and use our rules. If we see something that’s new we have to keep our composure and keep our poise and figure out ways to make it work.”
On what he’s seen from Marcus Jones as a leader:
“Really, by example, just the way … his practice habits, his professionalism, I would say, and then his performance on the field and what he does and how he plays. Really like being around Marcus. I like the person who he is and the player that he is.”
On in Tennessee, he would identify three to four things the team had to do before every game in order to win and if he’s done that already this week and if that’s something he’ll share:
“Yes, we have, and no, we won’t. You don’t want to get too convoluted. You just try to make sure that the players are seeing it the same way as we do after all the film and things that we think are going to be important this week. Having been through it, it’s not like I want them to memorize and have to look down. I want them to understand how their play and their position, what they can do to help us execute those keys. So it’s not just a blanket and broad statement. It’s like, ‘How does my job as a left guard or how does my job as a safety or a nickel help us execute these keys or what we’re trying to get done on special teams?”‘
On Pete Carroll being known for his cover three defense, and then Chip Kelly is known for his up-tempo offense, and if that’s still the case from his perspective, and if there are any ways that those systems have evolved since the last time those guys were in the league:
“Yeah. Pete’s done it for a long time, and they have their adjustment. When you run something extensively or the majority of the time, you have to have answers because you know that people are going to try to scheme you, and you have to be able to have answers. They’ve evolved and done a great job and have answers and different ways to play things that they want to do. And then they have their change-ups and their mixers. And then certainly Chip’s offense has expanded and grown. I mean, Chip used to call it on an index card. He had seven plays. They just were really good at them, and they went really fast. So I think that that’s all evolved from the stuff at UCLA, from the stuff at Ohio State, to what he’ll do with those skilled players that we mentioned with the Raiders.”
On the fact he said he wanted his team to win the second half, and who does he coach his players to reach that expectation:
“Well, I think conditioning. I think an emphasis. I think taking a break. That’s a good question. I appreciate that. We actually put a break in there midway through practice where we have two team periods left. I said, ‘You guys are going to think this is some gimmick, but it’s going to be me saying, Hey, coaches, get together. Tell them, Listen, this is how practice started. Whatever’s going on, let’s be conscious here to finish strong, win the second half, win the second half.’ I think it’s just a good reminder in working on our conditioning.”
On regarding the tempo in the second half and Chip’s offensive style being fast:
“Well, I mean, it’s not… I don’t think it’s breakneck. Maybe it will be. I mean, we’ll see. But I think it’s a little different than probably what it was in Philadelphia. And if it isn’t, we’ll have to be ready for it.”
On the fact it’s the first football game these guys are going to be playing this year and how does that affect substitutions:
“Everybody will have to play. Everybody has to play every game and be ready to play. The ones that are in condition and they’re playing the way that we expect them to, will stay in there. When they’re not, then they’ll have to get a break and put the next guy in there like we’ve always done.”
On if he has a plan for Morgan [Moses] on how they’re going to have Maxx Crosby across from him for a majority of the game, and how confident is he in that plan, him being ready to go for if not a full game the majority of the game:
“I’m confident. I think Mo has worked extremely hard and done exactly what we’ve asked him to do and has been involved in a lot of their reps.”
On having had a full offseason with him, where has Drake Maye stood out most off the field to him:
“Well, I think his command in the meetings. I think the reach to the locker room, the reach to the players, the stuff off the field, being engaged in that way and knowing how important that particular position is in all three phases on special teams and the impact that he can make as a quarterback.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This transcript was done based on the available footage and is subject to typographical errors. If you spot anything, please let me know in the comments below.)
From our archive - this week all-time:
April 8 - April 23 (Through 26yrs)
Join 2,000+ fans getting exclusive stats, analysis, and insights delivered straight to their inbox every week. Never miss a play.
