{"id":59027,"date":"2025-03-30T05:00:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-30T09:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=59027"},"modified":"2025-03-30T16:55:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-30T20:55:40","slug":"patriots-news-3-30-how-vrable-and-wolf-rebuilt-the-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2025\/03\/30\/patriots-news-3-30-how-vrable-and-wolf-rebuilt-the-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots News 3-30, How Vrabel and Wolf Rebuilt The Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning. Here are your Patriots news 3-30 and notes for this week. As I wrote last week in this column, Mike Vrabel is building a team in his image, and he and Eliot Wolf have done a terrific job rebuilding the team, especially the defense, which we will get to below.<\/span><\/p>\n

But first, the <\/span>Stefon Diggs<\/b> addition. The Patriots have tried to get several different wide receivers in the building the past few years, and it wasn\u2019t a lack of trying that caused them to be unsuccessful. But now they have Diggs in the fold, and he brings a route-running skill that will lend itself well to a Josh McDaniels\u2019 schemed offense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before his injury last season, Diggs was on his way to a seventh straight 1,000-yard season. The Patriots haven\u2019t had a 1,000-yard season from a wide receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. He will immediately upgrade a position that is badly in need of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Coach Vrabel was a guest on Chris Long\u2019s \u201cGreen Light Podcast,\u201d and Long asked him about the addition of Diggs. Vrable had some interesting things to say.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Yeah, it\u2019s just trying to make sure that we\u2019re supporting Drake and supporting the football team. And again, this is a highly competitive, confident receiver that\u2019s produced throughout his career in multiple ways. Play style, he\u2019s got to play strength to him, that you see that he can play physical, route craft, good at the catch point, has been good in the red zone<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>There\u2019s a play style to him that I\u2019ve always appreciated and that we want to continue to enhance and make sure that he\u2019s doing things to help us<\/span><\/i>. But it\u2019s just his conversation, his demeanor, his attitude, and his presence have been great through our conversations, and hopefully, we can continue to add good players<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Derek Havens mentioned the play style that Vrabel alluded to on our podcast earlier this week. Diggs brings that edge that has been missing from the Patriots’ offense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Stefon<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In Diggs’ first press conference he was asked about playing for Vrabel a former player and if that had anything to do with his signing.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, 100 %. I mean, I also kind of factor in that he was a former player. And player-to-coach relationship, it works, meshes really well with coaches that played at one time. They know what it takes to put the time in being out there. I guess it wouldn\u2019t say it\u2019s too much like a robot. Sometimes they get caught up in being in the numbers and the Xs and O\u2019s. <\/em><\/p>\n

“Player coaches know that you\u2019re out there, you can make plays, things come up differently, how you see things can be differently when you once were a player. So he was a big draw for me seeing that he played the game of football and how well he played the game of football. I mean, he played with a standard. He played with some moxie. He had that energy. He played with a team or individuals that were great at what they do. <\/em><\/p>\n

“Being around greatness and breeding greatness, it\u2019s like \u2013 it\u2019s rubbing shoulders with it. I feel like he has good words with it. I feel like it\u2019s a good relationship to have, especially when out there. So trying to follow suit, in a way.<\/em> \u201d<\/p>\n

On how he feels working with Drake Maye:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited. I really look forward to it. It\u2019s crazy because when you ask around, he has a lot of similarities with people say through the grapevine, he acts a lot like Josh [Allen]. That was my guy, so I look forward to meeting and connecting with him.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

On working with a young quarterback:<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing that I got the experience, I\u2019ve been doing this for ten and a half years \u2013 I always add the half now \u2013 but I\u2019ve played with a lot of quarterbacks. I\u2019ve been around a lot of quarterbacks, so learning the quarterback, getting to know him, spending more time with him. Once you know somebody on a more personal level, I feel like it\u2019s a lot of carry-over to the field, whether they\u2019re risk-takers or like to play aggressive, like to play smart, and just honing in on what he\u2019s good at. <\/em><\/p>\n

“We played him last year. He shows a lot of fight. He got that fiery quarterback, \u2018I want to win\u2019 mindset. That\u2019s something that I get excited about and love to be around. But as far as his development as a quarterback, I feel like that\u2019s not really too much of my job. My job is to get up and catch the ball. I just look forward to getting back out there and being one of the weapons for him.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\"Ja'Whaun<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Ja\u2019Whaun Bentley: <\/b>The inside linebacker and defensive captain was released on Friday. ESPN\u2019s Mike Reiss was the first to report it. Bentley was a terrific linebacker for the Patriots, but with a new coaching regime and new defensive philosophy that favored faster, more athletic linebackers, Bentley didn\u2019t fit what they were looking for. His release gives him a chance to latch on with another team early.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week,<\/span> right here in this column<\/span><\/a>, I asked if Bentley could be going this season. He tried to lose weight to fit more in the attacking style of defense.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Could this signal Marte Mapu moving back to linebacker this season?<\/span><\/p>\n

Matt Stevens: <\/b>The Patriots announced that former Patriot safety Stevens, who was part of the Super Bowl XXXVI winning team has died. Stevens was 51. He played eight seasons in the NFL.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He was paralyzed from the waist down in a motorcycle accident in 2007, but took part in clinical trials that allowed him to regain mobility with special leg braces, according to the team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hunter at #4: <\/b>Who the Patriots draft at #4 is still really up in the air. Depending on how the board falls, it could be Will Campbell or perhaps another left tackle. But one scenario that appears very possible is for the Patriots drafting WR\/CB Travis Hunter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Giants signed Jameis Winston and then added Russell Wilson on a one-year deal. Neither is considered a long-term answer at QB. The Giants are reportedly enamored with Shadeur Sanders. They had a scout at every Colorado game last season. Things could break well for the Patriots to nab Hunter in one scenario.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tennessee is expected to take quarterback Cam Ward with the #1 pick. Cleveland, with the #2 pick, is expected to take Abdul Carter to pair up with Myles Garrett as bookend edge rushers. That leaves the Giants with the #3 pick. If they pick Sanders as their future quarterback, it would leave the Patriots with the opportunity to take Travis Hunter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While nothing is guaranteed, it remains a possibility. One thing to remember is that Eliot Wolf is from the Green Bay school of draft philosophy. And the Packers traditionally draft OL\/DL in the first round, and WRs in the second. However, Hunter is considered a potential generational talent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If he\u2019s on the board at #4, it would be very difficult to pass him up. Plus, Hunter and Diggs, with Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, and Antonio Gibson out of the backfield, would give Josh McDaniels plenty of options to design plays with.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mack Hollins:<\/b> Don\u2019t go to sleep on Hollins. The big target enjoyed the best season of his career playing with McDaniels and the Raiders, catching 57 passes. He should be a big red zone target for Drake Maye.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vrabel on the Chris Long podcast had this to say about Hollins:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I haven\u2019t heard one person say anything negative other than maybe wear some shoes once in a while.\u00a0 But other than that \u2026<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I mean, just his intelligence. It\u2019s just you\u2019re talking to a very mature person. I love the conversations that I have with him. It\u2019s like, successful family. His brothers are successful, his family. We were excited to be able to add him. I\u2019ve always looked at him from afar and said, \u2018Man, this guy is somebody that could always play for us,\u2019 and we weren\u2019t able to add him, but he\u2019s had success against us, and now we\u2019re able to add him through this process<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ashton Jeanty: <\/b>The Patriots have many ways to go with the #4 pick as mentioned above. Left tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, defensive tackle, tight end, but running back? Mike Dussault of <\/span>Patriots.com<\/span><\/a> did a mock draft where he had the Patriots going in a different direction with their top pick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While I tend to think that the Patriots will go in a different direction. Mike\u2019s choice was brilliant in that it got people talking (mostly unfit to print LOL), but it opened the door to think outside the box.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeanty is definitely one of the top players in the draft and one who seems destined for a very successful career in the NFL. Kendrick Bourne hung out with Jeanty a bit this week and offered this on his Instagram page:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Jeanty to the Patriots<\/span><\/i>?\u201d Still a long shot considering the other needs of the team, but it would be intriguing to see.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast:<\/b> Derek and I discussed the Stefon Diggs signing and the tight ends and offensive line prospects in the draft.\u00a0 Please check us out and listen to us on YouTube,<\/span> Apple, or wherever you listen to podcasts<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russ Francis\/Chuck Fairbanks:<\/b> The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn\u2019t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders\u2019 Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be displayed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis\u2019 numbers stand up well against Casper\u2019s, yet he isn\u2019t even in the team\u2019s HOF.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Mike<\/p>\n

(PHOTO: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

More on How Vrabel and Wolf Have Rebuilt The Middle of the Defense:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Last season was a nightmare for the Patriots. The offensive line was a mess between injuries and subpar play. The defense was porous, but it was expected to be the team\u2019s strength and keep them in games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The defense, specifically the middle of the defense from top to bottom, suffered injuries that decimated them. And with an entirely new coaching staff, with coordinators and a head coach in their first years at that position, the task overwhelmed them. And not to rehash the Jerod Mayo staff, but they are good coaches who will eventually get their chances to shine elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It started early. Rising star Christian Barmore suffered from blood clots, and they lost their best defensive lineman. In Week 2, Ja\u2019Whaun Bentley, a defensive captain and the glue in the inside linebacker position, went down. His injury was one that the team never recovered from. Suddenly, the middle of the defense was a weak spot in the running game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The two safeties, Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger, were lost for significant time. Peppers had an off-field incident that caused him to miss several games. He was eventually cleared of his most serious charges. Dugger suffered an injury that was much worse than initially thought. His play suffered all season, but he had offseason surgery and should be better by the start of training camp.<\/span><\/p>\n

Faster, Attacking Style:<\/b><\/h3>\n

The new coaching staff wants to play a faster, more attacking style of defense that doesn\u2019t play the traditional two-gapping style they played for more than two decades under Bill Belichick and Mayo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first domino was signing Milton Williams, who is an ascending disruptor and penetrator on the defensive line. Davon Godchaux is gone but the team signed Khyiris Tonga from the Cardinals. With Bentley\u2019s health still a question, the #4 pick could include Mason Graham, the DL from Michigan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots signed Robert Spillane to man the MLB spot. He fits that faster, more athletic profile. They resigned Christian Ellis to a pretty nice payday, and added Jack Gibbens, who is a sneaky good linebacker, who didn\u2019t move the needle much when signed, but he\u2019s a very highly-rated linebacker according to PFF. He\u2019ll bear watching this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

He can read the play and attack downhill.\u00a0 He\u2019s good in coverage. With the Bentley release, I wonder if Marte Mapu is being switched back to linebacker. He fits that faster, athletic mold. Both starting safeties return, but they also added Marcus Epps on a one-year deal, who is more of a free safety than the others.<\/span><\/p>\n

That is improving right down the middle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pass Rush Improvement:<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Patriots’ pass rush was virtually non-existent in 2024, a huge dropoff from 2022. Think about how far they fell in two years. In the 2022 season, the Patriots were the #4 team in pressure rate, yet blitzed less than the three teams ahead of them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, with Keion White still in the fold, they signed veteran edge rusher Harold Landry, who played for Coach Vrabel in Tennessee. During his six-year career, Landry has averaged 8.8 sacks and does a terrific job of setting the edge.\u00a0 The team also signed K\u2019Lavon Chaisson from the Raiders, who got hot at the end of the season. The Patriots are hoping he can replicate that in 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Boundary Corner:<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Patriots have Christian Gonzalez, who is outstanding at cornerback. But on the opposite side, there were some struggles. They have some young talent there, but they need more time. But in free agency, the team brought in Carlton Davis III. Davis and Gonzalez now give the Patriots and outstanding duo at the boundary corners with Marcus Jones playing the slot corner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These are excellent additions to the Patriots\u2019 defense. And they were needed. And they still aren\u2019t done by a long shot. They have nine draft picks and have the cap space left to make a trade or two after the draft to add more talent to the team. They\u2019ve had an excellent start to team building.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

______________<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u201cYeah. You know what I mean? I think that there\u2019s guys up there that we have to have from that position, right? When you say the a**hole, right? That\u2019s somebody that\u2019s disruptive, that\u2019s creating a tone, setting a tone, creating a standard of what it is to play with speed and violence and physicality and effort and relentlessness.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel good about what we\u2019ve done. We\u2019re excited about what Milton [Williams] is going to bring to our football team. We\u2019re excited to see where Christian Barmore is coming back and where his availability is going to be. Continue to work with some of these young guys, excited about where Keion White and his ability to continue to work on his technique. He\u2019s such a talented athlete with size, that if we can continue to refine some of this technique, that it really is going to help him. You know how technical the position can be.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThen conversely, you got to have guys up front that are going to\u2026 Who\u2019s going to combat some of these players on defense? Who\u2019s going to block some of these premier players that get drafted high? That\u2019s always the struggle that I find, is who\u2019s going to be the guy that stands up to the a**hole on the other side.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Patriots HC Mike Vrabel was asked by Chris Long, who is going to be the a**hole on the defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Special person as I\u2019ve gotten to know him.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to cut you off, but special person, raising three boys like these kids, man. He signed, and I FaceTimed him, and the boys were there. He took them out of school and he had candy and stuff, and they were all smiles. He says, \u2018Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll be taking them out at 4: 00. They\u2019re going to be training. They\u2019re going to be working this candy off.\u2019 I\u2019m like, Man, you can give them one day off, You give them a day off. You let them eat candy and not have to go work them out.<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots\u2019 HC Mike Vrabel on the special player and person that Morgan Moses is.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>You know, you don\u2019t need a miracle to win football games. You just need the right people in the building. Obviously with Coach Vrabel here, we\u2019ve got the right people. Our owner is an amazing owner, and then obviously we\u2019ve got the right people here. CD won a Super Bowl; Milton just won a Super Bowl. They\u2019re going to bring knowledge of the game on how to bring longevity through those weeks of week 18, 19, 20 when it hurts, when people want to tap out, how to keep going.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important for us to be able to learn from one another, and everybody has different qualities. Robert, he told \u2014 eight years in the league as a free agent without a tryout, and he comes in here and now he\u2019s 140 tackles two years in a row. That doesn\u2019t happen overnight. That\u2019s preparation. That\u2019s dawg. That\u2019s brotherhood. That\u2019s mentality. That\u2019s somebody that comes in the building every day to learn.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cSo guys are going to get around these guys and we\u2019re going to talk football, we\u2019re going to talk IQ, we\u2019re going to talk brotherhood, we\u2019re going to learn about each other on the field and off the field, so when we get on the field, nothing that comes at us \u2014 no adversity that touches us on the field is going to be able to break us, because we\u2019re going to have an unbelievable bond.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cSo when we run out of that tunnel on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, you\u2019re going to see something different. You\u2019re going to feel something different because we\u2019re going to go out there as one unit and we\u2019re going to play football together.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

RT Morgan Moses on building a culture on the team.<\/span><\/p>\n

_______________<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, \u2018Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we\u2019re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we\u2019re making<\/span><\/i>.\u2019\u201d \u2014 Mike Vrabel<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at<\/span><\/i> stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our<\/span><\/i> Patriots 4th and 2<\/span><\/i><\/a> podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Russ Goldman, Derek Havens, and I from<\/span><\/i> PatsFans.com<\/span><\/i><\/a> discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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