Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Transcript 10/27

PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL

PRESS CONFERENCE

October 27, 2025

 

Q: Eight weeks in, Mike, has anything about this team or where you’re at exceeded your expectations?

MV: I don’t think that that’s fair to necessarily say – exceeded any expectations. I don’t have expectations. We just have things that we want to try to focus on and improve on. I think that they believe in themselves, that they believe that they’re going to make some plays, that they’re not really panicking, signs of complimentary football and signs of preparation, then some things that we have to continue to correct. I think that that’s really good when you can find ways to win, end the game with the football in your hand and kneeling on it. Those are things that I think good teams find a way to do. We just have to play a little better and keep improving through this stretch here in the middle of the season, where guys are banged up and weeks kind of start to – the days, they kind of really just start to be similar. I like the consistency of it, but I just don’t want guys to get flat or some of these veteran guys, that we’ve got to be conscious of getting their bodies back in this time of year.

 

Q: Mike, it felt like you guys were able to get TreVeyon [Henderson] going a little bit yesterday. I just wanted to ask you, on some of those pitch plays, those misdirection pitch plays, what makes those hard to defend, do you think? And does it put doubt in the minds of defensive players if you’re able to hit on one of those early in the game?

MV: Well, a lot of that is predicated on the defense that they’re playing. Sometimes zone, corners that may roll up, pressure to a certain side or whatever it may be. So, it felt like that was something that we could do this week. It was good to hit a couple of those. Guys did a nice job of getting out in front of them and were able to hit some explosive gains that way. So, it’ll be kind of all separate each and every week based on what we need or what we feel like we can do.

 

Q: What do you think TreVeyon did well yesterday?

MV: I mean, I thought he ran well out in space. I thought he made a good cut on one of those perimeter plays. Continued to work and got a couple of returns – I felt like we could be better there. But being able to have his speed on the edge. Again, we’re going to try to use all the skill players that we have, just like yesterday, Mack [Hollins]’s the leading receiver by the numbers. So, kind of each week, I think everybody’s ready to go and tries to take advantage of their opportunity, no different than the running backs.

 

Q: How do you feel that Will Campbell played yesterday? He had a few battles with a future Hall of Famer. What’s your message to him?

MV: I mean, I think that it’s always a challenge when you play Myles Garrett. It’s hard to recreate that speed and that type of – what are we going to do on the show team? Who do we have? If we did, they wouldn’t be on the show team. So, there were some good plays, good blocks, patience, closing the space and did a good job in the run game. Then some plays that, again, he would like to have back. I think that’s what happens, but I think Will’s going to keep practicing, improving and continuing to help us.

 

Q: Mike, on some of those chips with Hunter [Henry], when Garrett came off of him, for lack of better – is there too much of a runway?

MV: Yeah, probably we just need to close the space a little bit. Close the space and know that everybody else is on their own. We have to commit two players to Myles, as opposed to maybe hanging in there a little bit. So, I think we will all learn from that, be able to improve and understand. He’s seen those all the time, so he knows when he’s coming off that chip, that we have to probably close the distance and know that he’s ready to make another move or another couple moves.

 

Q: What are some things that set Josh McDaniels apart as a play designer and a play caller? It seemed like Drake [Maye] had some really wide-open targets at times and obviously TreVeyon getting it going outside.

MV: Well, I think as a play designer, I’m excited where everybody is offensively in kind of being able to collaborate and come together, provide ideas, allow Josh to kind of figure out what he wants to do each and every week. Whether that’s the run game or play-pass, movement series, screens, drop back passes, so I like where that’s at. Then I think as far as the play calling, that’s just a feel. That’s an understanding of what we need, where they’re at, what they’re trying to do. Trying to marry some concepts together with some of their run actions. I think he’s done a great job, not only this year, but being able to see what he’s done in the past, that’s always just a feel of, “We showed this, let’s come back, let’s try to show him the same presentation, but run a different play.” Then some of the guys free, I think just – I don’t know if that’s the – I mean, Pop [DeMario Douglas] was free because the quarterback extended and they didn’t cover him. So, we need to continue to do that and find ways to get the ball out on time, but then also allow the quarterback to extend. So, to answer your question, I like where we are offensively, the collaboration, the communication, the efficiency to put the game plan together, and then Josh’s ability to marry off different concepts that we have.

 

Q: Mike, onside kick, how much of that is just tip your cap to them for good execution versus something you guys could have done?

MV: We could do something better, yeah. We’ve got to block them on the hopper, we’ve got to let the guy – the ball recovery guy – go get the ball and we’ve got to block. Then the spinner’s a different one where we want to get on it. So, good thing that we can learn from that. We can practice that and not have that be the difference in the ball game.

 

Q: Coach, the trade deadline is a week from tomorrow. Is there a certain point this week where those conversations ramp up, or is it just an ongoing process?

MV: I probably would assume that those are ongoing conversations that the personnel people have. They’re gauging the market around the league.

 

Q: Mike, culture building has been such a big talking point surrounding this team. Up to this point, what has it been like for you cultivating that and seeing how your players are responding?

MV: I mean, I enjoy it. I enjoy putting the right staff together and enjoy trying to encourage the people in the building. I try to help them do their job better. I hope they enjoy coming to work here. Then as far as the players, it’s just trying to get the right people in the building that are willing to make connections with each other, to be accountable, to do what they’re supposed to do, to practice and then ultimately win. That’s why we’re here. So, I want them to enjoy coming to work. I want them to enjoy being on this football team and being a part of this team.

 

Q: You mentioned putting the right staff together. There’s been a lot on Zak [Kuhr]’s plate in the last month or so. How is he handling all of that?

MV: Really well. Really well. I mean, everybody over there, and Zak’s leading that charge, they do a good job of communicating, and they’re trying to help each other. I feel like their communication during the game, what we’re able to get done, talking about making adjustments or fixing mistakes quickly and talking about, “Hey, this bunch and this is what they did,” or, “Hey, we’ve got to be alert and make sure we’re on top of that.” I feel like there’s really good communication, and they’ve done a good job.

 

Q: Mike, you’ve talked about dirty runs. How do you define a dirty run, and were there examples of that with Rhamondre [Stevenson] because he didn’t have a ton of yards yesterday?

MV: Yeah, I think there were. Those ones where they got the box, kind of everybody’s down in there and we have to – there’s usually contact within the first couple yards of the line of scrimmage, you’ve got to break a tackle or push a pile, and I think one of our better runs yesterday was contact at 1 or 2 yards, then he comes out of it and runs for 9 yards. Unfortunately, we didn’t gain anything on second-and-1 and jumped offsides on third-and-1, but that doesn’t negate the fact that that was still a good run. It’s the ones where – again, it’s not like a clean look, and you’re not sprinting into the second level untouched. Some of those happen and hopefully we get a lot of those, but the other ones where you’ve just got to make your own hole as a running back.

 

Q: Mike, what makes Robert Spillane a good run defender?

MV: I think he’s got good instincts. I think that he stays square on contact. I think he plays with his hands, doesn’t get tied up on too many blocks, and can kind of see things and fit things, whether that’s a gap scheme, outside zone, inside zone, all the different run schemes. I think he sees them well.

 

Q: How do you anticipate things unfolding with Terrell Jennings now that he’s out of elevations? Do you think he comes up to the 53, or is that sort of like a wait and see?

MV: No, I mean, I would imagine that Terrell is going to – I mean, I think we all want Terrell here. So, however we have to handle that, I mean, the only other option is just to bring him up. So, he’s been a good addition, he’s been prepared for his opportunities, helped on special teams. He had a tackle yesterday on kickoff. So, those are all really good things. I think he’s a good teammate, and so, yeah, I think that that’s only probably procedural at the end of the week.

 

 

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