Gronk, Drew Brees dismiss concerns about Patriots hiring Vrabel originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Mike Vrabel looks like the leader in the clubhouse will be the head coach of the New England Patriots. But should his background give the team pause?
After all, Vrabel has spent almost his entire NFL career as a player and coach on the defensive side of the ball. He won three Super Bowls in New England as an outside linebacker, served as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans, and did not call offensive plays during his six-year stint as head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
While Vrabel obviously has strong ties to the PatriotsIs a head coach with such a defense-heavy resume the right choice for a New England team that desperately needs to show improvement on offense, and whose best player is a 22-year-old quarterback? Or would the Patriots be better off hiring someone like Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who could help turn Drake Maye into a superstar?
Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak and Bertrand Tuesday and explained why Vrabel’s defensive record shouldn’t be a problem for New England.
“I feel like New England fans will be happy if either of them gets hired here,” Gronkowski said of Vrabel and Johnson. “But a defensive-minded head coach definitely needs to have defense to win a championship, and a guy like Mike Vrabel, who is defensive-minded, is ready to lead a team and will put someone around him.” also on the offensive side of the ball to execute offensive schemes and do a solid job on that side.
“So, yeah, it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re ready to play, a defensive-minded coach is not a problem.”
Gronkowski raises two important points. First, the Patriots defense. also It desperately needs to improve after ranking 22nd in the NFL in points per game allowed (24.5) and in the bottom third of the league in several other defensive metrics. So if Vrabel can help shore up that side of the ball, it will be a win for the Patriots.
Second, Vrabel could still set Maye up for success if he hires the right offensive coordinator. Former Patriots OC Josh McDaniels It has been speculated as a possible option.so perhaps a setup where McDaniels (or another experienced OC) has full control of the offense and works closely with Maye could pay dividends.
Brees co-signed Gronkowski’s take, And he added that the coach’s top priority would be to act as “CEO” and empower his coordinators.
“At the end of the day, your number one job is to create culture and create a standard and then hold everyone accountable for that,” Brees said. “We’ve seen a lot of head coaches over the years who, maybe they weren’t the defensive play-callers, or they weren’t the offensive play-callers, but they were the CEOs, right?
“They were this guy who could lead, who could hold guys accountable, who could build a great staff and then say, ‘Hey, offense, put the best guys in place to help teach and coach that side of the ball.'” .
Of course, Jerod Mayo was in a similar “CEO” position last season. and was fired after finishing 4-13. Therefore, the Patriots will have to make sure whoever they hire next has the right support staff around them.