Whether talking to a player or coach on the defensive side of the football, a common theme and buzzword was used time and again.
The defense’s mantra under Mike Vrabel’s new regime?
“Violence.”
Safeties coach Scott Booker described how that mantra would be implemented.
“We are going to make sure on tape, day in and day out, that people see our violence,” Booker told MassLive at a recent availability with the coaching staff. “And it’s not just in tackling, it’s in re-routing, it’s in everything you do.”
Usually, you hear words like “aggressive,” “tenacious” or “forceful” when it comes to labels defenses want attached to them. While football is inherently violent, the Patriots want to take it to another level – legally, of course.
Acting defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr did his best to define what that meant.
“Being aggressive – being violent. Not turning down blocks. Having a good toolbox of tools to defeat the offensive player, but it’s not just always finesse,“ Kuhr said. ”There is some physicality there and some violence. We’re huge into guys that don’t mind playing violent football.”
For those wondering why so many defensive players from the Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo regimes are still around, look no further than how they play.
Jabrill Peppers, Kyle Dugger, Christian Barmore and Keion White have that quality in spades.
“In press-man, we’re going to be a challenging, violent defense, and it’s great to have those guys do that without having to push and prod them,” Booker said. “That’s in their DNA, and we’re just going to bring that out.”
How hard is it to maintain violence in a league that loves throwing flags?
“That’s our charge as coaches, to make sure guys understand the rules and to use them to our advantage,” Booker went on. “So we’re constantly teaching them the rules, teaching them where to legally be able to hit guys both re-routing, and tackling.
“That’s a constant charge for us. The willingness of the guys is there, all we need to do is make sure they do it legally.”
Former Patriots great and WEEI host Ted Johnson has heard the violence theme being spouted by the coaching staff, and reinforced by members of the defense.
He takes it as a positive that the players have embraced the message, and like the scope and vision the coaches have laid out for the defense. Johnson suggested it could also mean the new regime believes that element was missing from recent Patriots defenses.
“The fact that they’re highlighting it … I guess they didn’t think prior defenses played with that (violence),” Johnson said. “It is an interesting choice of words because it does signal a bit of a different message to the player. ‘Oh, they want violence’ … Then that becomes focused on the attitude which you approach your job.
“If you think of ‘we want to be violent’ that’s not a term typically used, but it seems like they want to over-emphasize it in some way, the aggressiveness in the way they want to play.”
Whatever the case, Vrabel & Co. have definitely planted the seed both in-house, and down the road for opposing teams. They’re flashing a neon sign.
Johnson was a spectator at the Patriots recent minicamp and noted how there was an emphasis on team tackling as he watched pursuit drills.
“Everyone was running to the ball on every single play,” Johnson said. “That’s another message embedded in that word.”
Johnson believes Vrabel, and by extension the personnel staff, targeted players (Milton Williams, Harold Landry, Khyiris Tonga, Robert Spillane) with certain mindsets.
“I think that’s hugely important,” Johnson said. “I think (Bill) Parcells did that. And I’ve always compared Vrabel to Parcells stylistically, and I think Bill Parcells looked for violent players, and I think Vrabel is the same way . . . they aren’t just tough players, but go a little bit further than that.”
Whether it’s using more violence, or simply having better players, the expectation is for the unit to be more formidable than last year.
In 2024, the defense was ranked last in sacks (28), 22nd in total yards allowed (342.9 yards per game), and 22nd in points allowed per game (24.5), just to name a few.
“I think they’ll make a big improvement,” Johnson said. “I think they’ll be a smart defense. During the two minicamps I watched, I didn’t see a lot of busted coverages . . . I didn’t see a defense that didn’t know what to do.
“I feel like they have a lot of players who will make it easier for them to be aggressive in their play-calling, and free up some guys to create pressure. So I do like the makeup of what this defense looks like.”
