Ready, willing and Vrabel: a Mike (linebacker) thread

[Eric Fernsten's Disco Mustache]

@Chad Finn linked to this old Ringer article that, if I ever read, I'd forgotten

It was published just after he won coach of the year, and just about nine months before he was fired.

The article gives you a real sense of his bedside manner, and why he probably needs to be paired with a GM who is comfortable with, shall we say, honesty and direct communication.

Like, say

“Beat that, fat boy.”

One interesting gaff on the way Vrabel thinks about the Xs and Os

Fortunately, one thing that comes up when you talk to players about Vrabel is his command of every position. He does not limit himself to one position of expertise or even one side of the ball. “He knows their checks and our checks,” safety Kevin Byard said of practices. Ben Jones said Vrabel has meetings on Fridays where he teaches football at large, maybe even a little history, instead of one scheme or focus. What Vrabel wants is the ability to have a functional conversation with every player on his team about what that player’s being taught...

Vrabel’s journey to understand as many schemes as he could started by playing many roles and in many complicated defenses. As a rookie in Pittsburgh, “3-4, blitzing fucking everywhere,” Vrabel said. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett would introduce a blitz and they’d be out practicing it two hours later. His time with Bill Belichick only accelerated that. Hell, Vrabel caught 10 touchdowns as a spare tight end with the Patriots. In New England, he also learned about preparation, and size and speed requirements at different positions. Because of his varied football education, he does not exclusively subscribe to any particular scheme. Smith said this is one of the major things he loved about working for Vrabel—how flexible his mind is.

Vrabel told me he believes there are a few non-negotiables to winning: You have to protect the football, affect the other team’s quarterback, and be efficient throwing the football. And be great in situational football: Almost 60 percent of games are decided by eight points or less, and a similar number are won in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime. Beyond that, he’s up for more or less anything.

Discuss any and all things specific to the man who may be our next HC here

 

[Dotrat]

There were similar quotes from Ben Jones in a Mike Giardi piece, which is why he's my first choice for the HC gig:
Giardi: Former Titan tells you why the Patriots should want Mike Vrabel to be their coach

"He gave us a clear vision of what it took to win," said Jones. "Guys see it and believe it. That's what sets him apart. He knows how to take the upcoming game and give us goals that we can achieve each week."

Vrabel gave the team three markers to hit on offense and three on defense. Every. Single. Week.

"If we hit 'em, we won," admired Jones.

How did Vrabel find those edges? Preparation. He and his staff were relentless and not afraid to operate outside the margins. They asked his players to put forth that same effort. Jones recalls watching tape, having Vrabel sit beside him, asking him questions. Why did you make this call and set the protection a certain way? Why are you blocking that player in such a manner? As long as you could explain your process, the head coach was good with it.

Vrabel would also have his staff put together 30 or so penalty calls every week, then contact the head of officials and ask for them to explain. There was the Friday teaching tape - shown to the entire team and staff - showing important plays - game-winning or game-changing plays - from other games the week prior.

"It could be Hail Mary procedure or four-minute offense," Jones told me. "It could be, hey, these referees are calling pass interference when you do this, or hey, this is showing up on special teams. This is the new punt block trend. We saw everything the week before, so it wouldn't happen to us. So we're prepared for those situations where a lot of teams I've been on, you just worried about yourself and the game plan.

"We knew the scenario before it happened."

Edit: typos

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I'll be happy with Vrabel if he is the hire. I'd even be happy with Vrabel as HC and Josh McD as OC if Vrabel wants him.

I think his tenure in TN was pretty good for a first time coach and I don't think the couple of bad years at the end were entirely his fault.

I also like that he's not really a "BB coaching tree" guy. He has plenty of outside experience, contacts, etc.

 

[JimD]

It's become accepted wisdom among Vrabel's detractors that he shot his way out of Tennessee and is hard to work with, but that Titans organization is increasingly looking like a dumpster fire with a meddlesome owner at the helm.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

If the Pats hire him, I will root for him to succeed but I will once again point out that its hard to dismiss those last few years in Tennessee. He didn't inherit the roster (I know he had beef over personnel with the front office but still), he didn't have to implement his system - they were already his from years prior.

To me that coaching arc looks like Vrabes motivational magic ran out just about the time when key people on the roster and within the organization departed.

But again, if they go this way its in Vrabes we trust.

 

[EddieYost]

What's the over under on hours/days after the "We interviewed Ben Johnson" message until we get the "We hired Mike Vrabel" message?

 

[tims4wins]

What's the over under on hours/days after the "We interviewed Ben Johnson" message until we get the "We hired Mike Vrabel" message?

There were predictions out there that we'd get an announcement tomorrow with a Tuesday press conference.

 

[Eric Fernsten's Disco Mustache]

What's the over under on hours/days after the "We interviewed Ben Johnson" message until we get the "We hired Mike Vrabel" message?

There were predictions out there that we'd get an announcement tomorrow with a Tuesday press conference.

There were predictions that Kraft was never going to fire Mayo and he was going to be back for at least one more season

 

[tims4wins]

Logan Ryan is a fan

https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2025/01/patriots-super-bowl-winner-who-played-for-mike-vrabel-sees-a-perfect-fit.html

 

[Van Everyman]

Logan Ryan is a fan

https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2025/01/patriots-super-bowl-winner-who-played-for-mike-vrabel-sees-a-perfect-fit.html

Some interesting quotes. For those who wonder about the coaching tree problems with Bill:

Ryan said players know when coaches are fake, or not being themselves. They know when coaches are acting out-of-character, trying to be something they’re not. That’s not the case with Vrabel. While he might be like Belichick, it’s not forced.

“Players can feel if you’re not being yourself. I felt like players felt when Matt Patricia wasn’t being himself. Or Josh McDaniels wasn’t being himself. They didn’t like playing for those guys,” Ryan said. “So in my opinion, Vrabel has some similarities to Bill, but that’s who Vrabel was.

And some things that expand on what we've already heard:

“I was blown away by how smart he was as a coach, as a strategist, an in-game strategist,” Ryan said. “He really gave us an advantage not only schematically defensively, but just using strategy at the end and knowing exactly what to do situationally.”

This was also interesting:

Ryan also talked about differences from Belichick, and highlighted one in particular. He recalled how Derrick Henry would have a different practice schedule than everyone because of Henry’s workload during games. Vrabel understood the need to protect his star back.

“Derrick got 40 carries in a game, so his practice looked a little different. That was smart. In New England with Bill, everyone had the same exact practice,” Ryan said. “He didn’t care how many carries you had, or how many snaps you played.

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

If the Pats hire him, I will root for him to succeed but I will once again point out that its hard to dismiss those last few years in Tennessee. He didn't inherit the roster (I know he had beef over personnel with the front office but still), he didn't have to implement his system - they were already his from years prior.

To me that coaching arc looks like Vrabes motivational magic ran out just about the time when key people on the roster and within the organization departed.

But again, if they go this way its in Vrabes we trust.

Their offense was 10th, 4th, 15th in total points in the seasons before they traded future a future HoF receiver and made a 1 for 1 replacement for a guy who has 700 receiving yards in 3+ seasons total. After that trade they fell to 28th and 27th. I don't get how you're always talking about data but when it comes to Vrabel it's about "motivational magic!!!" and not one of the worst trades in NFL history having a direct effect on the team's ability to score points.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Their offense was 10th, 4th, 15th in total points in the seasons before they traded future a future HoF receiver and made a 1 for 1 replacement for a guy who has 700 receiving yards in 3+ seasons total. After that trade they fell to 28th and 27th. I don't get how you're always talking about data but when it comes to Vrabel it's about "motivational magic!!!" and not one of the worst trades in NFL history having a direct effect on the team's ability to score points.

4th is pretty good. 10th and 15th are kind of mid. And the defenses were also kind of mid for a guy who is supposedly oriented in that direction.

Like I said, if he is their guy, I am team Vrabel. But unlike some here I have some doubts and that is entirely ok. We are a marketplace of ideas and I have contributed my fair share of bad ones.

Edit: Even if some don't like the "narrative" aspect of this, there are many ways to look at Vrabes tenure with the Titans. It is not a fact that the front office undercut him. That is an opinion and even if that was the case, it still isn't a selling point. Still, I see it as entirely possible that when he lost talent and coaches, he lost his way.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Their offense was 10th, 4th, 15th in total points in the seasons before they traded future a future HoF receiver and made a 1 for 1 replacement for a guy who has 700 receiving yards in 3+ seasons total. After that trade they fell to 28th and 27th. I don't get how you're always talking about data but when it comes to Vrabel it's about "motivational magic!!!" and not one of the worst trades in NFL history having a direct effect on the team's ability to score points.

Probably also worth noting that the collapse came when Arthur Smith left. AJ Brown is awesome... he was not the only (or probably main) reason for the offense fall, it was more OC and O-line issues.

 

[Oil Can Dan]

Their offense was 10th, 4th, 15th in total points in the seasons before they traded future a future HoF receiver and made a 1 for 1 replacement for a guy who has 700 receiving yards in 3+ seasons total. After that trade they fell to 28th and 27th. I don't get how you're always talking about data but when it comes to Vrabel it's about "motivational magic!!!" and not one of the worst trades in NFL history having a direct effect on the team's ability to score points.

So is the message here that unless he has multiple Hall of Fame talents that his offense is going to stink?

 

[gammoseditor]

The Logan Ryan quotes have me feeling a lot better if Vrabel is the guy. I think he’s been undersold as a great leader because it minimizes his actual football knowledge as well. My first impression was that Ben Johnson was well ahead of Vrabel in that department.

 

[Bowser]

Between Johnson and Vrabel, I'd choose the latter. Every couple of years a new young OC comes along, and every couple of years one of these guys graduates to an HC role and underwhelms.

I'd rather lock in the HC and then try to find our own young OC. I'm not interested in McDaniels, who was a good (not great) OC running an elaborate and now somewhat antiquated scheme.

 

[Old Fart Tree]

If the Pats hire him, I will root for him to succeed but I will once again point out that its hard to dismiss those last few years in Tennessee. He didn't inherit the roster (I know he had beef over personnel with the front office but still), he didn't have to implement his system - they were already his from years prior.

To me that coaching arc looks like Vrabes motivational magic ran out just about the time when key people on the roster and within the organization departed.

But again, if they go this way its in Vrabes we trust.

Im in a similar spot. Would really prefer fresh blood but meh, if he’s the guy, they could certainly do worse.