“We don’t have a very deep team”: Mike Vrabel’s words that made waves with the Patriots
The NFL preseason usually leaves more questions than answers, and not even a victory can disguise the weaknesses.
After the game where the Eagles triumphed over Philadelphia, the coach spoke about his team's depth and then clarified that his words were not a message to the front office. Mike Vrabel left a remark that quickly drew attention after the New England Patriots ’ 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles . The coach did not mince words when asked about his decisions during the preseason.
After the Patriots ' victory over the Eagles , Mike justified the absence of several starters with a specific phrase: “I don’t think we have a very deep team” . The statement could leave another question on the table: Was it a direct jab at management demanding signings?
“We are the front office”
This Monday, the Patriots head coach appeared on The Greg Hill Show and expanded on his remarks. There, he was asked directly whether his comment about the roster's depth had been a message to the New England front office.
“We are the front office," Vrabel answered. "We are all making the decisions. We’re all included in this. It was about the young guys we have to develop. You can see that the players we kept out of the game, those are the guys. And we have to be able to find some guys behind them to be backups, to be the first guy in. To be the third outside linebacker. Be the third inside linebacker. Be the sixth offensive lineman. These things that are so critical. Be the third safety
The coach made it clear that he was talking about the development process of young players. The football players who were left out of the game were precisely some of the starters the Patriots need to protect, while the challenge is to prepare those behind them to take on an important role if needed.
Vrabe l admitted to having spoken that same morning with Eliot Wolf, the team's director of personnel, to align their strategy. He assured that there is no internal conflict. The coaching staff knows perfectly well what is on the roster, and although the priority remains to maximize young talent in practices, the market door is not closed.
“So those are the things that we are trying to develop, and I guess that’s what I was referencing. I can walk back, and I’ve already talked to (executive vice president of player personnel) Eliot (Wolf) this morning, and these aren’t issues. I’m not in a subtle context – that wasn’t that. They asked why we didn’t play the guys, and we have to have everybody we have available and then continue to develop and see some guys that went out and played like they did on Saturday night to continue to build that depth.
What having depth means for Vrabel
Vrabel's explanation makes that initial statement easier to understand. The coach is thinking about the players who must come in when a starter is out and believes that those footballers need to be prepared to take on an important role.
"The reason is simple: during an NFL season, starters cannot play in every game and every snap. Injuries and game situations make it necessary to use the backups, so Vrabel wants those players to be ready to come in without the team’s functioning changing too much.
The Patriots coach still expects answers
Just days before the final roster cutdown, New England is caught in a race against the clock: finding those answers on its own training camp field or scrambling to look for them on the league’s cut list. The coach did not rule out the possibility that New England could look for players outside the current roster. The Patriots could be evaluating signings, waivers, or trades as the cut that will define the roster draws near.
But the priority is also within the team itself. The preseason is precisely for finding out which young players can take that step and become real alternatives for the season. Something that the coach and the front office currently have as their main objective.
