FOXBOROUGH - As the Patriots kicked off their three-day mandatory minicamp in Foxborough, head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear this week isn't a dramatic shift, it's a continuation.

"This is just an extension of the last nine or 10 days that we've had on the field," Vrabel said before Tuesday's session. "We're going to continue on with our installation, start to try to put first, second, and third down together, move down into the red zone."

While the pads won't come on until training camp, the focus this week is on situational football and execution, particularly in the passing game.

Drake Maye was particularly sharp during team periods, building on a strong OTA practice last week. Maye had multiple connections with Kendrick Bourne, Pop Douglas and Hunter Henry throughout the session, including full team periods in both the middle of the field and in the red zone.

"We just have to understand that there's parameters to how we compete," Vrabel added. "Staying away from the quarterback, staying off the ground, not going through receivers."

In that regard, it was mostly a clean practice for the Patriots. Drops and miscues were rare, with only one defensive offside penalty standing out as an obvious mistake.

Otherwise, the Patriots showed they're continuing to grow into the mold that Vrabel has designed, with young players earning opportunities and older veteran players reestablishing themselves.

"Every day, somebody shows us something," he said. "Now it's, 'Can we continue to do it consistently?'"

With red zone and no-huddle work on the script this week, the competition is heating up, even in helmets and shorts.

Patriots Remade Front Seven Draws Attention

With fresh faces and familiar standouts blending across all three levels of the defense, the Patriots' new-look unit showed flashes of the identity it hopes to forge in 2025: aggressive, fast, and unified.

While the offense continues to build brick by brick, the defense is doing their best to execute while contact remains at a minimum. Vrabel acknowledged it can be a challenging task on that side of the ball in June.

"This is a tough time," said Vrabel. "It's just like, 'Hey, rush the passer, be a physical presence as a D-Lineman,' and then, 'pull back and get out of the way, no bull rushing' and all these things that we give them, but I'm excited about where they're at. They're learning a lot of installation. I think they're working well together. I think they're communicating, which is important. I think they're working hard and they're getting in shape."

Even with the limitations, the defensive unit continues to show tantalizing potential. Carlton Davis came up with a pass defensed while third-year player Isaiah Bolden picked off a pass that he would've taken to the end zone. Though it was a strong day for the offense in terms of execution, the defense continues to make an impression with their attacking style.

Add those plays on the ball with a disruptive front line and it's easy to see why the players are excited about what they're building, even if they won't see the true returns until August.

Christian Barmore, one of the most vocal and explosive players on the field, has been a full participant in OTAs, often pairing with free agency signing Milton Williams to give the Patriots two disruptive players who should haunt opposing quarterbacks this fall.

Barmore said he and Williams, along with the rest of the defensive line, are forming the bonds now that will carry them through the campaign this fall.

"We talk to each other more, study more together. We're in the meetings together. It's not about one player — it's about everybody," Barmore said, emphasizing the unit's all-for-one mentality.

What stands out to him? The sheer athleticism.

"We got a lot of elite athletes, guys that can just ball, like speed and quickness," Barmore said.

Edge player Harold Landry has had a similar impression of the budding Patriots defense. The former Boston College standout has looked comfortable back in New England while playing in a familiar scheme as a consistent presence on the end of the line.

"We got a talented group up front, I'll tell you that," said Landry after practice. "That's another reason why I'm excited for this season, just all the way up and down, our front seven, I just feel super excited. Really, the whole defense, to be honest, it's an exciting group to be around… because you just look at it and you feel the excitement of the production that you can have going out there, knowing that everybody out there has that play making ability, and that's exciting to be a part of."

For the new addition from the Super Bowl champion Eagles, Williams is already finding his role in Foxborough, praising the culture and tempo of the practices.

"It's been good," said Williams of the spring sessions. "Just trying to get familiar with everybody, get familiar with the system [and] communication. And just getting around the guys, seeing what they like to do, how we're gonna rush together, you know, just working on being one unit."

Williams fits right into a defense that's prioritizing speed and disruption up front. With an array of players who can fit any need, there will be plenty for defensive coordinator Terrell Williams to play with.

"I think that's got to be a strength for us this year, that front seven," said Vrabel before the minicamp practice. "We certainly invested in that position, and I like how they're competing. I like how they're working."

"A big part of my game is physicality," said Williams. "So, you know, right now [there's] only so much we can do, as far as, rushing power, or, like, stopping to run and things like that. So, it's just been a lot of finesse. But like I said, we've just been focusing on communication, trying to execute, and ending up in the right spot."

While the team is still in helmets and shells, there's already a clear vision taking shape. This is a Patriots defense that plans to win with its aggressiveness, athleticism and collective mindset. Barmore, Landry and Williams may come from different systems and backgrounds, but all three echoed the same sentiment: it's about playing fast, playing together, and playing for each other.

As minicamp continues, the defense will be forced to spin their wheels while they wait for the pads to come on, but once they do, look out.

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer