FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots rookies arrived at Gillette Stadium this week, beginning their professional football journeys and getting an early education on how OTA practices will go over the next month in the lead-up to mandatory minicamp in June.
On Friday, the rookies, both their drafted players as well as a collection of tryout players, took to the field inside the WIN Waste Innovations Field House due to rainfall that forced practice inside but did little to dampen the excitement and contagious energy.
For head coach Mike Vrabel, the three-day rookie minicamp will be just the start of a new foundation for the collection of players hoping to infuse the team with a fresh dose of new energy and youthful competition.
"The whole goal this weekend is to get [the rookies] acclimated to the program that we've tried to build over five weeks with our players so that on Monday, they're ready to go as they enter into this end of phase two with our football team, and our football team can see that the players that we brought in are ones that are going to put the team first," said Vrabel. "All the things that we've asked them to do in five weeks, these rookies have to get a crash course. So, excited about that and getting them acclimated."
The hour-plus session was heavy on instruction and positional drills, before finishing the day off with a lightly competitive 7-on-7 period.
"It went awesome," said Will Campbell, the team's top selection at fourth overall in the draft. "Super excited to get out there, get running around again, get back to football. It's been a long process that dragged out, so for us to get back out there, back to the main thing, it's good."
Undrafted quarterback Ben Wooldridge out of Louisiana and tryout player Jake Wilcox from Brown led the offense under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, with rookie receiver Kyle Williams picking up a couple catches during the final practice period.
"[Practice] was good, you know, knocking off the dust, getting acclimated, learning the playbook, learning everybody else," said Williams after the session. "So just trying to stack days at this point."
The dynamic third-round receiving threat impressed scouts with his breakout season last fall at Washington State, and said he's ready to put in the work required to be successful in the NFL.
"I feel that this position is a craft, it's an art, and you've got to take pride in your art," said Williams. "So just being able to have those little details is what turns you from great to elite. And I'm trying to be elite."
One of the most notable takeaways from the first teaching OTA of the spring was new head coach Mike Vrabel's involvement all over the field.
Vrabel spent time with nearly every position group, and even jumped into the final 7-on-7 period with a yellow pullover on, stationed at an inside linebacker position that brought back memories of 2005 when the Patriot Hall of Famer moved from the edge to the inside due to injuries and still played at a high level.
"He's definitely a players' coach, and he played in the league for a really long time, so he knows what it's supposed to look like, what the speed is supposed to be like, and he cares about this organization and the players. You can tell," said rookie offensive lineman Jared Wilson of Vrabel.
"It's super cool to have coaches that are hands on, it shows how much not only how much they care about winning it shows how much they care about you and your production and things like that, so it's super cool," said Campbell of seeing Vrabel and other so involved on the field.
The Patriots will hold their next open OTA practice starting on Tuesday, June 20, the first of three voluntary sessions for veterans and rookies alike. Mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 9 through June 11.
DC Terrell Williams Gives Health Update
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel opened his press conference on Friday by providing an update on new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, acknowledging Williams had experienced a medical issue that would keep him away from the team for the near future.
"Terrell's working through a medical condition," said Vrabel. "I've been in constant communication with him daily. Zak Kuhr has been handling those responsibilities in Terrell's absence, but Terrell's eager to get back, and we're excited to get him back."
Williams met with the media via video conference later in the afternoon, passing along an update.
"I had a health scare, but I also want to make it clear that I'm away from the building, but I'm not away from the team, so I'm doing good," said Williams, before stressing the importance of self-care.
"I want to talk about the seriousness of taking care of our health and loving the people you love. Because when something traumatic happens like that, and it was traumatic for me, it gave me an opportunity to reflect, and really look back at the people I care about that make a difference in my life. Also, it gave me a reminder that sometimes, as coaches, as media folks and athletes and doctors and whoever, we think we're invincible, and you're not, like, I'm just telling you, you're not. And so this was a good wake up call for me, and it was a good wake up call for my close friends and people I know in the profession and around the league and and just in general."
Williams believed the defense would be in good hands under Kuhr until he's ready to return.
"Zak is unbelievable. Like, he's an unbelievably smart guy," said Williams. "I think he's going to be a superstar in this league, smart, and more than anything, I think that he has the ability to connect with players. And really that's all of our staff. It's been Zak, it's been [Scott Booker], it's been [Justin Hamilton], it's been Clint [McMillan], who was also with me on the defensive line in Tennessee. So really, I think the defense is in good, good hands."
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