PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL
PRESS CONFERENCE
October 31, 2025
Q: Any updates on who may or may not be available?
MV: Rhamondre [Stevenson] will be out for this week. Everybody else does not have a designation.
Q: Is this from the game or practice?
MV: Rhamondre will be out.
Q: I wanted to ask you about fourth down decisions. You've shown you've been willing to go for it this year. I'm just curious, even in your short time as a head coach, maybe dating back to 2018, how has fourth down thinking evolved across the league?
MV: Well, I think it's just gotten more aggressive. With just the amount of possessions that you end up having, sometimes there can be as few as eight possessions, and you have to make the most of them. Sometimes you get 10, you get 11. You don't want to be reckless. You want to be sound in your decision making, field location, flow of the game, what that looks like. For example, at the end of the half we talked about at Buffalo, just feeling like we didn't want to go in at half risking that it would be tied and whatever that emotion was for us. The way that we were playing, 3-3 game, took the field goal. It could be a different story this weekend, for example, if that ball's on the 1-yard line with an untimed down. So, it's just kind of the flow of the game, but obviously, it's a situation where you try to use whatever numbers that we have. Game condition, weather, all things that factor into it.
Q: With Rhamondre, is that something you think will be a long-term issue?
MV: It certainly won't be this week.
Q: With him out, how much will you be tested, and with three newcomers in the practice squad, how comfortable do you feel calling one of them up?
MV: We try to figure out who's ready to go at the end of the week. We'll make that decision tomorrow. Just like we tell everybody when they get here on Wednesday, whoever's here on the active or the practice squad, prepare as a starter. I feel like those guys have done that, try to do that, continue to try to get everybody ready for the football game and see where we're at from a numbers standpoint.
Q: Does it help with D'Ernest [Johnson], just him having so much experience?
MV: I think that, again, different categories of players that are on the practice squad. Young guys that you're taking a look at maybe for future development, you see how they fit into what you do. Then, other guys that have played in this league and can get ready on a shorter amount of time.
Q: What's impressed you the most about Terrell Jennings?
MV: I think, one, he's a great teammate. I believe that, I know that, I've seen that. He cares about his teammates. Plays hard, unselfish, and then he runs hard. I think he's improved. He's improved his skill set from the time that we've gotten here in the spring. He's taking advantage of his opportunities, whether that be on the special teams unit – he had a couple tackles last week and was excited. Everybody was excited that he got one of those special teams game ball recognitions. He's done a good job when he's been in there. So, excited to see him continue to play.
Q: Mike, knowing how much trust you have in Rhamondre in pass protection, how, if at all, does having guys who don't have as much experience this season in that role change the passing plan?
MV: Well, I mean, we'll have to continue to find ways to protect our quarterback the best way that we can. I mean, he's one of our best players. That goes without saying. So, however we're doing that based on the fronts that they give us, the looks that they give us, if it's a five-down look, if it's a backer or nickel off the ball, we'll have to make sure that we're sound in protection and that we are getting to where we need to be. But also, it's one thing to know where you're supposed to be, it's another to go over there and to get the block done. So, whether that's the linemen, the tight ends, anybody that's associated with a job to protect the quarterback on a pressure, they need to be able to do that.
Q: Mike, just your reaction to Marcus Jones being named AFC Defender of the Month?
MV: Always excited when good things happen to good people that put work in, that are consistent. So, I think what was probably most exciting for me was watching his teammates' reaction to that. So, that's always fun.
Q: Mike, in terms of some of the players that you've brought in this week and perhaps others to come, how important is culture and locker room fit, especially this time of year?
MV: I think it's important. It's a role that – the balance, right? You're just trying to get it right. Whoever we add to this team, again, we've tried to establish something here as far as what we want to be and who we are. So, I think we'll always be conscious of the person. You have to have talent, and whether that's this week, next March or next July, always weigh the trust that we have with somebody and their ability and where that falls. So, those are decisions that we have to make as far as player acquisition.
Q: On that point that Karen [Guregian] sort of raised, it seems like you've made a concerted effort to give this program, this team, its own identity and separate it from some of the success of the past. The individual player introductions, you don't do the 'Aw yeah' after a win. I don't think I've heard 'Do Your Job' very much this year. Why is that important for this program to have its own identity?
MV: Well, let's first just say it's been a lot of years since that has happened. So, I don't know how many people really around here know other than Stacey [James], Nancy [Meier], Jim Whalen, you know what I mean? So, we're just trying to do what we feel like is best and what the players, the communication, me, the staff, Eliot [Wolf] and everybody else involved. That's all we're trying to do is just try to win games, get good guys, enjoy coming to work, coach the [expletive] out of them, watch them have success and be excited for them. None of that goes in and, 'Well, they did it this way; we're going to do it the opposite.' There's a lot of things that are good that you take from people, and there's some things that you come up with on your own that's good, and then there's some ones that are clunkers. When they're clunkers, you own it, change it and fix it. So, we'll make some modifications to the player announcements, and we'll get the names in order this time, and we'll go from there. Again, I'm excited. I love coaching these guys. It's fun. They make coming to work a lot of fun, and we'll go from there.
Q: I'm just wondering, in your mind, is there a burden that comes with that that you're trying to erase? So, the burden of the past for some of these guys and trying to live up to the past and what this organization has done.
MV: I don't know what the burden is. They won eight games in two years. So, none of that matters. Whether it was a Super Bowl or a not very good year. It doesn't matter. So, in this league, if you take a nap, you're going to get beat, and that's just how it is. So, we're not trying to take a nap. We want to try to just play good football, be competitive, take advantage of our opportunities, take care of the football, play complimentary, play sound, create some more plays in the kicking game, all these things that we're talking about doing. I don't have enough time to focus on what happened yesterday, let alone what happened seven years ago.
Q: Can you recall another time in your coaching career that you've had three scout team players with the same number?
MV: No. That was just because they got tired of putting the pinnies on. So again, I'm sure you guys are probably wondering who's who. I am, too. It's like, No. 7 with the red shoes or No. 7 with the orange shoes. I apologize for that, but it just makes it a more efficient thing. I like the look of the jerseys. It's no disrespect to any player. It's just the jersey looks cleaner with the number. Obviously, Bijan [Robinson] is a focal point for what they're going to do. He's an excellent player, fantastic player. I compared him to Marshall Faulk; I got some eyebrows that were raised, and I was like, 'Well, Google Marshall Faulk tonight and enjoy the highlights.' So yeah, just efficiency at practice, I think. I apologize if that threw you guys off. We weren't trying to hide anybody. We were just trying to be more efficient at practice so that when the next back got in there or they were moving, we wouldn't have to put the pinnie on.
Q: I know it's only been two practices, but what have you seen from John Saunders [Jr.] so far?
MV: John's a fantastic guy, too. We loved our pre-draft visits with him as the person. Again, he's learning, trying to learn our system, learn how we do things. Everybody does something a little different. So, we're excited to work with him.
Q: Mike, Kyle Dugger started four games for you guys this year. What went into the decision to trade him, and any concern about hurting the depth there in that position?
MV: I'm just focused on the Falcons. That trade happened a few days ago. So, just excited about the group that we have going forward. I wish Kyle a lot of luck and appreciate his professionalism.
