FOXBOROUGH – It's almost go time. That was the feeling inside the Gillette Stadium media workroom as reporters gathered to hear pre-training camp press conferences from Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and three veteran players, Christian Gonzalez, Hunter Henry and Brenden Schooler.

The message from Vrabel was clear: it's time to build a team.

In his first press conference since minicamp in June, Vrabel laid out his expectations for the weeks ahead, emphasizing urgency, competition, and role definition. "We have to start coming together as a football team," said Vrabel. "The groups that we're going to use, the special teams unit, the different personnel groupings on offense and defense, that all has to come together."

Vrabel's approach is rooted in his 14-year NFL career, where he held roles ranging from special teams contributor to veteran leader. He's now asking his players to earn their own roles through consistent effort and execution. "There's a lot of different levels to what those roles are," he said, listing off his own progression during his time in the league. "It's up to them to earn it."

As has been the case in recent years, training camp will feature a ramp-up period before getting into pads early next week. Vrabel is focused on making the most of every period and creating competitive environments within league-mandated restrictions. "We'll try to get as much done as we can in 90 minutes," he said. "There will be days where we just walk through, but we still have to stay on our installation schedule."

The head coach will seek to maximize the team's efficiency through split-field walkthroughs, high-tempo team periods, and creative drills designed to simulate game conditions without excessive contact. "We try to practice with an energy," Vrabel said. "There's an urgency to the way that we practice. We don't sit there and spend a whole lot of time. We're back in the huddle, that's how a game goes."

Vrabel also emphasized the importance of what happens off the field in the meeting rooms, where mental engagement and situational awareness are paramount. "We're always in the meeting room trying to stimulate them," he said. "We're trying to ask a lot of questions and make sure that they know what they're doing and that the guy next to them knows what to do."

Vrabel highlighted several players who began camp on the PUP or NFI lists, including Austin Hooper, Mack Hollins, Vederian Lowe, Jahlani Tavai, Carlton Davis III, Josh Minkins, and Jeremiah Webb and said that Tavai and Davis could return as early as tomorrow's first day of training camp practice.

Vrabel also confirmed that veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs is expected to participate in camp just eight months after ACL surgery. "It's a testament to how hard he worked," Vrabel said. "I don't see any limitations right now."

Diggs' presence from the outset of camp is a major boost for the Patriots new-look offense. The four-time Pro Bowler's chemistry with second-year quarterback Drake Maye will be a key element to watch in camp.

Another bit of good news shared by Vrabel is that defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, who missed all of the spring with an undisclosed medical condition, has returned to the team and is ready to go. Williams' arrival comes at a good time as he looks to bring together a remade defense that has plenty of potential.

Vrabel also highlighted that Williams can make an impact across the roster and not just on the defensive side of the ball.

"[He has] just a great reach to every player on the football team," said Vrabel. "I saw him reach young offensive linemen that were across the ball, but he worked with [them] extensively in different drills or pass rush drills. He's got a great perspective."

With a healthy and hungry team, the Patriots are ready to embark on the 2025 season with their first training camp practice of the summer. Vrabel shared a three-prong approach to getting the team ready to compete: eliminate the mistakes that get you beat, correct the bad, and enhance the good while emphasizing ball security and situational awareness.

"We talk about the good, the bad, and the [stuff] that gets you beat," he said. "We have to eliminate the stuff that gets you beat, correct the bad, and continue to enhance the good stuff that we do."

Practices will start out in helmets and then shells, but the anticipation towards the addition of pads is something that even the head coach feels, pointing out that there always seems to be players who blossom once things get physical.

"There's somebody every year that we never really talked about, but once the pads go on, they just play better," he said. "That's probably my most exciting day."

As the Patriots begin their journey under Vrabel, the tone has been set. Now it's time to see who rises to meet it.

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