Patriots coach Mike Vrabel says defensive coordinator Terrell Williams is in good spirits and expected to return
Vrabel says he doesn't know what Williams's role will be when he rejoins the team.
FOXBOROUGH — Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams is in good spirits while taking some time away from the team to deal with “unforeseen” circumstances involving his health, coach Mike Vrabel said on Monday.
Williams is expected to return, but it’s not immediately clear what his role will be. Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr handled the defensive play-calling duties during Sunday’s 33-27 win over the Dolphins in Miami.
“Terrell will be around,” Vrabel said. “I don’t quite fully know in what capacity, but he will be around and involved, and so we’ll continue to make sure there is a good plan for everything that happens just like we always have been.”
Vrabel said the defensive operation went well with Kuhr filling in. The Patriots gave up slightly fewer total yards and downs than they did in Week 1. The five sacks the Patriots recorded in Miami gave them a league-leading nine.
The Dolphins executed a number of explosive plays but the Patriots were able to hang on for the win.
“We subbed and we got into our calls,” Vrabel said. “We talked about this before, the best call is a decisive one that the players know and believe in and that they have confidence that they can execute their job. When we needed to get the drive stopped, we got the drive stopped. We had a plan to play these guys and how we wanted to play them.”
The Patriots missed “far too many” tackles, Vrabel said, noting that the Dolphins speed made that aspect of the game difficult.
“A team like Miami puts you into a space game,” Vrabel said. “There’s no shortage of skilled players that are good with the ball in their hands. We’ll have to be better and be able to use the right technique and the right mentality, and also having everybody else coming full tilt to the tackle to sometimes make up and atone for some of those misses.”
The Dolphins’ explosiveness, and the amount of time left on the clock, persuaded Vrabel to send rookie kicker Andres Borregales out for a 53-yard field goal attempt with 1:47 remaining.
Borregales, who had missed two extra points, nailed the kick, extending the Patriots’ lead to 6.
“I think maybe had the game been down, the time would have been less, I think maybe you could have discussed a punt in that situation,” said Vrabel. “But with as much time, I don’t know if putting them on the 15-yard line or 12-yard line is going to really matter for those guys.
“It just felt like either we were going to win it or we were going to force them to have to score a touchdown. Really big kick in a really big moment. Making them then have to score a touchdown is a heck of a lot different than a field goal.”
Chance for Gonzalez?
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez continues to show improvement from a hamstring injury, Vrabel said.
The coach said there’s a chance Gonzalez could play against the Steelers on Sunday, but he did not elaborate on how much of a chance. Gonzalez has not practiced since July 28.
“It’s a chance,” Vrabel said. ” I mean, there’s a chance that a lot of things could happen, and it’s Monday. We’ll figure out how he progresses along the week, we’ll see what he can do and have him do what he can do.”
Something to build on
Sunday’s win marked the first time that the Patriots scored more than 30 points since they beat the Browns, 38-15, on Oct. 16, 2022.
Bailey Zappe, who started at quarterback for the Patriots in that game, signed with the Browns’ practice squad last month.
Crossing the 30-point threshold for the first time in nearly three years was a welcome sight.
“It was very big. It’s been awhile since we scored a lot of points, especially at an away stadium,” said guard Mike Onwenu. “So, it was nice and we’re looking to build on that.”
Vrabel praised a “hugely efficient” performance from quarterback Drake Maye, who threw for a pair of touchdown passes and ran for a score, while committing no turnovers.
“The ball went where it was supposed to go. He was decisive,” Vrabel said. “I thought he did a great job of transferring up into the pocket, setting his depth, and then transferring up, being really good with the football, being able to pull through with two hands in the pocket when they have edge rushers and we’re on the road.
“That’s where it’s going to be really critical, is to be able to set the depth of the pocket, get back, keep your eyes downfield, transfer up into the pocket and deliver the football, and he did that on multiple occasions. So, when you don’t do that, those turn into sacks, hurries, throwaways, strip sacks, and when you can climb the pocket, remain a thrower, and keep your eyes downfield, that’s when you can hit some plays.”
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