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Mike Vrabel described what a ‘good day’ at Patriots OTAs looks like
The New England head coach also offered sympathy for running back Rhamondre Stevenson amid family tragedy.
The Patriots are off and running in the next phase of the offseason program, with “Organized Team Activities” (OTAs) taking center stage in late May.
New England has multiple practices scheduled during this phase prior to the start of mandatory minicamp in June. For new head coach Mike Vrabel, it’s the continuation of a process that he’s already put into motion as he tries to get second-year quarterback Drake Maye and the rest of the roster integrated into a new system.
“I think everybody’s worked extremely hard, including Drake, to pick up what we want to do offensively and defensively,” said Vrabel to reporters on Tuesday. “Now that has to start to translate onto the practice field in a spring setting, without pads, and I think that we’re off to a good start. We had a positive day. We were able to mix some speed stuff in and competitive stuff to a point.
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Naturally, he understands the limitations of a non-contact setting. On the topic of physicality, Vrabel acknowledged it has limited impact in OTAs.
“I don’t think that you can,” he said when asked if it’s possible to evaluate physicality at the sessions in May. “You can focus on pad level. You can focus on hand placement, but physicality, that’s not something that’s going to be identified over the course of the next four weeks.”
Still, the Patriots have plenty to work on during the current period even if it doesn’t involve blocking and tackling in the traditional sense.
New England, coming off a second straight 4-13 season, has a plethora of new players on the roster.
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Asked what constituted a good day, and what would make him happy at the end of an OTA practice, Vrabel offered a thoughtful reply.
“That we’re in and out of the huddle, that there are clean substitutions, that there’s communication,” he began. “You hear the defense making checks when somebody on the offense moves or motions. There’s coordination, and that the offense is moving with urgency and that the play clock isn’t sitting at zero for four seconds. All of the operational things.
“And then there’s obviously got to be a level of execution when we’re in the speed,” he added, “and then when we get to the jog-through, can we practice at a tempo that’s less than 100-percent and still get something out of it.”
One player Vrabel was questioned about specifically was running back Rhamondre Stevenson. The 27-year-old has dealt with tragedy in the last year with the passing of his father in March and the death of a childhood friend during the 2024 season.
“We’re extremely excited to have him with us. I’ve been in constant communication with him, and obviously our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as they heal and they grieve, and I want to be a part of that to help him, and get to know him,” Vrabel said of Stevenson, also praising his on-field effort and performance from last season.
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“He’s going to be a large part of what we do, and we’ll just have to determine where he’s at when he’s back here,” Vrabel concluded of Stevenson
One noteworthy piece of information that Vrabel confirmed on Tuesday was the joint-practice schedule for the upcoming training camp. The Patriots will hold joint practices with both the Commanders and Vikings.
“For sure that the Washington Commanders will come here,” said Vrabel, “and then they’ll play us, and we are excited to go to Minnesota. It’s a good setup that they have, and allows for great work. The Vikings have an excellent football team, and I’ve worked with them before, so I’m excited to go back up there.”
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