FOXBORO — Third-year slot receiver DeMario Douglas, who’s now played for three different head coaches since joining the Patriots in 2023, already sees a difference in the way Mike Vrabel runs things.
“The culture’s different here,” Douglas said after Tuesday’s OTA practice. “I love it. Vrabel’s a players’ coach, and he’s on the field with us. We’ve got a head coach that’s on the field with us, man. It’s different. You can tell he’s very in tune to what we’re doing and wants us to be better.”
Vrabel’s predecessor, Jerod Mayo, also was a successful Patriots player, but he lacked Vrabel’s deep well of coaching experience. At several points in Tuesday’s practice, Vrabel pulled players from a variety of position groups aside for brief 1-on-1 coaching sessions. Those included defensive and offensive players.
“We love when the head coach is on the field and he knows both sides,” Douglas said. “He knows what’s going on on offense and what’s going on on defense, and what needs to be done. That’s how I know he’s in tune with us. He’s making sure that we’re all on one accord and we’re all doing what we need to do.”
The Patriots are hoping Vrabel’s influence, coupled with a sweeping offseason overhaul of their roster, can return the franchise to respectability after back-to-back 4-13 finishes under Bill Belichick and Mayo.
“A lot of new faces, but we’re rolling,” cornerback Christian Gonzalez said. “We love playing for Vrabel so far. Great energy. Everything you see on TV, that’s exactly what you get.”