If anyone thinks the New England Patriots are running a “soft” practice schedule through training camp, Mike Vrabel invites them to watch how the team plays in games.
On Monday, Vrabel appeared on WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show” to discuss his team’s preseason opener and the state of training camp. Co-host Courteney Cox asked Vrabel if he’s heard “reports” that the team’s practices have been soft.
It’s a narrative that’s been thrown around sports radio in Boston as of late. It’s been a popular discussion on 98.5 The Sports Hub and even on another WEEI show three days earlier.
Vrabel found it funny to hear questions about “soft” practices after seeing media members shower the Patriots in praise for how the team played in its preseason opener.
"I don’t know. I mean, you guys just got done basically throwing a bunch of flowers at our play demeanor and how our guys ran and how we finished," Vrabel said. “I think that there’s a plan to everything."
Much of the criticism around Vrabel’s practices has focused on the number of non-contact walkthrough sessions.
Radio hosts question whether the Patriots haven’t been hitting enough. Vrabel said that the team knows what they’re doing.
“There’s a plan, there’s a practice plan,” Vrabel said. “I hope people could watch the game and not use the word ‘soft’ when they watch us play.
The first-year Patriots coach said that the team’s schedule has been “pretty unique” lately with a recent scrimmage, joint practices and a Friday preseason game. Vrabel noted that teams are required to give players off every seven days.
The coach noted that he wanted players “tuned up” and in good condition for Friday’s preseason opener. Looking at the 38-18 win, it looks like the plan worked.
Meanwhile, Vrabel explained why the Patriots have invested so much time in walktrhoughs. Sure, they’re not hitting. But the practices are still important.
“Some of those walk-through days where we’re still trying to get a bunch of plays in and split the teams up and everybody’s working,” Vrabel said. “They only work if we get something out of them. If I felt like they weren’t taking advantage of them, then we would have to adjust the schedule. That was my conversation with the players.”
“I felt like they did exactly what I needed them to do in those days,” he added. “Then, when the other days we worked, and I felt like they’ve been working.”
This week, the Patriots head to Minnesota for two joint practices with the Vikings before another preseason game on Saturday.
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