The New England Patriots brought in Mike Vrabel as the franchise’s new head coach to help restore some of the culture that has been missing since the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick days.
Vrabel is doing just that, as he’s shown time and time again his willingness to hold players to account. This time, he’s doing so with cornerback Kyle Dugger, who is in danger of losing his starting role.
“I think just making sure that he’s where he needs to be and understanding the coverage concepts and everything we do,” Vrabel said, according to Pro Football Talk. “Keep working and keep progressing.
“A lot of this is the guys that have earned a right to take a look with that first unit, and again, there’ll be different lineups and different things, so just focus on the reps that you get. Right now, his attitude’s been great, and he’s had a long recovery in the offseason.
“He’s been out there, and he’s continued to get better and work, and I think the more that he practices, the better he’s going to feel and the more that it’s going to translate onto the football field.”
Fans reacted to Vrabel on social media.
“That C on his chest tells me he’s a leader. Dugger is a hammer! He needs to be used correctly!” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Oh he will, trust,” someone else added of Dugger’s ability to continue to put the work in.
It’ll be interesting to see where Dugger sits on the depth chart when the regular season arrives.