Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, August 21, 2025
**How did you come to the decision to approach the game the way you did with Drake and a lot of starters sidelined?**
MIKE VRABEL: Just a short week, we had a couple good days that you guys were able to watch. That's kind of where I was, decided to do that, give us a chance to evaluate some other players.
**Big picture, how do you feel about this roster going into the regular season?**
MIKE VRABEL: Again, we're going to continually try to strengthen the roster every way we can. There's a couple options, right? You can try to trade for players. You could try to claim some players next week.
Again, we're always going to be trying to strengthen the roster. That's what we'll try to do here over the course of the next 10 days.
**Your thoughts on the joint practices, the preseason game, the training camp?**
MIKE VRABEL: I think it's a good example. Where we're at, again, is still building and developing. But you can see when we were able to do these things in other games, that happened to us tonight, we were able to win.
It's a clear and easy example to show the team that when we give up X plays or we have penalties on defense, that's going to lead to scores and touchdowns. When we can't get into drives, we're going to struggle. Obviously, the turnovers, when we turn the football over, we give up big plays on defense.
It will be easy to teach from, just to show where we were in other games, than where we were tonight.
**What were you happiest with over the course of the last month?**
MIKE VRABEL: I think that's probably a tough question right now. Disappointed with just how we played or executed. But, I mean, I think that the guys, I think there's glimpses of football in which we'd like to play it. Continuing to improve each day.
We're so far from being where we need to be. Just trying to get that message across, stringing one good day together, putting another day together.
We've got four big days this week that we'll really have to work.
**Kicking-wise, how do you feel Andy is doing?**
MIKE VRABEL: I think he's hitting the ball okay. I think we expect to make those kicks. We'll just have to kind of see where this thing plays out.
Again, we have two kickers that we have a lot of faith in. I think, again, swung it pretty well. I just don't think it went in. Obviously wasn't straight enough.
Last week was just disappointed in the operation, in the manner in which he got out there in a timely fashion and kind of rushed it. That I thought improved. But we didn't make the one we needed to make, the long one, tonight.
**Saw a lot of Peppers out there. Is that because he hadn't seen a lot in the preseason yet?**
MIKE VRABEL: No. Again, we got to have 11 out there. Wanted him to see him play with Craig, alongside. Pep has played a couple different spots. Wanted to just see him play safety alongside Craig.
I know he's played some nickel, in the box on third down, he's played some different places. Tonight where we wanted to see him was alongside Craig playing safety exclusively.
**Same thing with Keion? He was on the field whereas other guys who have been starters or first-team guys not out there.**
MIKE VRABEL: Because I decided and talked to Keion and wanted to see him work on some things and continue to develop and try to continue to improve.
He was excited about playing. He wanted to play more. That's kind of our whole job, is to be ready to play and prepared until told otherwise. Just try to work on some things that we had been talking about and do it in game action.
**Kyle Dugger, you said he needed to continue to learn and progress.**
MIKE VRABEL: Yeah, I think he's continued to take advantage of the opportunities and the reps. I think he's feeling more comfortable. We talked about a long rehab process in the off-\\season that he committed to. It wasn't a quick rehab process. I mean, he had surgery.
I think that he's gotten better. I think he's improved. I think he's feeling better. Looks like he's feeling better on tape. That's good to see. Those are all positive things. Making a play, two interceptions. I thought he flashed. I thought he triggered. I thought he tackled. I thought his length showed up. All these things.
We didn't blitz anybody tonight, didn't do any of that. Just playing in our base scheme. Those things I thought showed up tonight.
**Anything more the next four days to keep in mind before what happens on Tuesday?**
MIKE VRABEL: I mean, we put a lot into this, into the players, getting to know them. The roster is going to change. That's part of the business that we're in. We always want to make those transactions as respectful as possible. That's part of the game. That's kind of the life we've chosen.
There will be some conversations that we'll have with players over the next few days. We'll keep those obviously very respectful. Hopefully some of those guys can either end up back on our team or somebody else's.
**There was a report today that Ja'Lynn Polk will have season-ending shoulder surgery. Can you add anything to that?**
MIKE VRABEL: No. Other than I'd like to find out where some of these come from. Some of these rats around here. We'll figure that out.
**You said that you were going to finalize the offensive line once it becomes clear. How do you feel the competition at left guard is going? Are you nearing a decision?**
MIKE VRABEL: Full disclosure, I had that conversation with Zolak just earlier today. I don't think anytime from the time that I talked about it today with him till now has gotten any clearer. But if it does, I'll let you know. I only made that comment to him eight hours ago.
MIKE VRABEL: Pregame interview, sorry (smiling).
**What encourages you about this team? Where you're at now, what do you think going into this regular season? What do you like about your football team?**
MIKE VRABEL: I think we started to have an identity. I think that again, you have to put it on tape each and every day. I thought we were heading in the right direction.
Doesn't matter who you play in this league, it's got to come from your team. Your team has to look a certain way. Whether it's the first string guys or the guys that are trying to build some depth and be multiple-position backups, special teams players, role players, that has to carry through.
I liked where we were starting to go defensively, showing some glimpses of the team defense. I thought our special teams unit did some nice things. We didn't have as many opportunities tonight. There will be some young players that I'm excited about that maybe we haven't heard a whole lot from that are continuing to improve.
**Seems like Caedan cross-trained less than some other guys. Any reason behind that?**
MIKE VRABEL: We always hoped he would be in that competition. Got injured. Missed a few days. Came back. Gave him a large opportunity there at left guard today. That's kind of where we're starting to make strides I think in the off-season. We'll just continue to coach him. He's gotten reps at other places in practice. Maybe that hasn't shown up as much in the games.
Thanks, guys. Safe travels.