Mike Vrabel is a man on a mission. He's undertaken a major roster reconstruction that improved his team in almost every respect. Yet, Vrabel is no amateur; he's aware that paper improvements are just that until they show up for real on the field.
The new head coach added emphatically to his defense in the offseason. Playmakers were added at all three levels to a lackluster defense that couldn't get off the field in 2024. Veteran starters were jettisoned, and new players who better fit Vrabel's defensive system were brought in.
On offense, Vrabel beefed up his offensive line, adding more than half a dozen players in free agency, the draft, and undrafted free agency. He also added four new receivers to bolster that weak position, and an explosive running back to liven up that mediocre room. Yet, Vrabel has now made it crystal clear that all that means nothing unless they put points, aka touchdowns, on the scoreboard.
Mike Vrabel puts Drake Maye on notice that it's all about the touchdowns
In a New England Patriots YouTube video, Mike Vrabel reminded quarterback Drake Maye about the Patriots' dismal 2024 offensive performance.
NESN's Owen Crisafulli commented on and quoted Vrabel's verbal trashing of the team's 2024 offensive effort.
"Maye’s poise as a rookie was clear from the get-go, as he was generally level-headed, even after scoring a touchdown. Early in training camp, Maye adopted a similar approach, only to get lambasted by Vrabel, who quickly reminded him just how difficult it was for New England to score touchdowns last season. 'If we’ve got a play, go get in there,' Vrabel said to Maye during a practice after he appeared to link up for a touchdown with Kyle Williams. 'It’s (expletive) hard. How many touchdowns did you guys score last year? The answer is not enough.'”
Vrabel, though he's brushed off any early struggles by his young quarterback, pulled no punches with Maye. All the glowing predictions about a possible playoff appearance and plaudits about his offseason acquisitions notwithstanding, Vrabel is acutely aware that you win by putting points on the board. That means touchdowns, and it will be up to Maye to make them happen.
Drake Maye is on the hot seat to score touchdowns
The gauntlet was thrown down by the coach to the quarterback. The message was clear: score a lot of touchdowns and be happy to get them when you do. There's little ambiguity in Vrabel's message to Maye and, by proxy, his entire offense, new or otherwise. All have been put on notice: score touchdowns in bunches.
What wasn't said was that if you can't do that job, he'll get someone else who can. While Maye's position is as secure as anyone's on the roster (and he's working to improve), he'll be held more accountable than anyone else to produce as the quarterback. The name of the game is touchdowns, and Vrabel aims to score them.
The rebuilt offensive line, the augmented reviewing corps, and the addition of a home-run-hitter in the backfield are all geared to one thing: scoring touchdowns. One gets the impression that field goals are not going to be warmly welcomed by Vrabel's Patriots. Three points are OK, seven are a lot better.
Culture is all the rage at Gillette Stadium. On offense, it's clear, the culture Mike Vrabel is instituting can be boiled down to two words: score touchdowns. Touchdowns win games, and that's what he wants to see in abundance. Drake Maye and his offensive teammates have heard the message loud and clear. Expect them to keep hearing it all season long.