Mike Vrabel is a lot of things, but he's definitely not someone who does things half-heartedly. He led by example as a gritty competitor as a player, and he expects — and demands — no less from his players now that he's a coach.
That's why he pulled New England Patriots second-round rookie Gabe Jacas to the sidelines on Thursday night's preseason opener. He wasn't pleased with his performance early on, and he didn't hesitate to get on his face and give him an earful.
When asked about the exchange, Coach Vrabel acknowledged that the rookie out of Illinois needed to be challenged, and judging by the way he closed out the 13-13 tie with the Indianapolis Colts, it may have worked like a charm.
Mike Vrabel's tough love will bring the best out in Gabe Jacas
“I challenged him on a kickoff, and he made a tackle,” Vrabel said (h/t Mass Live). “I didn’t think that his efforts were maybe good enough on the kickoff. I didn’t expect that the guy that was blocking him to be able to block him, and then I challenged him, and he came up with a tackle on the kickoff. So that was a positive.”
Jacas missed crucial reps and classroom time because of a contract dispute, so he's already playing catch-up. As such, Vrabel is trying to push him even harder, not only because he's aware of his untapped potential, but also because of the lofty expectations bestowed upon him right after the NFL Draft.
The rookie got the nod to start on defense, and he looked the part. He registered a quarterback pressure on a play that ultimately led to an interception. He finished the game with four tackles, but Coach Vrabel wanted to see intensity across all phases, not just defense.
The Patriots believe he can use his massive 6-foot-4 frame and athleticism on special teams. That's why Vrabel wanted to see the same type of energy and commitment with that unit as he showed as a pass rusher.
Jacas didn't play a single snap on defense in the second half, but he took the field on special teams and even logged a tackle on a punt return. As talented as he is, he'll have to earn his stripes just like everybody else, and that means doing the dirty work and helping in any capacity that's asked of him.
Some players don't want to contribute to special teams or feel they're above that, and that mindset won't cut it with someone like Mike Vrabel, more so for an unproven guy who has yet to take an official snap in the league.
This is the right time to make a statement and show how much he cares, especially after missing that much time in the spring. This team needs all guys pushing toward the same goal, even if they're stuck doing the most ungrateful and least flashy job.
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