The New England Patriots‘ pass catchers need to improve, and head coach Mike Vrabel put the onus on himself, saying that he has to be better, during his weekly press conference on Wednesday.
“I think everybody can improve, starting with me,” said Vrabel. “My messaging, the way that I coach the football team, everybody has a job.”
Coach Vrabel is the ultimate players’ coach, having been a 14-year NFL linebacker, an All-Pro, and a Patriots Hall of Famer. From his time as a player, Vrabel knows what a great offense looks like. He was a part of many great Patriots offenses, including the historic 2007 16-0 offense.
This season’s Patriots pass-catching group doesn’t boast a receiver as talented as Randy Moss. Despite that, even being without A.J. Brown since his Week 1 high ankle sprain, there are some solid pass catchers in Hunter Henry, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, and Demario “Pop” Douglas.
Through three games, however, none of these options have been able to get going for quarterback Drake Maye. This has contributed to the third-year quarterback’s struggles to start the season.
Comes Down to Details
Execution comes down to the details, and Coach Vrabel, after owning up to his pass catchers’ performance, addressed this later in his press conference:
“Their job is to get open, catch the ball. And then when they don’t have it, transition to help protect the guy who does have the football,” said Vrabel.
“That’s gonna stay the same. Win one-on-one matchups. Be where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there. And the quarterback’s got a job to throw to the guy that’s open as soon as he can and create that timing.”
Following New England’s blowout loss to Jacksonville last Sunday, Coach Vrabel and his pass catchers will look to improve on the details this week at practice as they gear up for a tough divisional matchup on the road against the Buffalo Bills.
