Mike Giardi is on the scene in Indianapolis and Mike Vrabel is about to speak to reporters again off the podium, but here are some of the key things he said at the podium during his 15-minute appearance:
On the coaching staff and Josh McDaniels
Extremely proud of the staff that we were able to put together. It's difficult in the National Football League to be able to get every coach that you may covet or may want to get, outside the coordinators that you know aren't a coordinator at somewhere else just because of the rules. Like teams are under contract, some teams want to keep the coaches that they have. They feel like they're good coaches, but we were able to put together a great staff, one that we're really proud of.
You asked about Josh, and I would say that you know, having had communications with Josh in my role in Cleveland, he wasn't under contract with the team, so we had numerous conversations, interviewed a handful of great candidates, and in the end, felt like Josh was the best fit to lead our offense, just like Terrell (Williams) was the best fit to lead our defense, and Jeremy and Tom were to lead the special teams unit.
On if Terrell Williams will call defensive plays
That's the plan, you know? I mean, like he's going to be the defensive coordinator, he's going to call defenses. And, you know, he's an aggressive-minded coach that's coached really aggressive defensive lineman. That's what he that's his background, and so I've enjoyed the process of what he's learned when he's gone to Detroit, what he learned with us in Tennessee to be able to tie the back end together with the stuff that we want to do with the front and those conversations that have been going on in the last couple weeks since everybody's been together.
Team's approach to free agency
Hopefully aggressive. I mean, we want to be aggressive. We want to target players that we feel like are going to help us. That are going to be outstanding players, going to be outstanding additions to the locker room and the community, and if that all fits, and the compensation fits ... but I'm confident that we'll be aggressive. We've started some of those discussions internally. And I think having different plans and having an Option A and Option B, I mean, things are going to change. Everybody's looking at the same players, so we have to be ready to pivot and adjust and have a vision for each player, I would say, at each level. I mean, there's going to be this high level that, that things are going to get done very quickly, that'll transition then to, you know, maybe just some, some mid range dollars. And then obviously you look at opportunities. So free agency gets broken down into, you know, compensation, and then it gets broken down into opportunity. And I feel like we, we're in a position to offer both as far as compensation and opportunity for some of these players.
How can you support a young QB like Drake Maye
Well, there's a lot, you know. I mean, again, I think you always talk about being able to protect them. You have to be able to, you know, have some guys that can, that can help them on the edges and be able to make contested catches. And you don't have to be perfect, right? You don't have to have perfect ball placement, right? And then those are all things that we talk about, trying to support Drake, believing that he is the, you know, the future of our franchise, at quarterback, and been able to meet with him and talk with him, and just get to know him as a person you know, but you have to look at the lines of scrimmage, and you look at the look no further than the Super Bowl game, where you know that game was clearly won at the line of scrimmage.
After studying the roster, do you think this is a long-term rebuild?
Well, we have to improve. I mean, I think that's the that's the goal. Our expectations aren't going to change. It's going to be to win the division, it's going to be to host home playoff games, and it's going to be to compete for championships. So we're never going to put a time timetable or any sort of prediction on when that may happen, but it has to happen, and it's going to start April 7, when our guys come in and we're going to build a program, we're going to have a foundation, we're going to give them something to believe in and to be proud of, and hopefully they're able to hold each other accountable and to that standard. And if not, then it's my job to protect the football team.
Fans might not have an appetite for a long rebuild
Well, I don't think anybody has a longer appetite. I mean, we all want to win, like, that's why we're here. That's why I got hired. And it's to win. It's put a product on the field that they can be excited about, that they can care about, and they can support like that's the whole goal, and I don't they shouldn't have to wait very long and you know, but we also have to understand that we're not going to fix every issue on the first day of free agency, or we're not going to fill every hole on the first or second day of the draft.
About having to pay more in free agency
Well, I mean, I'm sure, like, I like to shop like everybody else. And so when you go and there's only one of you know a certain car, maybe you have to pay a little bit more for that one car, because there's only one of them. When you start to get into a range where you feel like there's an area where players are comparable, and you like three or four players in a certain area for a certain role, you may not have to overspend, but it's free agency. I think that everybody overspends sometimes in free agency.
On how much say McDaniels will have in offensive personnel
I would say it'd be the same as our entire coaching staff. I want them to be included in those conversations. The one thing I've learned as a head coach is that there's always going to be players that coaches are going to covet and there's going to be players that scouts are going to covet for certain reasons, and they call them traits and all this other stuff. And coaches want players that they can trust. And when we come across those players, I always chuckle, because being a position coach, I'm like, oh yeah, this guy is going to love this guy, and then the scouts are going to love this guy, and then they're going to sit there and argue. So I see that come up, and I can appreciate that, but our coaches are going to have input. They're going to evaluate them. They've evaluated the free agents, they've turned the reports in for us to look at and review, and then we'll give them a draft list, and then they'll provide information on those players, as well.
How to compete with the Bills in the AFC East
You have to continue to win your home football games. You have to make, you know, playing at Gillette a tough place to play, you know. And then you have to go on the road and be able to win games in the fourth quarter when you go on the road, whether that's in the heat in Miami or, you know, cold wind, rain, whatever may be in Buffalo. So, you know. And obviously, the history and the tradition with the jets and that rivalry. So, you know, it's exciting, but it also isn't just about the Buffalo Bills. I mean, there's a there's a lot of other elements to it. They've been extremely successful, how talented, and I've always appreciated Sean's teams, the way they play, with the effort, the toughness, the fundamentals, and then obviously what Josh has given them, you know, from a quarterback standpoint.
BSJ ANALYSIS
I don't have a ton to say right now, this is pretty boiler plate from what you get at the combine. I expect Vrabel to be more insightful on the side with reporters.
I liked that he confirmed our reporting on his many conversations with McDaniels.
Interesting that when he commented on Williams calling plays, he said, 'That's the plan.' Plans can also change.
Expected the Patriots to be aggressive in free agency. I like how he talked about having different plans.
No talk of burning some cash.
Liked him talking about the Super Bowl and the line of scrimmage. Nothing about weaponizing the offense.
Liked his realistic comment on free agency and sometimes you have to pay more for something.