While watching the film of the Patriots' Week 9 win over the Falcons, I noticed something a bit odd about rookie left guard Jared Wilson. While his fellow linemates were in three-point stances (one hand on the ground), Wilson was in a two-point stance (no hands on the ground). Play after play, it was the same thing. Didn't matter if it was run or pass, Wilson was simply squatting with his hands on his thighs.
Not sure I ever remembered seeing that before. It's quite possible Wilson had been doing that all season, and I just never noticed it (I'm not that bright). So last Friday, I asked Wilson about it and he confirmed it was a recent change.
"It's something recent that the coaches and I have talked about and just discussed, and something that possibly would help me," Wilson said. "You know, our bodies are our bodies. Like God created us, how he created us, and some people bend better than others. So the two-point stance definitely has helped me. Surprisingly, it's helped me a lot. And it was just an adjustment that they said, try it, see how you feel and it's been great.
"You're the first person that's noticed it, come up to me about that."
I figured one of the Patriots' three offensive line coaches — Doug Marrone, Jason Houghtaling and Robert Kugler — made the suggestion. Wrong.
"It was Vrabes," Wilson said.
Mike Vrabel? Patriots Hall of Fame outside linebacker ... former NFL defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel? That guy?
Morgan Moses wasn't surprised to hear the tip came from Vrabel.
"He's known every level and aspect of what football is, right? Because he's done it at a high level and multiple years," Moses said. "So yeah, of course, if he comes recommending something to one of us, I think any player would be smart to listen.
"He's a player's coach. He played in the trenches, played on the line, so he's seen it. He's seen it all."
Speaking with Vrabel last week, the genesis of the tweak for Wilson was rooted in the fact that, like Wilson said, everyone is built differently, and not every stance and technique is going to work for everyone the same.
"It was like, my (upper body) and my (lower body) just weren't connected," Wilson said. "I just looked very uneven going back and look at it now, I just looked very uncomfortable in the three-point stance. So Vrabes said, 'Here's something else for you to try.'"
Vrabel said some it had to do with Wilson's newness at guard after being a college center. Wilson is a much more natural center, and it didn't show up there. At guard, probably because his hand is on the ground as opposed to 3 or 4 inches higher on top of the ball at center, Wilson's hips can get locked and he gets off balance quickly on some of his initial moves.
"It wasn't very comfortable looking, and I didn't think it was a very functional stance," Vrabel said. "And just like I learned at outside linebacker, I don't care what stance you can use, just get off the ball and roll off and attack the tight end or tackle. Whatever the functional stance is for the player, that's always what I try to do as a player or as a coach.
"It was like, 'Hey, listen man, just try this, like, try to operate and see what you think from a two point, to keep your face and to keep yourself in a good, powerful position. ... And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work, it doesn't work, give it a try. You're not gonna hurt my feelings. I'm just trying to help you be as, you know, functional as you can be at the position.' And so he gave it a try, and I was like, you know, what do you think? And then he's like, I don't hate it. And he started to feel more comfortable. And that's where it went."
Vrabel did spend last season working with the Browns' offensive linemen, but Vrabel said it didn't come from there. It mostly came from experience going against offensive linemen. But the bottom line is, it doesn't matter if you're an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman — you're both doing combat, and everyone has a different stance. It's just finding it.
Wilson's results have been a mixed bag. Since he bottomed out against the Saints and the change was made, he was vastly improved against the Titans and Browns. The Falcons and Bucs game were a bit rougher, but his initial alignments and movements — the big issue in the three-point stance — have been much better. He's still having some issues on the second level in the run game, but those are on third and fourth steps. The first step or two were the most pressing issues and have improved dramatically. Wilson still has to be in a three-point stance in short-yardage situations because you're trying to be the low man, and he had issues with that against the Bucs, but Wilson seems a lot happier and better.
All from a tip from his defensive head coach. Just goes to show how dialed in Vrabel is with this team — the entire team.
THOUGHTS ON THE JETS
- Not going to spend a lot of time on this game with the short week, but the Jets have won two straight games. They're depleted after the trades of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, and they won't have WR Garrett Wilson. Key defenders Will McDonald and Harrison Phillips are questionable.
- The Jets' offense has RB Breece Hall, TE Mason Taylor and two good tackles, but that is it. No one has any fear of their passing game, especially deep, so expect a lot of stacked boxes and pressure on horrible QB Justin Fields. Tyrod Taylor is the backup. The interior of the line is not good.
- I like their defense. They're fast and aggressive, and I expect Josh McDaniels to use that against them with a lot of flow, boots and playaction. They're pretty solid against the run, so this should be a big Drake Maye game. Jets are terrible against TEs, so Hunter Henry could hit big. Either CJ Dippre or Thomas Odukoya will be promoted from the practice squad.
- Edges Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson are good but undisciplined. Love MLB Jamien Sherwood. Maye will see a lot of him and he needs to be careful. Jets are very depleted at DT. They play wide splits to get movement and free up the linebackers.
- Go after LCB Jarvis Brownlee.
- Patriots can't let the Jets get any special teams scores. They returned a kickoff and a punt last week. Jets special teams are the best in the league.
BEDARD'S GAME PICK
Season: 6-4 straight up, 6-4 spread.
Line: Patriots -12.5. O/U: 43.5
The only thing I don't like about this game is how high the line is, considering it's Thursday night, and a divisional game (although both coaching staffs are new). The Patriots just played a very physical game in the heat in Tampa, and are down a few guys. I could see the Patriots going through the motions for a bit, but you know Maye is going to get hot - probably in the third quarter as usual. Jets don't really get blown out that much.
Patriots 24, Jets 13.