The New England Patriots made drastic changes this offseason, importing an entirely-new coaching staff under Mike Vrabel and turning over essentially half of its roster with a flurry of free-agent signings and surprise cuts.
So, it’s understandable that the Patriots might endure some early-season growing pains as this new group learns to play together. But those growing pains haven’t lasted long: After dropping two of its first three games, Vrabel’s club responded by routing the Carolina Panthers in Week 4 and stunning the Buffalo Bills in a Week 5 upset.
In this week’s edition of Irrelevant Questions on the latest Patriots Talk Podcast, Patriots Insider Tom E. Curran asked veteran cornerback Carlton Davis if Sunday’s win over Buffalo can galvanize a team like the Patriots that has so many new faces, and Davis gave an insightful answer about how Vrabel has emphasized team chemistry since the moment he arrived in New England.
“It definitely made us a better team. That whole week of preparation was so important because we knew what was at stake,” Davis said.
“You said, ‘Us just getting here,’ (that’s) just an understatement to the chemistry that we do have already. Because we came in, and Mike Vrabel did a great job of just meshing us together so quickly with how he coaches, how he runs our meetings, and how he preaches to us about how we needed to get to know one one another.”
Davis revealed that Vrabel had players discuss their personal lives in group settings, so that their teammates could get to know them beyond the context of football. As an eight-year veteran who’s won a Super Bowl and is on his third team in three years, Davis believes that exercise has benefited the Patriots on the field.
“Back in OTAs and even when we were in camp, were doing a lot of meshing and understanding each other,” Davis said. “(Vrabel) had us go up there and talk about our lives. So, we got a good glimpse of who we were preparing for war with when we got a chance to talk about our lives and everything we had been through.
“So, that win this past Sunday just kind of speaks to all the work and all the effort we’ve been putting into entire offseason. I know a lot of people were surprised, but we’re not surprised because we know we have the talent and we know if we can just put it together for four quarters that we’ll be able to get up with any team.”
As a former player, Vrabel appears to have a good feel for the locker room — starting with an understanding that chemistry plays an important role in team success, regardless of how much talent is on the roster. Of course, winning also helps team chemistry, so if the Patriots can earn their third consecutive victory this Sunday in New Orleans against the Saints, that should help galvanize them even further.
Check out Curran’s full “Irrelevant Questions” interview with Davis below.
