Patriots’ Coach Says Defense Will Be ‘Violent’ This Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The New England Patriots’ coaching staff has a new vision for what they want their defensive identity to be, following the offseason upgrades of multiple key positions of need.
According to Karen Guregian of Mass Live, Patriots’ head coach Mike Vrabel and his staff want their defense to play with “violence.”
“We are going to make sure on tape, day in and day out, that people see our violence,” Safeties coach Scott Booker said. “And it’s not just in tackling… it’s in everything you do.”
New England allowed the eighth most points (24.5ppg) last season and was in the bottom third of the league in total yards allowed (343.4ypg).
It is clear that the defense struggled last season, but star defensive tackle Christian Barmore and veteran safety Jabrill Peppers combined to play in just 10 games in 2024. The return of those two, and new additions like Milton Williams, Carlton Davis III, Robert Spillane, and K’Lavon Chaisson, should offer a massive boost to the unit.
The new coaching staff is attempting to effect an immediate improvement and change in mentality by introducing these new faces and a new message.
Booker says that, although they want to play with violence, they are still coaching the team on the fundamentals of how to do that without being flagged.
“That’s our charge as coaches, to make sure guys understand the rules and to use them to our advantage,” Booker said. “So we’re constantly teaching them the rules, teaching them where to legally be able to hit guys both re-routing, and tackling.”
It seems clear that Vrabel, Booker, and the other defensive coaches are trying to imprint a new mentality early in the offseason, in hopes it will pay off by September when the regular season rolls around.
