The New England Patriots are 5-2 going into Week 8, making them a strong candidate to be buyers ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
The Pats lead the AFC East, but they may need to make a move or two in order to keep their spot atop the division. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel spoke about the team’s process in figuring out what’s best for them for the trade deadline, but revealed that he is focusing more on how to improve with the players currently on the roster.
“We’ll always continue to try to do that,” Vrabel said when asked about looking for ways to improve the team.
“I would say that the players that are here, we ask to prepare as a starter mentally so that they’re ready to go, they’re not just checked out and they’re not just reading a card. I mean, again, our coaches will watch, they’ll have breakfast with our young coaches.
“It’s a great opportunity for them on Saturday morning to tell those guys, “Hey, the front seven –” Milt [Milton Patterson] and Vinny [DePalma] will be in there watching their defensive snaps from the week, grab some breakfast, come in, have a little meeting before they work out.
“Same as on offense, whether that’s Kugs [Robert Kugler], Riley [Larkin] or Chuckie [Keeton], to be able to get those players in there so that they feel like there’s feedback and they’re getting coached the same way that anybody else would. And then, as far as the roster, any opportunities that we have to improve it, whether that’s the practice squad or the 53-man roster, we’ll probably always try to do that.”
The team still has two games before the trade deadline, so Vrabel might not have too much attention on it. That being said, his answer suggests that his mindset won’t change even when the deadline gets closer.
Vrabel can only control so much and he’s very comfortable with allowing the front office to do the work it needs to do. He’s focused on the Cleveland Browns for Week 8 and how the team can pick up a fifth consecutive win against one of the best defenses in the league.
If Vrabel can continue the winning streak, however, it should prompt the front office to make some phone calls to acquire players that could help the Pats for the stretch run.
