Head Coach Mike Vrabel 1/25: "You have to believe things before you can see it"

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Thank you.

SPEAKER_2 (0:03)

Going back to January, when you were appointing James Mann to be the former team, could you even envision this happening, and what do you think, particularly today, the country could be doing?

Mike Vrabel (0:18)

Yeah, man, I think that that's why you have to do this. It's every, you have to believe things sometimes before you can see them. And you have to believe that what you're doing is the right thing, and if it's not, you have to recognize it and make adjustments and changes to the program and everything else. And we got a great group of guys, and they continue to, again, believe in the things that we did, and they formed and created an identity, and they try to protect it. And then today was just another example of, as things kind of change and unfold, our ability to adjust. And Josh and Zach and Jeremy did a great job leading their units, and the players executed when they had to. I know that there's going to be a lot of questions about this and that and the other thing. And we did enough to win the football game in tough conditions. And when we got that field goal, the defense, and talking to them and I said, if they don't score, you know, then it's going to be hard for them to win the football game, obviously. And we took care of the ball. And then the five minute drive, we were able to run it just enough. And then, you know, came up with a big call there at the end of the game to seal it.

SPEAKER_1 (1:29)

Mike, how much, you know, is this a game of adjustments, your quarterback using his legs, you know, instead of his arm in critical situations?

Mike Vrabel (1:36)

Yeah, and that's a great thing about Drake and the ability to, you know, extend plays. And if it's not there, gain chunks. And he's done that most of the year. And, you know, again, we'll have to get a lot of things corrected and we'll have to play our best football game in two weeks if we want to finish champions.

SPEAKER_4 (1:56)

Mike, can you speak to the president of Los Alamos? Obviously, he gets beat on that early pass there when he seals the game.

Mike Vrabel (2:01)

Yeah, and it just says that he's been playing really, really good football. And sometimes you get beat, the best ones do.

And, you know, again, I really just about six or eight weeks ago, I can't remember when, but, you know, I saw a different gonzo. I saw just something went off and it changed. And maybe the Ravens game or something. I just I noticed just a different player and a different person. And, you know, he's so talented and I appreciate every one of them. And he's he could certainly be elite. And your best players have to make those types of plays in championship games. By the timing of the guys you bring off the practice squad, Taylor's coming in and blocking that kick. Did you even know that kick was blocked by him? I did not. 90T, revenge game. Week five, we just keep making it. This will be next week, or two weeks. It will be revenge game week six. So, Clint McMillan does a great job of getting those guys ready to go. And, you know, each and every one of them has made plays to help us win. And, you know, they'll have to continue to do that. Thank you, Soph.

SPEAKER_2 (3:18)

But I wanted to ask just about this team.

SPEAKER_4 (3:21)

When you had a close team, what was it like when the clock was zero and, you know, you knew that you were going to support with this?

Mike Vrabel (3:31)

It just, well, it's a group effort. It just wasn't me. And again, I stand up in front of you guys. And I am thankful of the people that are around us in that building and our program.

And, you know, you have to come together and you have to do what's best for the team and from a personnel standpoint, from a coaching standpoint and from the players. And you get everybody to believe in something and buy in. And again, there's, that doesn't come without adversity. You have to have adversity. But I'm just, I do this for the players. I've been in their position. I have. I've been there. And it's amazing. And I want other people to feel that feeling. And it's for our families who make a lot of sacrifices and the excitement and the joy that they have. I, trust me, I'm fine. Like, I'm, I'll be okay. I do this for the players to be able to experience this with their families and our coaches to be able to experience it with their families.