Head Coach Mike Vrabel 10/30: "Everybody comes in and prepares as a starter"

Mike Vrabel (0:00)

I like this crew better. I like these faces better than some of the other ones.

Ah, man, he got on the fence. I mean, he can't... What do you got, Karen? Hi.

Karen (0:16)

We spoke with AJ on Wednesday in the locker room, and he was looking forward to having a full week of practice. Can you tell us what happened and what his status is?

Mike Vrabel (0:27)

His status is questionable, like some other players, and, you know, me and we'll see how he comes in tomorrow, and then we'll make a decision.

SPEAKER_4 (0:37)

AJ, is it something that popped up in practice on Wednesday?

Mike Vrabel (0:40)

Yeah, I mean, just like everything else, when you come out of the game or a long week or practice on Monday, evaluate the player. You know, just wasn't able to be able to practice or finish practice on Wednesday, and so we continue to treat him, and then we'll see where he is tomorrow.

SPEAKER_2 (1:00)

Is there any concern you might have rushed him back, or can you not think that way?

Mike Vrabel (1:05)

I don't think those things are really... I think those are separate issues here, so.

SPEAKER_2 (1:14)

Can you expand upon that? Just in terms of his workload, I think he played... I know part of that was Romeo got hurt, but he played quite a bit in the two games. I think it was like 102 out of 120 snaps. Was there any thought of maybe scaling back... Like, he's out there, but maybe scaling back the workload?

Mike Vrabel (1:31)

I mean, we want our best players to play, and I would consider him one of those. And, I mean, again, we're really here focused on trying to get a win on the road and the division, and we'll make a decision on the guys that are questionable tomorrow.

SPEAKER_2 (1:46)

Any other status, guys, can you rise to?

Mike Vrabel (1:51)

I mean, I think Treviano will be questionable, Ellis will be questionable, I mean, pretty much usual suspects. I don't want to misspeak here.

SPEAKER_5 (2:03)

Since he's questionable with AJ, you're not worried at this point that it's like a long-term thing?

Mike Vrabel (2:08)

I'm focused on today. I'm focused on getting the team ready to go down to Miami and win. That's what my focus is. I don't concern myself with things that are, you know, you waste time worrying.

SPEAKER_6 (2:18)

With the possibility that AJ can't go and you have Romeo and Mack on IR.

Mike Vrabel (2:24)

We'll have 11 out there, so I promise you. We'll have 11 out there on offense. I hope that we do. That's our goal. And again, I appreciate all your guys' questions.

We've been through this before. OK, so if I'll let you finish your question since I cut you off.

SPEAKER_6 (2:39)

Vrabel, Dornan, Dixie.

Mike Vrabel (2:40)

Somebody, you know, I mean, again, those guys, everybody comes in and prepares as a starter.

We've had to use guys from the practice squad, and if needed, we'll have one of those guys ready, and I'm sure that they all are. I know that they all are. Whether that be somebody like Land Larison or somebody that's been on the offensive line that has to be ready to come up. We've seen that with defensive players, so that's nothing new for us. And we'll see where we're at tomorrow.

SPEAKER_5 (3:09)

Christian Barmore take on more of a reduced role on early downs.

SPEAKER_2 (3:12)

What's lighted up this season?

Mike Vrabel (3:16)

Just trying to find ways to have him affect the quarterback. Try to make that his primary role, and try to play everybody, try to play as many guys as we can, and find roles for everybody.

SPEAKER_4 (3:28)

With Ben coming back to practice this week, do you expect Rous and Pryor are still at guard, or what is the plan there?

Mike Vrabel (3:36)

We'll see you on Sunday.

SPEAKER_5 (3:40)

My bigger picture question. Trades, the number of in-season trades have gone way up, like year after year after year since your playing days. I'm just curious, do you have any theories or thoughts as to why there may be so many more trades now compared to 20 years ago?

Mike Vrabel (3:56)

No, I haven't. I don't. I think that that's probably a good question. It's something to probably look at. But I haven't spent a whole lot of time trying to figure out why or why not. Maybe, you know, people probably just get a little bit more comfortable moving on from somebody based on the situation that they're in. And, you know, once one team does something in this league, people think that it's okay, and, you know, then it kind of goes from there.