Head Coach Mike Vrabel 9/27: "We have to fix a lot of things"

Mike Vrabel (0:00)

What you got, Nicole?

Nicole (0:01)

Just what's your concern level with Drake?

Mike Vrabel (0:03)

Well, my concern level is very high for this football team.

I just want to coach and improve. You know, so I think that's the biggest thing, is when you come off a game like that, that you just want to get back and work. There's nothing you can do about it, but we have to take care of the football. You know, I mean, we can't force things. We can't do things in all three phases that, you know, end up, you know, getting you beat. So certainly we have to, you know, fix a lot of things.

Nicole (0:35)

Mike, his decision-making was a strength last year, and through the first three games, it feels like it's not been.

Mike Vrabel (0:41)

No, and it doesn't feel like it hasn't been, right? We haven't made good decisions with the football. So, you know, we have to get it fixed. We have to practice. We have to get it to work, you know, get it corrected.

And everybody else has to do much better, and it's starting with me. I mean, that's how it goes.

It starts with me, and I got to get guys in there to do the things the way that we need them done, and the identity, and, you know, there's going to be mistakes. But, you know, there's too many things that get us beat. Turnovers, not taking advantage of their turnover opportunities. Penalties, you know, sudden change. Things that we're usually good at, and so we'll have to figure out why and do it in a hurry, going on the road to Buffalo.

SPEAKER_3 (1:28)

Mike, do you feel like your quarterback is almost like a baseball in a slump right now? Maybe mentally?

Mike Vrabel (1:34)

I mean, again, I don't think, again, I think he knows what to do, you know what I mean? I think we have to do it better, you know? And again, we all want to make plays. We just have to make them good ones. And, you know, if it's not there, we got to make a great decision. And, you know, I think sometimes you can want it too badly, and we can't force anything.

SPEAKER_4 (1:56)

Mike, you said you think that he knows what to do, but it seems like he's hesitating a lot, and that's because of the recurring theme that first year we used to share that sort of process.

Mike Vrabel (2:05)

Yeah, I mean, again, I think the, when I say knows what to do, I think formationally, in the plays and everything else, and then just being able to react to the defenses and the looks. And that just comes with being confident with what you do, and knowing if you're going to go on the first hitch, or if you're going to be able to check it down, and where the spots are. And again, we got to make sure that everybody around them is doing their job and doing their part. You can't have his arm get hit or something else and get pressured.

Just not doing this, not a good enough job of coaching or playing consistently.

SPEAKER_3 (2:41)

Mike, are you seeing this type of performance with Drake in practice?

Mike Vrabel (2:45)

I mean, again, I think there are practice consistency on all levels, in all three phases, has to improve. I mean, I think that that's just, you know, we feel like the practice execution leads the game reality. You have to build confidence throughout the week.

And we have to continue to do that. And we have to translate that on to the football field on Sundays.

Nicole (3:07)

To be more specific, the turnovers.

SPEAKER_3 (3:09)

Have you seen played like we had today the turnovers in practice?

Mike Vrabel (3:13)

No, I mean, I wouldn't say that the ball has been turned over like it was here today in practice.

Nicole (3:18)

Do you believe Drake's confidence is shaking?

Mike Vrabel (3:21)

I mean, I think you need to ask Drake that. Like, I'm not inside of his, I don't have control of the players psyche. You know, I mean, we're professional football players, we're professional coaches. You know, we have to prepare. We have to be willing to, you know, like we said, prepare to start fast.

I mean, again, and you have to be also prepared to compete and take advantage of the opportunities, not miss kicks, take, you know, score touchdowns in the red zone, get red zone stops.

Yeah, it just was everything. So, it starts with me, I'll have them better prepared. I'm going to commit to improving this football team and the guys that we have here.