FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – When Kindle Vildor received a call from the New England Patriots in March, he wasn't expecting it. But it allowed him to reunite with a familiar face that he had briefly spent time with for a few months during the 2023 season.
"I didn't expect it at first. But I had a brief stint with Vrabel too, so I was like, 'Okay, that's probably why,'" he told Patriots Wire exclusively after Saturday's preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. "I'm familiar with a lot of the coaches and the weight room staff and everything like that. So I was like, "Okay, that makes sense.'"
And with that, he was beyond excited to be back with Vrabel, comparing him to Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
"I tell people all the time, those two are
one of my favorite coaches that I've been around," Vildor said. "Just how they run the team. They're real head coaches."
Vildor came in, joining a crowded cornerback room. And with that, it was clear the Patriots already had their starting backs in Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis. But as for those behind them on the depth chart, it wasn't as clear.
So, Vildor has taken advantage of every opportunity, proving that he deserves a spot.
"I feel like I've been in this league for a minute now. So I get a lot of confidence when I'm out there in games and stuff like that," he explained. "So just being here now, just trying to learn the scheme and learn the techniques and stuff to play, so I can just put it into my own game, so I can go out there and execute."
And Gonzalez has also been dealing with an injury, providing more opportunities in practice for Vildor.
"Just getting more reps, and with that, opportunities, you're able to show the coaches and whoever else that you're capable of holding your own out there and stuff like that," he stated. "So it's definitely been beneficial for me, just going out there, getting those reps, and just getting comfortable with the defense.
That comfort also comes from the fact that he feels the defense in New England is one he fits right into.
"It's definitely an aggressive defense," Vildor said. "Get to play man a lot, then you get to switch up and have eyes on the ball and everything like that as well. So it's definitely a good mix-up, and I definitely enjoy it."
Plus, he is a ball-hawk, with turnovers being a huge emphasis of the defense. On Saturday night, Vildor nearly had an interception that didn't count only because of another defensive penalty. But he followed it up with two pass breakups, including one on third down to force a punt.
"Since April, when we got here, they've been preaching turnovers, like takeaways and stuff like that," Vildor explained. "Just drilling it in our individual drills and everything like that. So I feel like at corner, throughout the course of the game, you're going to have opportunities to get your hands on the ball. So you just got to make sure that you're ready and just make the play."
Vildor describes himself as a "crafty corner," saying that he can fit in with "whatever the coaches need me to do," adding that he's "versatile and I can execute different techniques."
So, does he feel like he's leaving it all out on the field this summer?
"Yeah, for sure. Even in OTAs and stuff like that. I mean, anytime you step out on the field, on the grass, man, that's a chance to prove yourself and show what you can do and everything. So I feel like since then, even now, I'm just putting my head down, just working, just making sure I'm getting better each and every single day."
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: CB Kindle Vildor is making sure the Patriots can’t overlook him
