FOXBOROUGH, Mass — We're on to Pittsburgh.
The New England Patriots returned to the practice field, getting ready for the Week 2 matchup against the Steelers. And there was a lot of focus on two key Pittsburgh players: Aaron Rodgers and T.J. Watt. Plus, no team wants to start the season with two losses.
"I mean, definitely you never want to start 0-2," Christian Gonzalez said. "You want to win every week, but especially this one at home. We start off the right way and bounce back from Week 1 and try to go 1-0 this week... Last week, we can't do anything about it, but come out here and put good ball on tape and try to go out here with the win."
Here's what we learned on Wednesday:
TreVeyon Henderson continues to progress in a positive direction
On Monday, Henderson returned to practice for the first time since
Aug. 24, and Vrabel was asked how he responded to the workload.
"I think he will be able to do some more today," he said. "So we will continue to evaluate that and see where he is, and hopefully that continues to trend in the right direction."
And as expected, Henderson was back out at practice on Wednesday and was listed as a full participant on the injury report.
The balance for Drake Maye of being aggressive vs. reckless
Drake Maye had an uncharacteristic showing during the season opener, finishing with three interceptions. So, that's brought into question how Vrabel and the coaching staff encourage him to make the big play while also making sure he doesn't force it.
That's where Vrabel brought up the idea of being reckless vs. being aggressive.
“I mean that's what playing quarterback or playing in this league is all about,” Vrabel said. “It is about our players having the knowledge and the skill and the repetitions to make great split second decisions. I think that there's a difference between you've said this being reckless and being aggressive. We want to be aggressive. That's how we want to fight, but we also have to make great decisions when there's a look or something that maybe would take a certain play away.”
Maye had similar comments.
“I think my position’s built on split-second decisions. And that’s football,” he said. “It’s a game inches, it’s a game of decisions. And in an instant, and I think you get to see the consequences when you don’t, you make the right one and you try to force one or you try to maybe push it down the field. And I think that’s something that you learn from, but honestly, we’ve learned from at this point. It needs to be a habit.
“And I think that’s the purpose of practicing and getting in the mindset and knowing what y’all need to do to help this team win and knowing that every decision I make at this position is put on a higher, you know, a heightened consequence. Because the decisions the quarterback makes have a lot to do with wins and losses. And I know that and respect that and realize what I need to do to help the team win.”
Preparing for T.J. Watt
When asked what goes into effectively stopping Steelers star defender T.J. Watt, Vrabel simply replied with a smile on his face.
"When you figure it out, let me know," he said.
The head coach then went into more detail about what makes him so dangerous.
"A great athlete, very instinctive, athletic, explosive get-off. He’s got length and multiple moves," Vrabel added. "But his instinctiveness is a great asset. His brother was the same way; I got to see his brother play. I bet they intercepted the same pass - J.J. [Watt] intercepted that one the same way as T.J. [Watt] did. They must have practiced that when they were kids."
Morgan Moses echoed his coach's sentiments, as the right tackle will likely be tasked with blocking Watt for the majority of the game.
"He's a hell of a player. He's been there for multiple years, and the things that he's established over the course of his career have been no shorter than amazing. A guy like that, obviously it's a battle. It's a 60-minute, four-quarter game, and you have to pay attention to him and just be able to block that guy until you hear the whistle. Obviously, anytime you get to go up against a great football player, you look forward to it. And you know there's respect on both ways. I look forward to the challenge."
...And Aaron Rodgers
Along with Watt, the Steelers' other weapon is quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Specifically, Vrabel was asked about how difficult it is to confuse a player of that caliber at the line of scrimmage.
"Well, it’s probably difficult," he explained. "The risk outweighs the benefits where you are trying to disguise and show one thing or show a coverage, but ultimately you are out of position. So again, he’s seen every look that you could possibly give him. I think he tries to get them in the best possible play. He tries to put the ball where he feels like it is best and does a great job with it. You saw some of the throws he had last week that were in tight windows and tight spots. So again, I think we have to be good. He uses his cadence even on the road, and that is how good it is. He got us on the first play of the game last year. So, all those things we will have to do is be ready to go on a quick count and whether he takes the play clock down, those are things that you have to be able to weigh."
And it also helps that Rodgers has been reunited with Mike McCarthy, with the two having spent spent 13 seasons together with the Green Bay Packers.
"I think that Aaron has got plays that he likes. I am sure Mike has got plays that he likes, and then they kind of blend it together, and that’s what they come up with," Vrabel added. "I would say, comfortable as he always does. He missed a couple, didn’t connect on a couple, but I think that when you saw, in the critical situations, he took some shots on third down, he uncovered or extended in the red zone like he always does and found Pat [Freiermuth]. Then, to me, I think the biggest thing was just the way that they handled the five-minute situation and being able to keep the ball there at the end. So, that was pretty impressive for the first week."
Christian Gonzalez echoed his coach's sentiments.
"A-Rod runs the show. Amazing quarterback, a Hall of Fame quarterback," the cornerback explained. "Done it for such a long time and nothing but respect for him and just what he does for that team, and just the talent he has that he can make every single throw. He's still moving pretty well back there. He's running around, so he presents a challenge.
Defense focused on creating more turnovers
The Patriots were unable to create any turnovers against the Seahawks, but they are turning the page and looking at how the defense can do so against the Steelers.
"Yeah, we have to go attack the football," Vrabel said. "Again, the easiest target is the quarterback, so you have to force the quarterback into mistakes. You have to hit it out of his hands. We had a couple opportunities where we did hit the quarterback, but again, you have got to knock it out of his hands. Make it a concerted effort. We do it every single day, finding ways to work together to create ball disruption, and that will never change. But it starts with the quarterback. He’s the one that has it the most, and he’s the one that at the end of the year is going to have, by the numbers, I would say, the most turnover opportunities."
Gonzalez added that for himself, he needs to "make the plays that I need to make and that I'm supposed to make."
"It just comes down to communication, getting us in the right spot, and then capitalizing and making the play," he added. "If you have more turnovers, you're more likely to win the game. So that's what it comes down to, and that's what we got to do."
Christian Gonzalez comments on contract extension
The Patriots got a deal done with Gonzalez right at the buzzer, ensuring he didn't go into the season without a new contract. And now that he's the highest-paid cornerback in the league, he was asked to reflect on the entire process.
"It's a business. There's a business side to everything," the cornerback explained. "And just glad it got done. Glad to be here. Excited to be here. I don't have to think about it now. Just straight football."
"Yeah, for sure. I mean, there's relief," he added. "As football players, you always dream of getting drafted and dream of getting to that next contract. So, there's definitely relief, and now it's just all ball."
Practice attendance
At practice, the Patriots had two players return, but three others were missing. Dametrious Crownover, who also missed Monday, was sidelined once again. Edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones and cornerback Carlton Davis also missed the media-attended portion of practice, but Wednesday may have been a veteran rest day for the duo.
Rookie quarterback Behren Morton was back on the field, with Vrabel saying his Monday absence was due to an illness. Linebacker Robert Spillane returned as well.
Mack Hollins reworked contract
The Patriots and Mack Hollins reworked his contract. Originally, he was set to make $300,000 for 30 receptions, $300,000 for 40 receptions, and $400,000 for 50 receptions. But now, it's $300,000 for 47 receptions, $300,000 for 50 receptions, and $400,000 for 55 receptions.
"Nobody wants to change anything, but that's sometimes what happens," Hollins said. "(It) makes you want to come out and work, but not any harder than I already work. Yeah, I mean that's an unfortunate side of the business, but I'm happy to be here."
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: What I’m hearing at Gillette Stadium: Wednesday buzz (Week 2)
