Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Flawed Plan: Patriots Edge Strategy Exposed by Mike Vrabel!

Starting point is 00:00:00 Mike Vrable exposes a flawed plan from day one at a premier position for this upcoming season. This is Lockdown Patriots. You are Locked-on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's happening? I am your host, Nick Cattels. On today's show, discussing the cornerback room and why it's most likely not going to change anytime soon. In the second segment, the Pats roster shuffling continues and the biggest cut down day surprises. But first, Mike Vrable's disappointing confession at Tuesday's press conference.

Starting point is 00:00:46 Today's episode is brought to by Fandul. College football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited. And this season, Fandul is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at Fandul.com. Earlier this week, I was discussing the edge position. and I was not going to crush the Patriots, as I said, about their early camp roster at that position with that group. And the reason why I wanted to give the Patriots some grace, again, this was at the beginning of camp, was because Harold Landry's injury in Gabacus's

Starting point is 00:01:25 contract situation. I said to myself, well, if the Patriots did not know about Harold Landry possibly being placed on Pup. If they thought he was going to be back sooner than he's coming back, then, yeah, they should have adjusted during camp, but going into camp, I'm not going to kill them about the depth chart. Because they might have thought, hey, look, Landry is going to be back. By the time we finish up with the Eagles, he will be a big part of this roster,

Starting point is 00:01:55 and we feel good about that group given Landry's presence. And of course, they could not predict the Gabe Accus situation. They did not know the full details of Accus's health and apparent surgery that happened with his knee. That dragged the negotiation. So I said, you know, looking at this from 30,000 feet, if it was early July, mid-July, and the Pats were thinking, well, Landry will be back by week one. Acus is going to sign before we hit camp. He'll be just fine.

Starting point is 00:02:31 We feel good about that group. Now, what I was going to criticize the Patriots about was not doing anything once they realized Harold Landry was not necessarily ahead in this process and not adjusting as far as Gabe Accus's contract negotiation went and adjusting and bringing in another veteran body. realizing that Accus, it was going to take him time to catch up. That's where the criticisms came in until Tuesday's press conference. Because Mike Vrable, during Tuesday's press conference, what he said changes everything. Now I will criticize the Patriots going back to months and months ago.

Starting point is 00:03:18 Mark Daniels posted Mike Vrable when talking about Harold Landry and Brendan Schuller. Brennan Schooler is on the non-football injury reserve list. Of course, Landry is on the pup. Here's what Vrable said. I was not anticipating them being out there. The plan, this wasn't unexpected. So hold on a minute. You're telling me that the Patriots expected Harold Landry to be on the pup to start the season.

Starting point is 00:03:49 Did they expect this at the beginning of camp? Did they expect this in the middle of? of camp, did they expect this over the past couple of weeks? I take that comment from Vrable as we knew. We knew that it was possible, if not probable, that Landry would not be ready by week one. And if you knew that, even if you knew there was a 20% chance that Landry was not going to be ready for week one, this was your plan?

Starting point is 00:04:22 This was the plan. The four-man pass rush last year was a problem. We've talked about it so many times. I don't feel like we need to jump down that rabbit hole again. It was not good. The four-man pass rush had all sorts of problems. It was an even bigger issue once Landry got injured. He was not the same guy.

Starting point is 00:04:44 The pass rush was not the same, even though the pass rush wasn't great to begin with. And you walked into this off-season, and you had a lot of veteran names that were out there during May and June and July, you still have a couple of veteran names out there. But you felt like you were just fine. You were just fine adding one legitimate veteran body

Starting point is 00:05:10 given Landry's prognosis. That's a terrible plan. If I knew that Landry was not going to be ready by week one, I would have discussed this position all summer long and said, they need even more. And I said they needed more, thinking Landry was going to be ready by week one.

Starting point is 00:05:31 But I'm talking about somebody who could make a significant impact, not just a veteran guy, not just a third or fourth pass rusher on the roster. If you knew Landry that it was possible, if not probable, that he was going to miss the first week, the first month. If you knew this injury was a big time problem

Starting point is 00:05:52 and the surgery was going to cost him months and months and months and months and months, then you absolutely unequivocally should have done more at edge. To me, it's inexcusable to look at this group and say, we've got enough. Everybody feels like they're a slot off, so to speak.

Starting point is 00:06:10 Draymont Jones right now is your top pass rushing veteran, right? He's your top guy. I think he's more of a number two dude instead of a number one dude. Elijah Ponder now is going to be your starter opposite of Draymont Jones. Again, Ponder feels like a two slash three, and I would say lean towards three,

Starting point is 00:06:33 possibly a borderline number two pass rusher at some point this year. Feels like he's off a slot. Gabe Accus, especially after the contract negotiation, the mystery, all that stuff that played out. He feels like he should be your fourth pass rusher. Instead, he's starting this season as your third. Quintavius Hutchins feels like he should be your fifth defensive end slash special teams guy, but now he's right behind Accus. Everybody feels like they are a slot off here.

Starting point is 00:07:05 Draymont Jones should be a two, Elijah Ponder should be a three, Gabacchish should be a four, Quintavius Hutchins should be a five. Now that could change during the season, but going in, that's how I would look at it. So what does this tell us about the Patriots thinking at the position? Well, number one, it tells us that they feel much, much better about Jones's ability to rush the passer than I do and many others do. I'm not telling you that Jones is a bad pass rusher. He's about equivalent to K. Levant Chase on. But again, that would mean he's your two guy, maybe your third guy, but lean towards the two.

Starting point is 00:07:43 Now he's going to be put in the role of Harold Landry to at least start this season, and who knows how long that's going to go. also tells us that the Patriots coaching staff envision Elijah Ponder making not just a step forward in year two, but a big leap and a huge leap against the run game. I feel pretty confident. I'm optimistic about Elijah Ponder. We talked about him during the offseason. I think he had a good camp. He surged later in the camp. And I think he's going to be good. But I have no idea if he can consistently defend the run at the NFL level. The Patriots run defense has been bad this camp. And last year, the run defense without Milton Williams and Rob Spillane,

Starting point is 00:08:28 they had some issues, right? Those two guys came back. They played a little bit better, but we all remember the freaking Super Bowl. If Ponder's not good against the run consistently, he can't play a ton of snaps. He's not going to play a ton on first and second down. Now immediately, you have to go to Gabe Accus. Do you think Accus is ready for first and second down, given what we saw in the preseason? not yet.

Starting point is 00:08:53 So Elijah Ponder better be really good against the run or at least good against the run, if not even bigger trouble. This also tells you that the pats were very, very high on the immediate impact that Acus could have. Now, again, with the Acus situation and how that played out, I'm not going to drag them over the coals. A lot of that was unpredictable. But clearly, if the plan was Landry's going to be on the pup, if that was the plan, as the head coach said, then when you drafted Gabe Accus, you thought that dude's going to play a lot of football this year.

Starting point is 00:09:33 He's going to be ready to play a lot of football. And not only is he going to play a lot of football, he's going to be productive playing that football. Maybe the Patriots had more hope for Brayden Swinson or Jesse Lucetta. neither guy worked out neither guy on the practice squad and now what you're left with is desperation. You are desperate

Starting point is 00:09:58 for one or both of Elijah Ponder and or Gabe Accus to pop this year. Again, the question with Ponder for me is against the run. The question about Accus is will he figure it out at any point anytime soon during his rookie season. But now you're desperate. You need one of those two guys to be good, if not really good.

Starting point is 00:10:25 And if this defense does not play well, this plan, the plan of being just fine with Harrow Landry being out for some period of time during the regular season. And the answer is Draymont Jones. So you lost, for all intents and purposes, Landry and Caleb on Chase on. least for the first month, and you replaced them with Draymond Jones and then drafted Gabacus. And then you did not adjust as Gabe Accus was not on the field. You did not adjust as Harold Landry and his rehab was not going as well as he might have thought it would go reportedly from Kevin Stone.

Starting point is 00:11:07 But from day one, you were okay, apparently. And if that's the case, if we're going to take Vrable at his word, right? You got to take him at his word. if this was the plan, if this defense does not play well aside from health, and I'm not talking about the Landry health, I'm talking about health of the guys who are healthy right now. If you have your full allotment of dudes on that side of the football and the defense is not playing well, it will very likely be because this plan was flawed from day one at edge. But let's hope that ponder or acus pop.

Starting point is 00:11:44 Let's hope the Patriots go out and sign a veteran, even though it doesn't sound like they're having much urgency in doing that. But I couldn't believe it. That was the plan? You knew Landry would miss time? The roster manipulation can't stop, won't stop this week. That and more next. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Now the number one sports podcast network, your team every day.

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Starting point is 00:13:04 Get a firework freeze five-hour energy shot today. For more information, visit five-hourenergy.com. Again, that's five-hourenergy.com. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being an everydayer. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Before we get to some mailbag questions, roster updates, can't stop, won't stop, lots of movement. The Patriots signed linebacker Eric Hunter and re-signed Ben Brown to the active roster on Tuesday afternoon. Now, Ben Brown was cut for roster logistics on Monday.

Starting point is 00:13:43 It was always expected he would be back and he is back. Who is Eric Hunter, you might ask? Well, he played for Morgan State from 2021 through 2025. He was undrafted in this past draft. He had been with the Lions this camp and he was cut on Sunday. According to Lance Zerlind's overview of Eric Hunter at NFL.com, he was labeled a priority free agent projection, which is what he was. Here's what Zerline wrote.

Starting point is 00:14:13 Hunter's productive 2025 featured 102 tackles, 14 for laws, in four sacks. He's fast when he opens up and runs, but can be a little leggy with his short area movements. Hunter's instincts and response quickness are a little below average, and he's not suited for third down coverage duties at the next level. His athletic testing was outstanding, and he can compete for a role on special teams, but he'll need to show he can handle backup linebacker duties to stick on a roster. Hunter is 6'2, 220 pounds. He's a foot, Mike Reese posted that Hunter had 298 tackles in his 45 games for Morgan State, which is second on their all-time list. So Eric Hunter, welcome to New England. Not sure how long you'll be

Starting point is 00:15:04 here, but welcome. Now, as of this recording, and it's 445 on Tuesday, late afternoon, Eastern time, I have to record this podcast at some point. I'm not going live at midnight. there's constant movement right now at this roster. So as of right now, as of this recording, there are five off-ball linebackers on the 53-man roster, which is a ton of off-ball linebackers. Two of those guys are rookies. Namdi Obi-Zor and the aforementioned Eric Hunter.

Starting point is 00:15:39 Will all five survive and be there as of next Wednesday, September 9th in Seattle? I have my doubts. Offensive, not offensive, outside linebacker. Jose Ramirez signed to the practice squad on Tuesday. He's from Philly. Again, another situation where the Patriots had two joint practices and a preseason game against the Eagles.

Starting point is 00:16:02 They brought in Cameron Lottu to the 53 man, and now they signed Jose Ramirez outside linebacker slash edge to the practice squad. Ramirez played at Eastern Michigan. He was a sixth round pick in 2023 by Tampa. He played for Tampa in 23 and 2024. He actually played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats last year. A max site, the conference of Eastern Michigan, Hustle Belt, wrote the following before the 23 draft.

Starting point is 00:16:36 Ramirez was amongst the best edge rushers in the country in 2022, finishing as an All-American after a 12-sack, 19 and a half tackle for loss season and 11 games played. Ramirez also blew up the East-West shrine game and NFL combine sessions, accelerating his already ascendant trajectory. Let's go back to Lance Zerline. He had Ramirez as a sixth round grade prospect. Here's what Zerline wrote. Ramirez's below-average run defense could make it difficult for him to see the field early in his career, but he blends a hot motor and natural rush talent that could entice teams willing to continue his development in both phases. He's agile with the ability to gather and chase with quickness once he finds an advantage inside

Starting point is 00:17:22 the pocket. He can add strength and technique to improve his block take on, but he'll also need to show more grit. So when you read about Jose Ramirez, he reads as a substitute pass rusher a la Josh Uche. Now obviously Uche played at a much, much different level of college football at Michigan. but that type of guy, not great against the run, hot motor, has some rush skill. Now, Greg Bedard pointed out on Twitter very quickly that during those joint practices, Demetrius Crownover, was 4 and O against Ramirez and the one-on-ones. Take that for what it's worth. Jose Ramirez on the practice squad.

Starting point is 00:18:07 Xavier Holmes also returns on the practice squad, another outside linebacker slash edge body to talk about. Of course, Holmes was here in New England all camp long and was cut over the weekend, but he's back, back on the practice squad. So again, another body at edge. I don't know if either of those guys are going to make much of a difference. KJ. Britt, who was cut this week, he's back to the practice squad. And he's a vested veteran, which means you don't go on waivers.

Starting point is 00:18:40 The same could be said for Ben Brown. Again, so that was more logistical than anything else. The Patriots, they released KJ Britt and Brown, knowing they were vested veterans. Did they have a deal already in place that they would return to New England? I don't know. With Ben Brown, I would say yes, because Mike Reese quickly posted that that was the plan. KJ. Britt, maybe he, you know, looked around at other teams. His agents made calls and he said, you know what?

Starting point is 00:19:07 I've already been living in New England. Might as well just hang around on the practice squad. And if somebody wants to sign me eventually, they can do that. Defensive tackle, Jalen Hunt to the practice squad. Bryce Berenger, Khalil Jacobs were placed on the in-season IR list. That means they can come back. Marcus Bryant can also come back. All three of those guys can return in 2026 because they're on the end-season IR.

Starting point is 00:19:33 Land Larison, Kindleville, Door, and Mike Brown, all back, all on the practice squad. Kindle-Vildor, obviously, insurance for the Karan Prunti-Channin-Canada experiment at cornerback. Larison is, to me, Traybion-Henderson insurance. We've talked about Land-Larison, how he's more of a third-downback, shotgun-back than first-and-second downback. So he is Henderson insurance. A couple of young wide receivers, some projects on the practice squad. Cameron Dornor, Kyle Dixon. both guys were with the Patriots during camp.

Starting point is 00:20:11 Also another note, the captains were announced on Tuesday. Your captains for 2026 are Kevin Byard, Hunter Henry, Marcus Jones, Drake May, Morgan Moses, and Robert Spillane. Those are your six captains. No Christian Gonzalez. Of course, we heard that Gonzalez wants to be a team captain. He is not a team captain this year. A reminder, the team captains are voted on by the players.

Starting point is 00:20:36 So this is not some kind of grand conspiracy theory here. This is not some coaching staff or front office statement about Gonzalez. Voted on by the players. Gonzalez did not make the cut this year as a team captain. Taylor Kyle's pointed out that Moses and Byard replaced Brendan Schuller and Harold Landry from last year's list. All right, we're going to get to these mailbag questions. I promise you. We'll do that coming up next.

Starting point is 00:21:02 This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. your team every day. I absolutely love college football and college football. Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited. And this season, Fandul is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Back your favorite team. Build the same game parlay. You know I love them. Bet team props are make your picks on the biggest games of the weekend. Throughout the season, keep an eye on the Fandul app for even more ways to get rewarded with a full slate of college football every Saturday. And don't forget, everybody's talking about this draft class in 27 being the best draft class we have seen in some time. So when we talk about slates,

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Starting point is 00:22:17 Thanks for checking out the lockdown podcast network. Now the number one sports podcast network. All right. Let's get to these mailbag questions. First up, Mr. Ed, 315. What surprised you the most about Pat's cut downs and practice squad signings? Wasn't too much that was surprising, but I'll give you some thoughts, not in any particular order.

Starting point is 00:22:37 the Corey Kiner trade was surprising to me. I thought they were in good enough shape between Hassan Haskins and Land Larison as your third running back. They obviously felt different. So Corey Kiner coming in, I did not have that on the bingo card, them going out and acquiring a running back. But I will say that that move, that decision looks a lot better after getting both Hassan Haskins and Land Larrison onto the practice squad. And the fact that Corey Kiner was likely going to be claimed by a lot.

Starting point is 00:23:07 team. As of Tuesday, again, as of Tuesday, carrying four tight ends and five linebackers, off ball linebackers, nine spots on your 53 man roster to those two positions seems very heavy to me. You know, I don't know if you need Tanner Arkin and Cameron Lottu on the same roster. That might change. It could change. It could have already changed as I'm talking. And we went through the linebacker thing. Just it feels like you're too heavy at both of those spots. And when you think about the fact that you have a fullback on this roster, now between tight end and fullback, that's five roster spots, tight end, fullback, and off ball line backer,

Starting point is 00:23:49 that is 10 of your 53 roster spots, almost a fifth of your roster at those positions. I don't know, man. And we're not even counting Khalil Jacobs, who's on the IR. I was also slightly surprised that John Saunders didn't make it just because he was so productive during camp. but it is what it is. I think the Jalen Reed edition hurt his chances

Starting point is 00:24:13 and inevitably spelled the end of John Saunders being on this 53. But I would also say, you know, John Saunders, he's not on the practice squad. So it is what it is. All right. Next question. McGonigal 7777. Should Elliot Wolf and Mike Vrable be institutionalized for heading into week one with Draymond Jones, Elijah, Ponter, and Gayback at Edge?

Starting point is 00:24:38 So we already talked a lot about this, but I have a different view. I have some bigger picture thoughts regarding the team and how they're going to handle Edge. I do think institutionalizing those guys would be a little bit strong, tough word, institutionalizing. But unequivocally, Edge is the one thing universally questioned, as I discussed in the first segment. But some bigger thoughts. Number one, Mike Vrable's history at the position should give us some confidence in his ability to evaluate edge. the fact that Mike Smith is also very well respected as an outside linebackers coach and pass rush specialist.

Starting point is 00:25:14 And the fact that it is year two for both Mike Smith and Mike Vrable, we should have at least some confidence that they can figure this thing out. But with that said, they did not have much of a four-man pass rush in 2025. And obviously, Vrable and Smith were both in New England working. every single day at Jolette Stadium. So you would like to have confidence, but the track record off one year, it isn't great. I also believe McGonigal,

Starting point is 00:25:50 the way that the Patriots have handled the edge position puts a lot of pressure on Zach Corp, and even to a lesser extent, Terrell Williams, those guys have to figure out a way to get pass rush consistently. And of course, we've talked about, it's probably going to lead to a lot of blitzing. They blitzed a ton late in the year into the postseason last year. There are obvious risks to blitzing, and we saw some of those risks play out not so well during the preseason. But it's going to be up to Zach Corrin,

Starting point is 00:26:23 Terrell Williams, to be very creative and find unique ways to get to the quarterback without risking too much. If this pass rush is lacking like we expected to lack until Harold Landry, is able to get back if he gets back. Quintavius Hutchins, you know, I don't know if he's actually going to play. Is he actually going to play on the defensive side of the football, or is he going to be a special teams guy? And one interesting note about Edge, Greg Bedard did point out at Boston Sports Journal that Namdi Obisor did take some one-on-ones during those Edge versus tackle drills this camp.

Starting point is 00:27:02 So maybe just maybe the Patriots are going to slide Namdi Obisor into the mix and see what he can bring you and keep Hutchins more on special teams. I don't know, man. I don't know. Again, an institution probably strong and I think obviously you were joking.

Starting point is 00:27:21 But yeah, not great, not great. You know what is great? Giving me the thumbs up, throwing a comment in, and subscribing to the YouTube channel. Likes and comments, help us with that algorithm. Let's move to George Smith, 8, 9, 7, 5, 6, 1.

Starting point is 00:27:37 Do you really think they are going to just keep their cornerback room how it is? It looks like they're comfortable sticking with the six that they have to start the season. The top three is undeniably one of the top trios in the NFL. I've said that from day one. It's not any kind of breaking news or genius idea here. But they're top three, if they're healthy, one of the top trios in football. And Christian Gonzalez as a legitimate outside corner, one of the best corners in football, his impact on the rest of the room is so significant because you can change your coverages.

Starting point is 00:28:17 You can double if you need to double if Carlton Davis is not having a great year. There's a lot of different things you can do that Christian Gonzalez allows you to do, which is why we all hope he signed sooner rather than later. Now, if Gonzalez holds out, it gets very scary, very quickly for them. But if you're trying to be realistic and reasonable, it's pretty tough for any NFL team to feel good about their fifth cornerback on the roster. And so this really comes down to, can you find that fourth guy? Like Charles Woods was not bad last year when he was given his opportunities. He wasn't very good in camp.

Starting point is 00:28:56 but you know you look at the balance of reps versus that Cleveland game when errors were made you know all you really need if you can stay healthy in the top three you just need one of those other guys one of those three other guys to be good serviceable can Charles Woods or Karan Pronti or Channing Canada or Kindo Vildor on the practice squad can any of those guys be at least okay and let's not sleep on the Jalen Reed edition because if he can play the big nickel role that also deepens your cornerback room. He would help exponentially if he can play nickel. One more thing to remember, you know, when you claim a guy, he's on the 53.

Starting point is 00:29:41 So are there any corners that the Pats would want to claim and put on the 53? And the corners that are available, do they fit the scheme? All right, let's squeeze in one last one. Was Khalil Jacobs genuinely injured or was it simply a matter of roster logistics? that's from Mason Storm. It was a legit injury, Mason. He got hurt against Philly in the second preseason game. It was on the sidelines during special teams,

Starting point is 00:30:04 so we didn't visually see it, but he was hurt on the sidelines. I don't think the Patriots were in a position of, you know, luxury to stash Jacobs with a phantom injury. I don't think he was somebody that was likely to be claimed. You know, he was a UDFA. So I think they could have probably, most likely got him to the practice squad.

Starting point is 00:30:25 Maybe not. I think so. And, you know, it would have been very interesting what they would do if Jacobs was actually healthy. Would they have claimed Darius Muisal? Would they brought in Eric Hunter? Do they keep NAMD. Obiizor? Again, a lot of linebackers on this roster right now. And if you were wondering, Shaq Thompson signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad over the past couple of days,

Starting point is 00:30:49 you do wonder would they have added him if there was no Muazau. Now, I will point out Mike Reese, posted that. The Patriots were looking at Eric Hunter and Muazau, and then they went with Muazau. But then when Hunter was kind of out there, they said, let's circle back. We've got an open roster spot. Let's bring both guys in. So maybe they're going to give them a little bit of a tryout here over the next week. And whoever's better makes the roster for opening night. All right. That wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Reach out to me on Twitter at Nixie Radio. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube. And check out the lockdown

Starting point is 00:31:24 NFL 24-7 stream, the first of its kind. If not, you can also check out the Lockdown Fantasy Football Show with Fabs and Marcus for your daily fantasy football info. Everybody have a great day, and we will talk to you next time.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Flawed Plan: Patriots Edge Strategy Exposed by Mike Vrabel!

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