New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots underwent quite a few changes this offseason. Perhaps the biggest of the bunch saw them fire Jerod Mayo as their head coach, before quickly hiring Mike Vrabel to come in and be his replacement.
Vrabel previously enjoyed a successful a strong six-season run as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach from 2018-2023, turning them into a surprisingly strong squad out of the AFC. As a player, Vrabel won three Super Bowls with New England as a star linebacker anchoring their defense.
The hope is that Vrabel’s arrival will result in improvement across the board for the Patriots. Since taking over, he has worked hard on instilling a new culture in Foxboro that was not present during Mayo’s one-year stint in charge, and it’s already had a big impact on second-year offensive lineman Layden Robinson.
A fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Robinson endured an interesting rookie campaign while playing underneath Mayo. Even though the season has yet to start, Robinson has already seen the positive impact Vrabel is having on the team, and he’s looking forward to what the 2025 campaign holds for the Patriots.
“It’s so fun, the energy that he brings to the team and just how he holds everybody accountable and just that he wants to turn everything around and he wants our team to be great,” Robinson said of Vrabel.
“Just having a coach like that with all the energy he has and what he wants to pour into the team, he’s leading by example too. I’d say that’s just been the best part just being there and seeing that and I can’t wait to see everything turn around for good.”
In 2024, Robinson was thrust into action unexpectedly due to a slew of injuries on New England’s offensive line. He ended up playing 13 games, starting 11 of them, while primarily playing at left guard.
For now, it looks like Cole Strange has the inside track for the left guard job, but Robinson will be competing for a starting role during training camp. Vrabel has already made a positive first impression on him, so now Robinson will be trying to stand out in front of the coaching staff once he takes the field later this month.
