New England Patriots - NESN.com
Keion White loved playing for Bill Belichick. But playing for Jerod Mayo? Not so much, as was made clear during Tuesday’s post-practice media availability.
But how does the third-year defensive end feel about the Patriots’ new head coach?
Well, White apparently is very high on Mike Vrabel, whom he compared to Belichick.
“I like Mike,” White told reporters. “He leads with work. I can respect that. It’s similar to Bill, just with a younger face. I think we all know how I feel about that; I liked him.
“So, it’s comforting to know that you have a hard-ass at the helm who will not be afraid to fistfight with you in a back alley.”
After posting one sack as a rookie under Belichick in 2023, White racked up five sacks last season while playing for Mayo. His stats improved across the board, but White’s production dipped in the second half of the season while he butted heads with the coaching staff.
However, White has high hopes for next season, when he could be playing alongside newcomer Milton Williams and a healthy Christian Barmore.
“We have really good guys on the inside who can get after the passer, even on early-down situations,” he said. “That changes things I can do a little bit. Be less conservative and be more aggressive.”
Despite looking like a potential star during his first two seasons, White still has much to prove at the NFL level. This could be a make-or-break season for the 2023 second-round pick.
