Mike Vrabel didn’t need the stat sheet to see what he wanted from the Patriots’ rookies in their season opener. In a 13-10 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions, the first-year players who actually got on the field showed enough in the margins to earn notice from their head coach.
Only three rookies saw game action: pass rusher Gabe Jacas, linebacker Namdi Obiazor, and tight end Eli Raridon. None of them piled up eye-popping numbers, but Vrabel made it clear he valued the work that doesn’t always jump off the page.
“I felt like some of our young players did some decent things. I know it’s not gonna show up in the stats, but I thought Eli [Raridon] tried to block and tried to battle. He had a few instinctive plays where he was responsible for somebody, and they ran out of there, and he kind of found the next guy who would be coming down into that position.
There were some things that I thought were instinctive. I thought Gabe [Jacas] had his best showing.
I thought [Namdi Obiazor] played good on special teams… To be able to get some of those younger players who have never played, and that’s their first game, those are some positive things. I don’t think people realize what that environment is like,” said the coach.
Jacas was the most productive of the bunch, finishing with three total tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, one sack, and three run stops across 11 pass-rushing snaps. Raridon made his lone catch count in a big way, turning a two-yard reception into the Patriots’ only touchdown. He also drew praise for his blocking, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) gave him a 76.4 pass-blocking grade on 27 blocking snaps.
Obiazor’s workload came almost entirely on special teams, where he played 20 snaps and recorded three total tackles, including one solo.
The rookies who didn’t play still dressed for the game: Caleb Lomu, Tanner Arkin, Dametrious Crownover, Quintayvious Hutchins, and Channing Canada. Erick Hunter, Behren Morton, and Karon Prunty were not active.
For New England, the message from Vrabel was straightforward. The rookies won’t be handed anything, but the ones who handle the little things and embrace their roles can work their way into more time.
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