The New England Patriots wrapped up mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, and there were several big storylines that fans were eagerly keeping tabs on. One was to see how the New England’s defense would play, even though players weren’t wearing pads.
With Mike Vrabel taking over as head coach, the Patriots underwent a change in defensive philosophy in the process. Vrabel prioritizes having quick players who can make explosive plays in the front seven, which has resulted in a lot of turnover in that area over the past couple of months.
One guy whose role with the team was a bit of a question mark entering the season was third-year safety/linebacker Marte Mapu.