When Mike Vrabel was the head coach of the Titans, defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons was widely viewed as someone who helped instill the new Patriots head coach’s culture in Tennessee.
As he embarks on his first season as New England’s coach, Vrabel wants that enforcer type of player on the Patriots’ roster. He has a few candidates in mind, including Christian Barmore, as he offered a positive update on the defensive tackle in an appearance on Chris Long’s “Green Light” podcast.
“I think there’s guys up there that we have to have from that position that, when you say [expletive], is disruptive, creating the tone, setting the tone, and creating the standard of what it is to play with speed, violence, physicality, effort, and relentlessness,” Vrabel said when asked which Patriots defensive tackle can emulate Simmons.