The Patriots’ offense will be in familiar hands in 2025 under returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but the defense will look dramatically different.
That’s because new head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams are expected to run the same defense that they deployed while together on the Titans from 2018 to 2023, according to a source.
So, what exactly does that mean? It will look like a 3-4 but will actually be a 4-3 under. The defensive front will take more of a one-gap, attacking approach.
That’s a shift from last year’s scheme, which was still using Bill Belichick’s style, emphasizing two-gapping inside on the defensive front and versatility on the edges. For the first time in 25 years, the Patriots’ defense will look significantly different.
There will continue to be a nose tackle in the middle of the defensive front, and a 3-technique defensive tackle will be positioned on the weak side of the line. The nose tackle will be flanked by a 5-technique defensive end on the strong side of the line. Next to the 3-technique defensive tackle will be a weak-side defensive end, who can stand up or put his hand in the dirt. In base, two linebackers will be positioned off-ball in the middle of the defense. A third linebacker will primarily be standing on the line of scrimmage next to the 5-technique defensive end. That strong-side linebacker will have the flexibility to rush the passer or move back and play in space.
Personnel-wise, the Patriots will change what they’re looking for on defense. The Titans typically deployed a smaller, more athletic linebacker corps.
The Patriots’ top returning linebackers, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai, are both over 250 pounds. Sione Takitaki, another veteran player on the roster, is 245 pounds.
For comparison sake, Azeez Al-Shaair and David Long Jr. were top linebackers under Vrabel in Tennessee, and both players are listed under 230 pounds. There’s a spot for bigger linebackers in the defense; Jack Gibbens and Dylan Cole both played big roles for Vrabel on the Titans and are both 240-plus pounds, but it will be interesting to see how Bentley and Tavai fit into the new scheme.
Bentley is entering the final year of his contract. Tavai’s two-year extension will kick in this season.
Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux actually played under Williams as a rookie with the Dolphins in 2017 and fits into the nose tackle role. Keion White, who’s listed at 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, could play the strong-side defensive end role in Vrabel and Williams’ defense in the Denico Autry role, and Christian Barmore, if healthy, is an ideal fit as a three-technique defensive tackle. The Patriots need to make it a priority to find a pass-rushing weak-side defensive end in the mold of Harold Landry.
If available at the No. 4 overall pick, Penn State’s Abdul Carter would be a tremendous fit at weak-side defensive end or in the strong-side linebacker role. Josh Sweat and Khalil Mack are among the top pass-rushers available in free agency, where the Patriots have $130 million in spend in cap space.
Williams spent the 2024 season as the Lions’ defensive line coach and run game coordinator after serving as the Titans’ assistant head coach/defensive line coach in Vrabel’s last season as head coach in 2023. He spent 2018 through 2022 as the Titans’ defensive line coach, a post he held with the Raiders and Dolphins in previous stops.
The 50-year-old coordinator began his coaching career in 1998 at Fort Scott Community College after his playing career at East Carolina wrapped up. He also coached collegiately at North Carolina A&T, Youngstown State, Akron, Purdue and Texas A&M.
Williams was highly respected by people within the Lions facility and loved by players. He’s also considered a strong talent developer. He’s very close to Vrabel and will have the implicit trust of his head coach.
“I’m excited for the people here in Boston and New England and our fans to get to know Terrell the way that I did my first year in Tennessee,” Vrabel said on WBZ this week. “He was on our coaching staff for six years and was a vital contributor to that success.”
“I’ve seen him meet and visit and have a connection with offensive linemen. So much so I was excited to make him the interim head coach for a preseason game,” Vrabel continued. “He had earned that opportunity and I thought it was something that was important for me to do, to reward those coaches that have earned the right. That is something he had earned at the time, just like he earned this opportunity to be the defensive coordinator.”
Williams spoke of his “basic philosophies” while speaking to Patriots.com after being hired. Those are, “being physical, playing hard and doing whatever it takes to win.”
The Patriots ranked last in sack percentage last season and only brought down the quarterback 29 times. Ten of those sacks came in one game against the Bears, meaning they had just 19 sacks in their other 16 contests.
The Patriots will need to upgrade their talent, but with Williams’ attacking defense, the unit should be more disruptive in 2025.