Newly signed Harold Landry III addresses the media after signing his contract with the New England Patriots. He’s still making major improvements to his pass rush arsenal as he prepares to start the new NFL season. Sporting the No. 2 jersey, Landry brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the Patriots’ full-team spring practice. He hit the ground running at Boston College, where he holds the school record for sacks in a single season with 16.5. His road to the NFL has been a story of exceptional development, nurtured by key mentors such as Mike Vrabel and Paul Pasqualoni.
On March 7, Landry was cut by the Tennessee Titans in a move motivated primarily by salary. This move shocked most, but in the end, Landry has been thanking the Titans’ coaching staff ever since. Most importantly, I was glad to hear him give a specific shout-out to Pasqualoni’s role in his development as a player.
During a recent practice session with the Patriots, Landry engaged in one-on-one drills with rookie Will Campbell, focusing on enhancing his pass rush skills. The other factor that has made this work is the coaching staff’s all-in commitment to this hands-on approach. With head coach Mike Vrabel donning a scout-team jersey (No.
Landry provided us with excellent context from a recent discussion he had with Mike Smith about his development path at Boston College. He fondly recalled how Pasqualoni’s coaching style took his game to new heights as he prepared for his junior year.
“I was like, ‘that’s crazy’ because… he took my game to a whole another level going into my junior year of college,” – Harold Landry III
He praised Pasqualoni’s deep focus on his technique and fundamentals. He said, ‘He demanded a lot from you in terms of your preparation, but your work ethic and just all of it.’”
The Patriots’ practice times have been punctuated by electric ball-hawking moments from others as well, including rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Christian Gonzalez, who has used Pilates as a part of his offseason training program, was a star on the field during drills, drawing two interceptions. Vrabel Gonzalez said he is excited to play under Vrabel’s leadership, noting the vibe and energy the new Titans head coach will have on the field.
“I love playing for Vrabel so far. Everything you see on TV, that’s exactly what you get. He puts on the [number] 51 jersey and always has great energy,” – Christian Gonzalez
As practice goes on, Landry starts to soak up the team’s culture and camaraderie. He’s convinced that if they take it one day at a time and work their tails off, the Patriots have a chance to do something really special this season. That potential is literally within their grasp!
“Just in the locker room, I feel like I mesh well with everybody. I feel like we’re building a great culture here right now,” – No specific source
Beyond the enhanced on-field performance, there’s a lot of change going on behind the scenes with this team. Now, players are starting to learn to love the professional approach to nutrition and fitness.
“The whole nutrition side, it’s like, ‘we’re pros now.’ They’re going to treat you as one,” – Andres Borregales
“He’s telling us, ‘you’re like a pitcher; you want to make everything look the same so the tackle doesn’t know what’s coming,’” – Harold Landry III
The Patriots are likely to trot out an incredibly diverse defensive lineup. With game changers like Keion White and Landry, their bend-don’t-break defensive approach is dynamic. Vrabel has made no bones about wanting to play very aggressively this season. To him, it’s more about winning the battle on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
Hunter Henry and the other pass catchers know that football isn’t always a linear game. Even through all this uncertainty, they remain determined and strong throughout their training.
“That’s what football is — things don’t always go your way and you have to keep playing,” – Hunter Henry
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