'Who’s willing to shed blood?' Hard coaching makes a comeback
“The best play you can run is to open up a can of whoop ass on somebody." That's how one captain puts it. These Patriots and Texans are old-school reflections of their coaches. (There will be blood.)
Go Long is in Patriots Country ahead of the divisional round.
New here? Subscribe to access all podcasts and all stories.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — White strands of hair sprout from his thick beard, a sign of both wisdom and urgency. Morgan Moses fully understands the significance of Sunday afternoon. He has played in 189 pro games. He’s one of the rare starters on the New England Patriots to make it this far. It’d be easy for all players and all coaches here at 1 Patriots Place to hype up those “savages” coming to town.
That was Bill Belichick’s age-old strategy. He’d ramble on about a middle school two-hand touch team if that’s who his Patriots played next.
And, oh my, here come the murderous Houston Texans.
Mike Vrabel might’ve played for Belichick, but he’s not Belichick. He’s not leading this team from the same handbook. At his first press conference of the week, Vrabel was respectful of the visiting Texans. But not celebratory. It’s clear what chord this coach of the year candidate is trying to strike.
Moses is the right tackle tasked with blocking the Texans’ monstrous ends.
Bring up this defense’s trademark relentlessness and Moses hardly reacts.
“I mean, they’re like every football team out there now,” Moses says. “Right now, the stakes are high. You win or you go home. We see that every day from our defense. A bunch of guys that are willing to die for it. And we look forward to the challenge on Sunday.”
Vrabel’s approach is different.
Hell no, his Patriots do not plan on propping these Texans up as a deity.
“We put our pants on just like they put their pants on,” Moses continues.