It would be easy for the New England Patriots to sit back satisfied after a 5-2 start, believing they have reached the needed standard. However, Pats fans who are paying attention know this isn't the brand of head coach Mike Vrabel or the New England coaching staff, and there's always room to get better.
Special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer highlighted the need for improvement heading into Week 8 on Thursday, courtesy of ESPN's Mike Reiss.
"“A couple operational things we need to clean up, and it always starts with how am I approaching the week with those guys? I need to get our PP (personal protector) and snapper on the same page. When they’re not, things like that happen.”"Jeremy Springer
Springer's comments are directed towards long snapper Julian Ashby, who has had two false starts this season. Even if it hasn't cost the franchise, it isn't living up to New England's standards, and it's encouraging that the coordinator isn't hesitating to point out ways the franchise can improve.
It would be very easy to be content leading the AFC East, understanding you're playing a Cleveland Browns team that is already selling off pieces and has made quarterback changes early in the season. The fact that this isn't New England's mindset is telling.
Patriots ST Coordinator Jeremy Springer Isn't Happy with the Status Quo
It is a familiar sentiment for Pats fans who remember a legendary coaching staff that was never satisfied and always looking for ways to improve. Vrabel's staff has done an incredible job of bringing back this mentality with a little bit of an evolved approach that has shed pieces that were no longer working. However, what is always going to remain true, no matter the year, achieving greatness comes from never being satisfied.
Whether it is mistakes from your quarterback or your long snapper, a level of improvement and greatness is expected. This only adds to the excitement of Patriots fans who have been mired in frustration after years of greatness. Seeing such an instant payoff under Vrabel speaks to the ascendence of your starting quarterback, a great coaching staff, and just how mismanaged the franchise was a season ago.
Regardless, Springer's comments can't fall on deaf ears and must be taken seriously. The Browns are heading into this weekend tied for the seventh-best Pro Football Focus special teams grade (90.3), while the Patriots rank 28th (61.5), so it's clear that Springer's unit can't afford to take the competition lightly.
Having a rigid approach to coaching this week, calling out needed areas of improvement is a great way to help maintain focus on an underwhelming opponent. The Patriots can't allow an upset loss against the Browns, and the best way to prevent that is by avoiding any major blunders on special teams.