Youthful Flowers' growth key component as Patriots defense came of age

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is sacked by New England Patriots' Trey Flowers during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.

By Glen Farley
February 8, 2017

Limited to only one game his rookie year, Trey Flowers became a force in New England's defensive line this past season. Flowers' development was a key element in the Pats' Super Bowl championship run.

FOXBORO - He spent the season carving out a niche out for himself as an integral piece of the Patriots' future.

Last Sunday night, he played a major role in history.

A non-participant (he appeared in one game) his rookie season, Trey Flowers capped off his second year with the team by registering 2 1/2 sacks in the Patriots' 34-28 overtime victory over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium.

If Flowers made a statement during the season - and he did - this was the exclamation point.

"Trey Flowers is one of the better players in the league," linemate Alan Branch, a 10-year NFL veteran, said in the aftermath of the big game. "He's definitely going to have a lot of people paying attention to him next year because that guy's a monster.

"I think he's one of the better pass rushers and one of the better all-around defensive linemen in the league. I give him all of the credit in the world. To me, he's one of the best."

Flowers' biggest contribution last Sunday night was a 12-yard sack of Matt Ryan that helped prevent the Falcons from kicking what could have been a fourth-quarter field goal that would have denied the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.

"It still hasn't hit me yet," Flowers said upon the team's arrival home from Houston earlier this week. "I've been seeing (the sack). A lot of people posted about it and it was all on TV and things, but it's just one of those that I really have to sit down and say, you know, 'Twenty years from now, people are still going to talk about this game. You came back 25 points, the first overtime victory win (in the Super Bowl), it was big.' It still hasn't hit me, but it feels good."

Flowers had his share of hits this season: 14 quarterbacks hits and seven sacks to be exact, both team highs, while his 45 tackles ranked eighth on the Patriots.

All of that contributed to a defense that was the NFL's stingiest during the regular season, surrendering just 15.6 points per game.

Facing a 28-3 third-quarter deficit (and, in defense of the defense, recall that seven of the points came on a pick-six) on Sunday night, the unit shut down the league's highest-scoring offense (33.8 points per game during the regular season, 40 PPG in its first two postseason games), allowing the Patriots' offense to rally.

The Falcons' final four possessions consisted of 16 plays and resulted in three punts and a turnover.

"(It was) guys (that) just continue to fight, guys that do their job and do their job well," said Flowers. "I just think that all the people who doubted us and all the people who said we didn't play any good teams, good opponents, things like that, they really weren't watching film, really weren't understanding the scheme of things because this defense, we just do what it takes to win.

"So whatever it takes, whether it's dropping back eight or rushing three or whatever, a lot of guys buy into it and we're going to play our role and do it well."

A fourth-round pick out of Arkansas in the 2015 NFL Draft, Flowers lacked a role his rookie season, injuries limiting him to four plays in one game in a year he finished on the injured reserve list.

"A year ago, outside looking in, just trying to get on the field, just trying to participate and just be able to not only participate but participate well and produce for my team to help them win, that's what I worked hard for and that's what I prepared for," said Flowers. "So it was good to get the results."

The results - the rapid development of the 6-foot-2, 265-pounder - may ultimately make unrestricted free agent Jabaal Sheard, who had eight sacks in 2015, expendable.

Flowers was indispensable last Sunday night, answering the call when the Patriots were in dire need of (yet another) game-saving play, his sack of Ryan moving the Falcons back from New England's 23 to its 35.

"I was just thankful I was able to execute on that opportunity when my time was called," said Flowers. "When I had that chance to make a big play, I was glad I was able to execute it to make that play. After that, I knew we pushed them out of field-goal range but ...

"I knew they've got a good field-goal kicker (Matt Bryant) so I knew another play had to happen or we had to count on him missing it, but then we got the holding call on Chris Long (the defensive end was held by Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews) so that pushed them even further. That just made them negate the field and go for the punt, so that was a big stop right there by the defense."

Trey Flowers emerges as star for Patriots in Super Bowl LI

Trey Flowers pressures Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan in the 4th quarter.

February 5, 2017
By Mark Daniels

HOUSTON - The Super Bowl is a stage where unknown players can turn into stars in an instant. For the Patriots, on the defensive side of the ball, no one had a bigger impact than Trey Flowers.
The second-year defensive end, who finished the season with a team-high seven sacks, might not have been a household name before Super Bowl LI, but he very well could be after the Patriots' dramatic, 34-28 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

The 23-year-old finished with 2.5 sacks including a game-changing sack on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan late in the fourth quarter.

"Trey Flowers is one of the better players in this league," Alan Branch said. "He's definitely going to have a lot of people paying attention to him next year because, I mean, that guy's a monster. I think he's definitely one of the better pass rushers and all-around defensive linemen in the league."

Flowers, who played in just one game last year, didn't start until Week 10. But when he was inserted into the main rotation, the Patriots defensive line changed for the better. That was clear on Sunday.

On the Falcons' first series, Flowers came up with his first sack - on third down - for a loss of 10.

"Last year, I didn't play a lot, but I saw the other side of it," Flowers said. "Being able to sit out and just the opportunity seeming to fade away, it could have. But I just keep playing and whatever my opportunity came I made the best of my opportunity and I just made sure I was prepared."

With 52 seconds left in the third quarter, Flowers came up with his second sack - again on third down to force a punt. The Patriots offense was able to turn the next drive into three points, but the biggest play of the game for Flowers came at 3:56 of the third quarter.

After a 27-yard catch by Julio Jones, the Falcons were in field-goal range. The Patriots likely would've lost if Atlanta got three more points, but two plays after the big catch, Flowers sacked Ryan for a loss of 12. The play pushed Atlanta out of field-goal range and the Falcons punted. Tom Brady took over after that.

"It was a good play call," Flowers said. "I just went inside on the guard and just kept getting vertical. We knew he always likes to attack the spot and [Ryan] likes to step up in the pocket, so anytime you get some inside penetration, he was right there to get the sack. I was just blessed I had the opportunity to make the play when the time came."

Vrabel's Ascension to Potential Head Coach Unusual, but not Undeserved

By Tom E. Curran January 10, 2017 1:14 PM

When the Los Angeles Rams added Mike Vrabel to their list of head coaching prospects, eyebrows rose. A linebackers coach who’s never been a coordinator, never mind a head coach, in line to run a franchise?

It is unusual. But not because Vrabel’s ill-equipped to do so. He just was in a different stream than most coaches who saw their playing days end in their early 20s and -- loving football -- got into teaching it.

Vrabel apprenticed differently. He rolled up 34 sacks in his final three college seasons at Ohio State and was a two-time Defensive Lineman of the Year in the Big 10. He was a third-round pick by the Steelers, and played alongside and behind some of the best linebackers of the 90s in a zone-blitzing defense. He signed with the Patriots in 2001 and was the equivalent of an on-field defensive coordinator in an amorphous defense that was ruthless, intricate and designed with logic in mind. Dealt to Kansas City in 2009, Vrabel was the Chiefs old head until retiring after two seasons and heading back to Ohio State to coach linebackers and the defensive line in consecutive years.

If the knowledge Vrabel gathered in 14 seasons as an NFL player, a very active NFLPA rep and a truly brilliant guy who gets the business of the NFL as well as the Xs and Os isn’t suited to coach because he wasn’t a quality control guy for two seasons 12 years ago, I mean…

As Belichick said in a statement in 2011 when Vrabel went to the Buckeyes, "During his Patriots career, there was no player more respected for his football intellect and revered for his leadership by his teammates than Mike. He was elected a team captain by his peers and is a player who I think everyone knew was destined to become a coach after his NFL playing career was over.

"Mike Vrabel is as well-suited for coaching as any player I have ever coached. He has a tremendous feel for people, players, coaches and what his team needs regardless of the situation. He is outstanding in his knowledge of the game, which contributed to his excellence as a player. I have no doubt Mike will develop tough, intelligent, fundamentally sound winners."

This year, Vrabel’s Houston linebackers have arguably been the strongest part of the Texans outstanding defense with Whitney Mercilus, Brian Cushing, John Simon and rising star Benardrick McKinney in particular having solid seasons.

Asked on a conference call why Vrabel would be a good candidate in Los Angeles, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien said, “I think people around the league recognize his knowledge, his leadership capabilities nd the type of guy that he is. He’s a guy that really cares about people, he really cares about football. Great dad, great husband. He’s got all the capabilities to be a future head coach.”

Vrabel is on the road less traveled because he had the ability as a player to take it.

http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/houston-texans-linebackers-coach-former-new-england-patriots-mike-vrabel-could-be-next-los-angeles-rams-head-coach