‘Some Positive Things’ — Mike Vrabel Reveals Patriots Rookies Who Impressed Him in Week 1

The New England Patriots may have opened the season with a loss; however, the head coach, Mike Vrabe l, still found a few things worth taking from the performances of his rookie class. Three first-year players in particular caught his attention after New England 's 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks .

Tight end Eli Raridon , edge rusher Gabe Jacas, and linebacker Namdi Obiazor all made their NFL debuts against the Seahawks. None had much of a statistical line to point to outside of Jacas' sack and Raridon's touchdown; however, Vrabel was more interested in the way they handled their first real test.

Mike Vrabel Points to Eli Raridon, Gabe Jacas and Namdi Obiazor

Vrabel discussed the three rookies during his Monday appearance on The Greg Hill Show and made it clear that he was not judging their first games strictly by the box score.

"I felt like some of our young players did some decent things. I know it's not gonna show up in the stats, but I thought Eli [Raridon] tried to block and tried to battle. He had a few instinctive plays where he was responsible for somebody, and they ran out of there, and he kind of found the next guy who would be coming down into that position. There were some things that I thought were instinctive. I thought Gabe [Jacas] had his best showing. I thought [Namdi Obiazor] played good on special teams… To be able to get some of those younger players who have never played, and that's their first game, those are some positive things. I don't think people realize what that environment is like."

Raridon had the biggest moment of the three. The third-round pick out of Notre Dame caught a two-yard touchdown from Drake Maye for the first points of the Patriots' season. He finished with one reception, except his role went beyond that catch.

Raridon played 38 offensive snaps, or 54% of the Patriots' offensive total, as the second TE behind Hunter Henry . The head coach specifically pointed to his blocking and his ability to react when a play did not unfold exactly as expected. Those details won't do much for a fantasy score, but they mattered to the Patriots' coaching staff in a player's first NFL game.

Jacas had a more obvious statistical impact. The second-round pick, selected 55th overall after the Patriots traded up with the Los Angeles Chargers , recorded his first career sack against the Seahawks. He fought through a double team, stayed with the play, and brought down Drew Lock.

That was notable because Jacas had a relatively quiet preseason after missing much of the spring. Vrabel had already talked about wanting more from him, and his debut gave the coaching staff something concrete to build on.

The three rookies were part of a larger first-year group that saw the field in Seattle. Caleb Lomu, Tanner Arkin, Dametrious Crownover, Quintayvious Hutchins, and Channing Canada also suited up, while Karon Prunty, Erick Hunter, and Behren Morton were inactive.

For now, Vrabel's attention appears to be on the players who gave the Patriots something in their first taste of regular-season football.