By Angelica Medina
SANTA CLARA, California, Feb 3 (Reuters) – New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel not only feels at ease with his team’s underdog status, he also sees it as an integral part of American culture as they get ready for their Super Bowl showdown with Seattle.
“The majority of Americans, or a majority of people, probably are more underdogs than they are favourites,” Vrabel explained during Tuesday’s press conference in Santa Clara.
“Favorites are the talented, elite, top 10%. And most groups are made out of a lot of people that are average and 80%, and we’re trying to make the 80% a little bit better,” he added.
It’s a philosophy that has carried the Patriots to their first Super Bowl under Vrabel’s leadership, a remarkable achievement in his inaugural season with the team.
The 50-year-old Ohio native won three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots as a player.
The former linebacker is now looking to join an elite group of coaches who have won a Super Bowl both as a player and as a head coach.
As a player, Vrabel was known for his versatility as a two-way force. In Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers in 2004, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter, while also recording two sacks and a forced fumble.
His team will be put to the ultimate test on Sunday, when they face Seattle’s defence. Vrabel’s plan for his team is to maintain balance.
“Our best games, we’re able to provide some semblance of run game and we’re able to kind of marry some of the play-action passes. I don’t think in this league you want to turn things into a drop-back passing game.”
While the spotlight has been on the Patriots’ offence and MVP candidate Drake Maye, Vrabel emphasised the remarkable growth of the defence.
“The team has continued to improve. So I give them a lot of credit defensively for what they’ve done. And we’ll need our best effort on Sunday in order to help us win the football game,” he added.
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in San FranciscoEditing by Toby Davis)
