Patriots HC Explains Changes Facing Left-Handed QB

The New England Patriots' defense is becoming ambidextrous to kick off the 2025 season.

In Week 1, they faced off against Las Vegas Raiders right-handed quarterback Geno Smith. One week later, they'll flip sides and go against left-handed Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins. While most of the same rules of playing defense remain, the difficulties that might come to preparing for a lefty gunslinger are still there.

On Friday, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was asked if there was anything different a team might do to simulate practicing against a quarterback from the left side.

"You train all these boots most of the time, where they’re going to go, and you start matching a hand, trying to match the hand of a right-handed quarterback," Vrabel said. "And then all of a sudden, you come out and he throws the first one with his left hand, and you put your right-hand up, and it whizzes over you."

Tagovailoa has had continued success against these Patriots -- as the signal caller is a perfect 7-0 against New England as a starter. On the flip side, Vrabel has won both of his matchups as a head coach against Tagovailoa's Dolphins. There's no unfamiliarity between both sides, and it's well noted that Tagovailoa can get the ball out to his wideouts from the left side.

"It’s like the time I came through in a college to try to block a punt, and I roughed the punter because I realized I didn’t know he was left-footed. Came up the middle, probably gave him a hit pointer, but it was a 15-year penalty," Vrabel said. "So I think it’s just a good reminder of it’s hard to train it, and we can train it in pre-practice with the coaches and things like that, and just making sure that, again, the ball will come out quick."