New England Patriots
“I’m sure it sounds a lot like what I used to talk like,” coach Mike Vrabel said.
Cory Durden Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe
-
5 takeaways from Day 17 of Patriots training camp
-
Why Patriots aren’t viewing Kyle Williams as a roster-bubble player amid wideout competition
FOXBOROUGH — The first name that came to mind on Saturday as coach Mike Vrabel spoke about the banter that goes back and forth during training camp practices was Cory Durden.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pound defensive tackle certainly isn’t afraid to make himself heard during scrimmages against the Patriots’ top offense. It’s a quality that’s familiar to Vrabel, who had a reputation as a trash talker during his playing days.
“Some guys, it’s just not very natural, and some guys talk all the time,” Vrabel said. “I’ve got to try to shut Cory Durden up, and I’m like, “Okay, Cory, you made your point.”
“I’m sure it sounds a lot like what I used to talk like,” Vrabel added. “Again, with ourselves and our team, we want to make sure that we’re competitive, and certainly not doing that would hurt the team.”
The 27-year-old nose tackle says that’s just how he is. The back-and-forth only adds to the fun of the competition, he said. Some of his teammates appreciate it, others have asked him to tone it down.
“I’ve always been that way. Talking trash is a part of it,” Durden said. “We’re some of the best players in the world, so why not have fun while you’re out there.”
Talking is one thing, backing it up is another. The 27-year-old defensive tackle still has plenty to prove. He is on his fourth NFL stop and has yet to record a sack at this level. He was available for the Patriots last year because the Giants cut him.
Durden carved out a role last year, playing roughly 38 percent of New England’s defensive snaps alongside Milton Williams and Christian Barmore up front.
His reserve role was a key one as the Patriots marched to a Super Bowl appearance last year. He recorded 30 tackles and helped the Patriots hold opponents to 101.7 yards per game on the ground, which was sixth in the NFL.
“Well, he played hard, has great energy, it means a lot to him, it’s important to him. He’s easy to coach,” Vrabel said. “You can coach him hard, and he usually tries to make the corrections and comes back, and I think he has continued to improve. He’s played well in the run game, flashed a little bit of first and second down pass rush, being able to get into the pocket.”
Now, after the Khyiris Tonga left to join the Chiefs in free agency, there appears to be an opportunity for Durden to expand his role. He has consistently gotten work with the first team this summer and feels more comfortable within the Patriots’ defensive scheme now that he has a year under his belt.
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot,” Durden said. “I’d like to think I was a good person before I got here, but I enjoy my team. I’m trying to be the best teammate I can be. I really enjoy this locker room.”
“And then, in the scheme, I’m playing fast. I know this defense like the back of my hand. It’s my second year in it, so I know what everybody is doing around me. Just being able to play fast is very helpful.”
Durden is in the final year of his contract and a point of emphasis this year will be turning some of those flashes in the pass-rushing game into production. He said he has worked a lot on being an “active pass-rusher” and added that one of his goals is to get five sacks. He wants to be on the field on third downs.
This summer, several Patriots players have mentioned the importance of earning the right to rush. Getting stops on early downs sets up long third downs. The more defensive a player is on the field in those situations, the more opportunities there are to get after the quarterback.
Durden said he spent time working out with a pair of Pro Bowl defensive tackles in Las Vegas during the offseason as he worked on his pass-rush skills. Durden shares an agent with Maxx Crosby, and the agent helped organize the get-together.
“I actually had the opportunity to work with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark this summer,” Durden said. “So, just being able to soak up knowledge from guys like that is very helpful. Quinnen Williams just got that massive contract, so those guys are dominant players.”
Durden flashed a smile as he walked away from the post-practice press conference. A reporter asked if he was going to get paid after this season. He didn’t hesitate to say that’s his plan.
“That’s the goal,” Durden said. “Don’t say it too loud, say that too loud right now. Might get me in trouble. But, that’s the goal.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
