When Kevin Byard looks across the Patriots' practice field and sees head coach Mike Vrabel, he doesn't see a man weighed down by controversy. He sees the same energetic leader who helped shape his career in Tennessee.

"He's the same old guy, honestly," Byard told reporters Tuesday, via MassLive.com. "He's the same guy that I recognize from being back in Tennessee—a guy that's full of energy, coaching the entire team, running back and forth from offense, defense, special teams. I don't see a difference whatsoever."

Byard, who signed with New England earlier this year, is one of the few players on the roster who can speak to Vrabel's coaching style from firsthand experience. And if there's one thing that stands out, it's the volume.

"He's the loudest voice on the field," Byard said. "Just coaching the guys, making sure guys' technique is good, but at the same time, praising them when they do very well. It's definitely the same guy I recognize from Tennessee."

On Tuesday, Byard noted that Vrabel even jumped into punt drills—a level of hands-on involvement that speaks to his coaching DNA. For a team looking to rebuild its identity, that kind of energy from the top can be contagious.

Receiver Romeo Doubs, who never played under Vrabel before this season, is already feeling the impact.

"I love him," Doubs said. "Very energetic dude. A player's coach, because I know at some point in his career, he's played some really solid football here. It's rare when you get a head coach who obviously was a player in this league, and worked his way through the ropes to be a really solid head coach. I'm just very blessed and fortunate to be around him."

For Vrabel and the Patriots, the focus now is on letting the football do the talking. With the season still months away, the hope is that off-field distractions will fade as training camp heats up. If the team can channel that same energy Byard and Doubs describe into wins, this reunion could be exactly what New England needs.