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Texans' Vrabel knows what to expect from Brady: 'It's a huge challenge'

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Mike Vrabel faced Tom Brady in practice for years as a linebacker, but on Sunday he'll try to stop the future Hall of Famer as a defensive coordinator for the first time.

The New England Patriots quarterback poses a tough task for any defense, and Vrabel knows firsthand what he'll be up against when the Houston Texans travel to Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

"They rely on precision and operation and timing - the comfort level of the receivers as far as where they're supposed to be," Vrabel said, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. "They get their backs involved, and they work in the speed guys. It's a huge challenge."

When asked about defending mobile quarterbacks, he brought the focus back to Brady, revealing some of what he's learned about his former teammate's style of play.

"We're playing Tom Brady (and) he'll be seven-and-a-half yards behind the center, I can promise you," Vrabel said. "He won't leave (the pocket) unless we somehow force him to. He'll stand back there and keep his feet square and point his left shoulder to wherever he's throwing the ball. I don't have to try to defend a mobile quarterback this week. We will down the road."

Brady certainly isn't mobile, but he proved he's as dangerous as ever last week in a win over the New Orleans Saints. The 40-year-old bounced back from a subpar Week 1 outing, throwing for nearly 450 yards and three touchdowns.

Vrabel could use last year's playoff meeting with the Pats when he was the Texans' linebackers coach as a reference. Despite losing, Houston held Brady to less than 300 yards passing and intercepted him twice.

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