Former New England Patriot Joe Vellano coaching La Salle lines
TROY, NY » Joe Vellano has found a way to stay in the game he loves so much.
He’s not throwing a quarterback down for a sack. He’s not stripping a running back for a fumble. He’s not using a power move to beat an offensive lineman.
Now, he’s coaching the La Salle Institute Football team on how to do that kind of stuff.
“I’ve spent a lot of time playing and been around a lot of coaches that have taught me a lot of technique and helped me a lot with my game,” said Vellano. “I’m trying to pass it on. We’ve got a lot of good players.”
Vellano spent five seasons in the NFL after being signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland in 2013. Vellano was part of the 2015 Super Bowl Championship Patriots.
After New England, Vellano spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, and Dallas Cowboys.
As a Maryland Terrapin, Vellano was First Team All-ACC in 2011 and recorded 219 career tackles, 32 tackles-for-loss, and 13.5 sacks.
In his time as a professional football player Vellano has been able to learn and see the work ethic of some of the hardest working players in the NFL like Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork.
“Tom is one of the hardest workers and leads by example and keeps everyone in line,” said Vellano. “You go on other teams that have big guys, and no offense to anybody, but they aren’t big guys compared to him. Watching him as a kid Tom Brady was who he was. So I’ve grown up watching him and you see his continued success. The biggest thing he does is he puts in the time, he’s there, and works harder than everybody. He’s all gas.”
Vellano is now trying to instill the things he learned as a Patriot into the La Salle offensive and defensive lines. Balancing teaching basic fundamentals with conditioning and football awareness has been one of Vellano’s biggest tasks.
“Football has a fine line of going out and playing hard and using your technique and you don’t want to swarm them with reads and keys and other things,” said Vellano. “There’s a fine line between teaching basics and sprinkle in a little bit to see if it takes and maybe add a little more, but maybe not. First things first is fundamentals, playing hard, coming off the ball, playing with the guys next to you, knowing your own strength.”
“It’s been such a tough time of the year. We had eight practices that were supposed to be getting them in shape, learn fundamentals, and do our scheme stuff − and in high school you do it on both sides of the ball. In other camps you have a month and a half, you’re only learning one position, and you’ve already developed in other areas.”
Vellano, a 2008 graduate from Christian Brothers Academy, linked up with La Salle through head coach John Audino. Audino has worked at La Salle with Joe’s brother, Paul, for the last two years. Paul also just so happens to be married to Audino’s daughter.
“It’s kind of a family thing,” joked Audino. “Paul has worked with me the last two years and he’s married to my daughter − my brother works for me, he’s our defensive coordinator, and my other daughter’s fiancé is working with us too.”
“We’ve had a fun time doing it all together and it’s been a really cool thing. Joe dabbled in it last year,” added Audino.
The former Union and Columbia University Head Coach praised Vellano as a coach from numerous perspectives of the game from technique, to film, to motivation.
“Joe would be an unbelievable coach,” said Audino. “He’s a rocket scientist when you speak to him he will speak on another level. He’s really drilled it down for the guys and he’s really done a nice job with the defensive and offensive lines.”
“I don’t think you can get much better than that on the o-line and d-line,” said Audino. “It’s been great. He has worked really well with the kids.”
Audino continued on about Vellano’s ability to physically show the line technique and Vellano’s willingness to breakdown certain positions and what players need to do when it comes to line work.
“I’m staying close to football as much as I can,” said Vellano on if he would ever consider a more involved coaching role. “
“It means a lot. Obviously he’s been coaching for a while and evaluating is part of his job as well, building his coaching staff,” said Vellano on Audino’s praise.
Vellano is having fun and the La Salle lines are really responding to what Vellano brings to the table at practice.
“He doesn’t just explain it to the guys. He shows the guys and he’ll demonstrate. He’ll get two guys and explain and walk them through exactly what they are supposed to do,” said Audino. “He’s good on the sideline. He’s good on the tape. He’s good out on the field. He’s great with the kids. He’s really positive and it’s been great.”