Keion White is all business as he prepares for his third NFL season with the New England Patriots.

White’s no-nonsense approach was evident after Friday’s training camp practice, when the edge rusher candidly spoke to the media about his mindset as a key defensive player.

“From a defensive standpoint, I don’t want the offense to get one yard,” White said. “Anything more than that is a loss, and that’s what dominant defenses look like, and that should be the expectation. Yeah, are they gonna get yards some plays? But I feel like the standard should be negative yards every play.”

That should fire up Patriots fans, and that the quote came from White should come as little surprise. The 26-year-old has been one of the more mercurial personalities in New England’s locker room since being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

In June, for instance, White didn’t mince words while comparing the Mike Vrabel-led Patriots to the Jerod Mayo regime.

“Now I feel like I have a coach,” he said.

On Friday, White was asked again what he thinks of Vrabel.

“I think he’s a pretty good coach.”

Why?

“Because he helps me get better.”

Fair enough.

NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots insiders Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry were in attendance for White’s availability and the entire training camp session. During Friday’s live episode of the Patriots Talk Podcast, they discussed White’s “unconventional” approach.

🔊 Patriots Talk Podcast: Patriots camp Day 3: Unpacking Keion White & key takeaways | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

“To me, (Keion White) is a player that is authentically enigmatic and unconventional,” Curran said. “Just the cut of his jib is entirely different, and it is, after watching him now in our third year, that’s who he is. He never wavers. I admire his authenticity. I admire the fact that he does not bend the knee and say what he presumes the media wants to hear or his coaching staff wants to hear. He’s gonna say exactly what is on his mind.”

Perry seconded Curran’s take on White’s authenticity.

“He has no interest in giving you what he thinks you want,” Perry said. “I think some guys are trying to play the game and it’s just their nature — there’s guys who genuinely want to, ‘Hey, you’re trying to get a story here, I’m going to try to help you out.’

“That’s not there with Keion White. And all the power to him. It doesn’t have to be there for him. That’s not necessarily part of his job. He’s always available, he’s always willing to talk. I’ll give him that. But I think unconventional is the right word.”

Could White’s attitude become an issue in the locker room or clash with Vrabel’s similar demeanor? Perry doesn’t believe it’ll be a problem.

“I think coaches understand that there are certain positions where you’re gonna have big personalities. You’re gonna have guys that have a certain kind of mindset,” Perry added. “And as long as they’re taking the coaching, as long as they can physically execute the job that you’re asking them to execute, you’re OK with it and you expect it.

“Keion White is not your stereotypical defensive lineman, I don’t think by any stretch. But I think guys that coach that position are used to dealing with different personalities. So, to me, it’s fine to be weird.”

White will look to take his game to another level in 2025 after tallying five sacks last season under Mayo.

Also in the episode:

Mike Vrabel says Patriots ‘will have a conversation’ about Christian Wilkins.

Garrett Bradbury praises the maturity of Drake Maye.

Developing positions of need.