HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO
PRESS CONFERENCE
November 8, 2024
JM: Good morning everyone. Always excited to have another opportunity to go out on the football field and practice, and obviously play a game. Talked about some of the history of Chicago, the Bears, and I've always been very appreciative of everything they've accomplished ever since I've been alive at least. What I will say is my message to the team is really just about focus. We call it today, "Focus Friday." We're not out there a long time, but definitely expect the execution to be on point and the effort to be on point and not out there long, but it's all about focus. Look, has everything been perfect throughout the week during practice? Absolutely not, but I think the guys have responded well and look forward to seeing those guys come out here today, and tighten up all the rest of the screws. Fire away.
Q: Speaking of tightening up screws, Kyle Dugger. Is that ankle more serious than initially thought?
JM: Yeah, he's still dealing with the ankle and as you know, all injuries don't heal the same way. He's still dealing with those things and we'll see how it goes going forward.
Q: Is it something that could threaten his availability? I mean in the short term obviously, but he'll be back this year or is that like...
JM: He'll be back this year for sure, yeah.
Q: We talk about Mike Onwenu up front. Alex [Van Pelt] mentioned yesterday he's your best offensive lineman. Wherever you need him, you're going to put him. That could be left guard. What are your thoughts on trying to get continuity but at the same time needing to...
JM: Yeah, if I'm being very honest, it's been frustrating throughout the year as far as the different combinations we've had to work through. I'm very appreciative of Big Mike [Onwenu] and his willingness, before anything else, his willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team win.
Q: Do you have a conversation with him ahead of time before potentially moving him to a different spot just to let him know?
JM: I've had multiple conversations with Big Mike and as always, it's with a smile and, 'whatever I need to do to help the team win,' and I appreciate that.
Q: How much does the shuffle on the inside have to do with trying to get back to establishing the run?
JM: Look, it's about going out there and being able to protect the quarterback, and also run the ball. You never want to be too one dimensional, and look, we just got to get things going.
Q: What aspect has been frustrating?
JM: The frustrating part for me has just been the guys in and out of the lineup. Whether it's through injury or whether it's through performance, it's just been a bunch of different things. That's part of football, and that's part of me learning as a head coach. Those things are going to happen. Some years it's worse than others. This year, it's just been hard to get the same group out there every week.
Q: How can someone like David Andrews help in that kind of situation?
JM: Yeah, he's still been around. It kind of goes back to, as you guys know, when I was a player. I dealt with injuries as well and still hung around the football team all the time. David's doing the same thing. He's been helpful for me as well. Things that I can do better, and things that I'm doing well and he's a valuable piece of the puzzle. Still a captain on this team, voted on by his peers and I think that says a lot.
Q: If you guys were to put Mike and Vederian [Lowe] next to each other on the left side, how much of a risk is there in having two inexperienced guys on the right side? As coaches, how do you combat another team trying to target that side of the offensive line?
JM: The expectation is all those guys have to know what to do. Before you get into the how to do it, you need to know what to do. Again, that's always been the expectation and now we just have to go out there on Sunday and do it.
Q: Coach, Antonio Gibson's known for his versatility and his receiving ability, but it seems like he hasn't been used a ton in that role. I was just wondering if there's any reason for that?
JM: Look, as we game plan, we try to do what we think is best for that game, and it just hasn't worked out that way as of now.
Q: Is Layden [Robinson] a guy you can flip over to the left side?
JM: I would say anytime you're a rookie, regardless of position, it's going to be tough to move back and forth, play inside backer, outside backer. That's a very tough thing to do. For us, it's about, 'let's master one role first before we get into that flipping side-to-side.'
Q: Jerod, you mentioned your appreciation for the history of the Bears. I know often those Wednesday meetings with Bill [Belichick] doubled as a history lesson on the opposing team. Is that something you find important to imprint on your players, or to what degree?
JM: My style is I talk about the players that have played there in the past, players that I've been fans of. They understand, obviously, I'm a huge linebacker guy, and Dick Butkus and the rest of that crew has always been, and then you go to the [Brian] Urlacher phase as well. Then you go to Lance Briggs. Some of these young guys, there's probably people in here who don't know who Lance Briggs is. He was a heck of a linebacker for those guys. Even going to Tommy Harris, the guy up front. I'm a fan of football. I've always been a fan of football first and foremost, and just been fortunate enough to be able to play. I appreciate teams that have played for an extended time at a high level.
Q: With Mike, he mentioned yesterday that he's very proud of his versatility, but that's not exactly what he wants to be known for. He more wants to be known for what he's doing on the football field. How do you balance that? Do you ever worry that he'll get upset with all these moves, or get a little annoyed with all these moves?
JM: I'm sure that's a normal human response sometimes. You always want to be placed in the best case scenario, but that's not what team sports is. Team sports is all about doing what's best for the team. Again, you can be frustrated and still go out there and get the job done. I'm sure you've been frustrated at times, they ask you to write an article about something you just don't want to write about and you still get it done.
Q: Did you take note of last night's game and the 2-point conversion?
JM: It's funny. It's funny man. It's very interesting. You're always going to have people on either side, and I understand it. If it works, you're a genius. If it doesn't work, then you leave yourself open to criticism. It's part of it. But again, there are so many factors that go into it. Whether you're talking about analytics – alright, but analytics doesn't take into account other things. What's the weather? How's the game flow going? What are the matchups? There are so many different things. I would say last night, he [Zac Taylor] probably felt that was the best thing to do for his team. It's easy to second-guess it, but it's interesting. It is interesting.
Q: It's my favorite topic because I actually don't think there's a right or wrong answer. You can make a case –
JM: We should do an off-season project together. In all seriousness, look, just like a player, you expect players – they make their biggest jump from year one to year two. My expectation for me personally as a head coach is to make the biggest jump from year one to year two, and that's through doing those deep dives when you actually have time to do them.
Q: Are you kind of filing things away right now that, 'Hey, when I have more time in the offseason, I'm going to –'
JM: 100%.
Q: Like what?
JM: It's a combination of things. Look, you can start with X's and O's. You can then go to situational football. You can also go to structure and culture. Do I think I've done things right? Absolutely. Are there ways to improve? 1,000%. Do I wish I would have done certain things differently? Yeah. But those are things that when you get a chance, you get time to reflect. I'm going to go somewhere where no one can find me, just by myself, no kids, no nothing and just reflect on the season. I think it's important not only for football players, for anyone to take those times to reflect and see what you can do better.
Q: You mentioned there's so many factors with something like a 2-point conversion. I'm just curious, whether it's last night or the situation you guys were in last week, how much of it is just matchup dependent? Like, the Titans defense has been pretty good this year. Last night the Bengals couldn't stop Lamar Jackson at the end of the game. How much of it is not the weather, it's not the numbers, it's just our guys against their guys in that moment?
JM: Ultimately that's what it comes down to. That's what sports, to me, that's what it is. You have to be better than the person across from you.
Q: Does the 2-point conversion fall under Jeremy's [Springer] responsibility? It's kind of a special teams play, but it's not really a special team's play. Is it really more of an AVP [Alex Van Pelt]?
JM: That's 100% me. That's interesting, you went to Springer, I never would have thought.
Q: It's kind of a special teams play, kind of, but it's not really part of the – in the decision. Like the decision, one or two?
JM: That's 100% my decision.
Q: Is Alex Austin going to make a return this week?
JM: We're still having those conversations, but he is healthy, and he's ready to go.
Q: You mentioned the jump from year one to year two. I'm just wondering, what have you seen from Sidy Sow this season, and is there any chance we see him in the lineup anytime soon?
JM: Yeah, he's continuing to grow. I will say, a guy like Sidy who hasn't played football since he was 5 years old like some of us, he's still developing and still growing.
Q: We asked AVP last week about incorporating designed runs for Drake [Maye] in the offense, and he kind of said that he takes enough hits and stuff like that. What is your stance on scheming ways to – obviously, his mobility has been a factor.
JM: One thing I would say, he was in the concussion protocol not too long ago, and I'm not looking forward to designing quarterback runs for him at this present time. But who knows? Look, he's a rookie, and he'll continue to evolve as a player as well.
Q: You mentioned a few things that you had filed away already to review in the offseason. What was the first one or two things?
JM: Yeah, I don't want to get into specifics on that. I appreciate the question, but that's for me and my diary.
