PATRIOTS HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO
PRESS CONFERENCE
August 19, 2024
JM: I'm excited to have the guys back out here. Still working hard, still out here competing. I know you guys are probably wondering who's going to play in the game. Everyone that's healthy is going to play in the game. Not sure what Washington is going to do, but it really doesn't matter. It's what we need to do. It's what we need as a team.
Q: Have you noticed a difference in Drake since the Eagles game, and if so, what do you think that is attributed to?
JM: I think it's attributed to his hard work, his dedication to his craft. This guy comes in early, leaves late. Every day, he's one of those type of guys, and he's done a great job. I would also say the coaches have done a good job meeting with him one-on-one, making sure that he's comfortable with his team play. He's absolutely getting better.
Q: Why is playing [the starters] against the Commanders something that this team needs?
JM: To me, the only way to get better at football is to play football. We can run around here in shorts, or run out here in full pads and not tackle and then get to the game, and it looks like crap. I think it's important to get that live action and to build on our conditioning.
Q: With Drake, how do you balance following the development plan that you guys established against what's happening and reacting to what's going on?
JM: We always have to be flexible in regard to the plan. Right now, it's all going the right way, the right direction, and hopefully the teams get better.
Q: Can you see his [Drake Maye's] confidence grow as he goes about his business, and gets something out of that game like what he was able to do?
JM: Absolutely. He made some good throws, and I would say his teammates can see that confidence growing as well. Hopefully, it's just an upward trajectory from here.
Q: In reference to the developmental plan, how would you describe the core of what that is?
JM: I'm not going to get too much into the plan, but at the core, that was just the extra work. We talked about the different tools that we have, and all the quarterbacks are really taking advantage of that. Whether it's the virtual reality, the extra walk-through time, or the meetings by themselves. They're just doing all of that extra stuff that's really paying dividends.
Q: Jaheim Bell is a guy who had a pretty good day yesterday, by the looks of things. How is he coming along, especially in the wake of seeing guys like Austin [Hooper] and Hunter [Henry] going down?
JM: He's really stepped up to the challenge, and he's taken a lot of reps. He's one of those guys that has a unique skill set. He can run with the ball in his hands, and we just have to do a good job getting it to him.
Q: With three weeks until the regular season, do you know who your starting quarterback will be, and if not, when do you want to lock that down?
JM: We still don't know right now. We have another preseason game, and then a week after that. When I know, I'll let you know.
Q: Jerod, when you talk about confidence with Drake [Maye], how does that manifest itself on the field? What's a confident quarterback look like?
JM: Let's just rewind a little bit. You pick up and you go to a new state, a new team. Just his routine, he's settled into his routine. I think that's the most important thing for any type of rookie. Going back to the confidence thing, yes, going through your progressions, building trust in the guys up front, going through your progressions and making the right throw.
Q: Do you remember when it clicked for you? Your first time in the NFL when you were like, I get this now and what I'm doing?
JM: I don't remember a particular game. My "Welcome to the NFL [moment]" was Warrick Dunn catching a ball out in the flats and it was a one-on-one tackle, and I made the tackle. I was like, maybe I can do this. Some of you guys don't even know Warrick Dunn. You know there are guys in the locker room that have never even heard of Cracker Jacks? Just think about that. I always sing that song, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game." They're like, what are Cracker Jacks? I'm like, man, I'm getting old.
Q: I know you said in the past that you like the offensive line. Will the starting offensive line be settled going into week three of the preseason? I know things can change, but where are you with that? Do you still think that's possible?
JM: Yeah, we're getting close. That'll be a discussion after the game.
Q: We saw a play in practice yesterday where Jacoby [Brissett] looked like when he was following through, maybe hit his hand on a helmet or something.
JM: Yeah, he's okay. One thing I would say, even though they look crazy, the guardian caps help out with that. Instead of hitting a hard helmet with your thumb, the guardian caps have a little more give.
Q: Jerod, going back to the tight ends quickly, you volunteered this morning that the guys should be back relatively early in the season. Is Hunter Henry's status for the opener in doubt?
JM: I wouldn't say it's in doubt. Right now, we'll have to see. We still have a lot of time. I think he'll be there, but once again, when he's ready to play, he'll be out there.
Q: Jerod, regarding the developmental plan timetable, how much does that week between Washington and then game prep for Cincinnati that week factor in?
JM: Yeah, it's a huge week because now you start to get into that game planning element. Remember, right now in preseason, everyone's just running the same thing. It's very basic. Even when guys like Drake Maye get a chance to go against our defense, he's going to see different looks. He'll struggle at times, but hopefully he learns to make mistakes.
Q: Jerod, we've seen Drake mix in with a lot of the starters, some of them. How important is it for Drake to mix in with the full unit – line, receivers, everything – before you can determine whether he's ready to play?
JM: It's very important for him to continue to build that confidence with that group, not only the offensive line, but also the receivers. So, it is important.
Q: What was the slip-and-slide day like for you?
JM: It was great. I did it, first time as head coach. We had some coaches that did not participate, which I got after those guys, so we'll do it again here soon. But it's a tradition that's been here for a long time. For the rookies, I would say it's huge because they have to deal with that adversity. Now they're going 1-on-1s, but their shoes are soaking wet. Just to see how those guys reacted to that was good.
Q: We saw Jacoby struggle a little bit at times in the preseason game, throwing that interception in the red zone. How has he responded over the last couple days?
JM: He's the ultimate 'next play' kind of guy. You need that attitude. Whether you're a pitcher or a quarterback, you need that attitude. Let's just move on and not get too high or too low.
Q: Is having to go through the next hour and 45 [minutes] of practice in a soaking wet uniform, is that part of it, too?
JM: It is, and that goes back to the adversity that we try to steal through that, through slip and slide, and it's fun.
Q: Did second-year guys have to do it? Did you do it last year, or did they miss it last year?
JM: Yeah. We didn't do it last year. We brought it back, so the second-year guys did it.
Q: You mentioned earlier this week that JaQuae Jackson was undergoing an MRI. Is there any update on him?
JM: No update at this time, sorry.
Q: How important is this week? I also heard you mention it as far as a road game, your first road game this week getting ready.
JM: It's huge, not only for the players on the field, but also from an operational standpoint. It'll be a good test for us, and hopefully, we can iron it out when we start the season on the road.
Q: Where do the kickers stand in your mind now, impression on those two guys?
JM: Both of those guys have done a great job, and we've been trying to yell and get them out of their element. Today, we won't do that, but it's still a competition, and we look forward to seeing who comes out on top.
Q: You said that everyone who's healthy will play the preseason game. In last week's game, we didn't see Jabrill [Peppers], Kyle Dugger, Ja'Whaun Bentley play. Is that injury-related, or did they earn that?
JM: No, they kind of earned that. They had some small things, but they earned that right.
Q: With the kickers, Jerod, is their ability to tackle going to factor into your decision?
JM: No, not at all, not at all.
Q: Well, it sounds like in the new kickoff, the kickers might be involved in tackling.
JM: You sound like Jahlani [Tavai]. Jahlani is a rugby guy. He's like, 'I can just kick the ball.' It's like, 'No, you can't, no.' That's not really a big point of emphasis for our kickers.
Q: Jerod, with [Mitchell] Wilcox going down yesterday, it looks like the top three tight ends are banged up right now. Just what's the level of things going down?
JM: Yeah, that room has been banged up a little bit. At the same time, it's going to give guys like Jaheim an opportunity to go out there and get more reps – more quality reps – and see what he can do. Next man up.
Q: Jerod, we saw Caedan Wallace play a little right tackle with the starters, late in 11-on-11. What have you seen from his development the last couple weeks?
JM: Yeah, he's one of those guys – he's going to be a very good player in this league. Once again, going back to he's a rookie; he needs to see more football. I think it's important for him to get out there, not just Caedan, but also Layden [Robinson]. I think he's done a good job as well, and David's [Andrews] been really helping those guys out.
Q: Do you have anybody on the roster, maybe even after Liam [Fornadel], who can play center? It looked like Liam missed a little bit of time in practice yesterday and came back. Is that a group that you're looking at?
JM: Yeah, Nick [Leverett] can also snap.
Q: Yeah, but he's missed practice.
JM: He has missed practice, and that's always an area of concern. So, when you carry those extra linemen, you want someone that can play both guard spots and center.
Q: Could Layden do any of that? I don't think he did in college, but have you guys tried him there at all?
JM: My thing is right now, let's settle in on one spot and go from there.
Q: When Jaheim scored his last touchdown and sort of threw the ball. Do you mind that as a coach, those type of celebrations?
JM: No. For me, as long as you get back in the huddle after a big play and we don't get a delay of game after the celebration, I'm fine. I think you should be excited, and I think your teammates should be excited for you as well. I would say offensively, it takes 11 guys to really go out there and execute a play. Defensively, if you have an Aaron Donald or something like that, everyone else can mess up the coverage, but he'll get to the quarterback. But going back to your initial question, I would say I don't mind the excitement; I actually encourage it.
Q: Jerod, back to the center question. Charles Turner's on the roster, played a lot of center at LSU. What's kept him from joining that rotation when you have guys injured?
JM: He's been working on it a little bit, but right now we just feel better with the group that we have.
