PATRIOTS HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO
PRESS CONFERENCE
September 4, 2024
JM: Good afternoon. Look, we're excited for the opportunity to get into the regular season. I think the guys are ready to go. I had a conversation with them this morning about how we need to play the game, how we need to be fundamentally sound and be prepared for anything. This is a high-awareness game, and it's always like that at the beginning part of the season. I know everyone talks about the kickoff and the kickoff return, what's that going to look like? But really, when you look back on the preseason, teams really just go out there and run basic things over and over and over again. We'll see some things that we don't see on film, and once again, it's a huge awareness game. But we're excited for the opportunity. Like I said earlier, I think the guys will be ready to go.
Q: Jerod, in your mind, what do you need to do as a team well to get out of there with a win?
JM: I think we have to go out there and really be able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. I think we need to play well on special teams as well, but it's about the line of scrimmage. It's about controlling the line of scrimmage and controlling the game. Look, they have a high-powered team. They have a high-powered offense, and I think the defense is aggressive because they know they have a high-powered offense, in my opinion. So, those guys on defense, they fly around; they do a lot of good things, and don't forget about special teams. Those guys play very aggressive, and we have to be able to combat that.
Q: What do you mean by high-awareness game?
JM: So, when I talk about awareness, the most important thing starts with down and distance. What's the score in the game? Where is the quarterback? Who's in the game? Where are the 'Big Three' on offense? Those are the big keys, in my opinion.
Q: 'Big Three' meaning [Joe] Burrow, [Ja'Marr] Chase and [Tee] Higgins?
JM: Yes, sir.
Q: Lou Anarumo, how would you describe his defense? I heard you use the word 'aggressive.'
JM: Those guys, they send -- whether it's the star, the nickel, the corner coming off the edge, the linebacker -- they send people from everywhere, and they're very fundamentally sound. We also have to be sound in our approach offensively. Like I said earlier, you can settle games down by running the football, and control the game that way. I think that has to be one of the things that we get done.
Q: The wide receivers we saw a lot of -- Tyquan [Thornton], DeMario [Douglas], Ja'Lynn [Polk] and K.J. [Osborn] -- how do you plan on divvying up those snaps in the game?
JM: We'll see how it goes. Early in the season, it's tough to sit here and say, 'This guy can go out here and play 60 plays,' because no one has done that to this point. So, all those guys have to be ready to go, and they'll all play.
Q: How much, if at all, can you rely on the fact that you have both a quarterback and an offensive coordinator that have seen these guys a few times before?
JM: Yeah, they offer great insights on both sides of the football. Look, they're familiar with those guys, the team, the players, the scheme. Now in saying that, every year is different. If you were to look at Cincy [Cincinnati] two years ago, the offense and the defense still looks a little bit different. Now, will they go back to some of the things that they've done in the past? Absolutely, but this goes back to just having high awareness. Having high awareness is the most important thing.
Q: Jerod, it felt like maybe a week or so into training camp, you sort of challenged Christian Gonzalez. We were talking about the secondary in general, but you mentioned him by name. How do you feel like he's sort of handled the responsibilities and maybe some of the pressure that you're putting on him?
JM: He's handled it well. Look, Gonzo [Christian Gonzalez] is a man of few words, as we all know. But I'm just telling you, he has the skill set to be a premiere corner in this league. I'm excited to see his continued growth and see where it goes.
Q: Jerod, on Monday, you talked about how there's still things that you're learning; you're kind of learning on the fly about the job. Is there one thing that's stuck out to you, a lesson that you've already learned since taking over?
JM: I couldn't put my finger on just one thing. Every day is different. I had a great conversation at the owners' meetings with Mike Tomlin. Look, he's a veteran coach in this league, and he said, 'Every day is going to be different.' He wasn't lying, and that's how it's been so far.
Q: Jerod, Eliot [Wolf] told us at the Combine -- so, we're going back months, obviously -- that part of his approach is to prioritize playing time for young players. What is being communicated to you as you decide who will play and how much, knowing that's an emphasis for the team this year and moving forward?
JM: We're definitely aligned in that. Ultimately, it's still my decision who plays and how much they play. But we have conversations throughout the week as far as the process is concerned. But once again, going back to our practice squad players or even those second-stringers, we're preparing those guys like they're starters. They should think that they're always starters. We're one play away from those guys really sliding in and being an impactful player for us.
Q: Jerod, how would you sum up your strategy when it comes to developing a player?
JM: Well, I think it starts -- you become good at football by playing football. It's one thing for guys to go out there and read a card, and it's a very reactive game. Then, offensively, everyone really has to see the same picture through the same set of goggles. When I talk about developing, it's just about going out there, working on your fundamentals and learning the scheme. Knowing what to do is definitely a huge part of it, and then how to do it, that's through experience on the field.
Q: Jerod, based on what you've seen this summer -- training camp, preseason games, all that -- how confident are you in your offense's ability to run the football effectively?
JM: I think that's one of the best things they've done throughout the entire camp. Hopefully, that continues going forward.
Q: How difficult is it preparing for the Bengals offense when you don't know what [Ja'Marr] Chase is going be like?
JM: It's very difficult. I've told our guys, we're going to prepare like he's playing. I think you have to prepare that way. If he doesn't play, we'll treat it like an injury. Look, he's a premiere player in this league without a doubt, and we have to be ready for him.
Q: Just to get back to the run game, what have you seen from that specific piece of your offense that has been encouraging?
JM: I would say on both sides of the ball during preseason, I thought we played physical up front. I thought they were able to move bodies and run the football, and we'll see if that continues going forward.
Q: What do you hope to see out of your quarterback? What's a good game for him on Sunday?
JM: The No. 1 thing for me is, look, making the right decision. We talk about the correlation between the turnovers and wins and losses. I just want to see the offense put drives together. I want to see the quarterback go out there and make good throws, go through his reads and perform like we know he can.
Q: Coach, when it comes to this Bengals defensive front, do you expect any type of philosophical change? They replaced D.J. Reader with Sheldon Rankins, and also with Trey Hendrickson. What's made him such a prolific player in the pass rush?
JM: All those guys up front [Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard] do a good job. Like I said earlier, they're aggressive. They bring players from all over. You can sit there and say 'it's always these four guys coming,' but that's not always the case. Trey [Hendrickson] has everything you want in a defensive end. He has a great motor and great technique. Over the last few years, he's put up big numbers. He's definitely a target for us [to watch out for].
Q: Jerod, I know in years past, the team would prepare for non-division opponents early in the offseason. How much work has already been done for the Bengals before you started this week?
JM: There was a lot of work. We look at those teams throughout the year. Once again, it's hard to say 'we got it' in the summertime because there's so many transactions and injuries. This is a normal week for us. Wednesday's we go over our early down stuff and we'll progress through the week like normal. That work ahead of time definitely helps give us a jumpstart.
Q: Jerod, what stands out to you about Ja'Lynn Polk in terms of what you've seen from him at this point in the calendar?
JM: He's [Ja'Lynn Polk] a hard worker. In college, one of the things that jumped out on tape for me was his ability to block. I think he's a good blocking receiver. We're going to need that as we continue to talk about running the football. Everyone has to be out there blocking. It's not just the offensive line. Our receivers need to block, and I think [Ja'Lynn] Polk does a good job of that. Run after catch, he can do all of that, and he has great hands with a great route-running ability.
Q: Jerod, for you personally, do you remember getting ready for your first game as a player? Now, you're getting ready for your first game as a head coach. What have you learned the most heading into this game that helped you feel more prepared than you were a couple months ago?
JM: One thing I'll say, going through the preseason, from an operational standpoint, having multiple channels on your headset was a learning curve for me. It went smooth in the preseason, and hopefully that continues going forward.
Q: Has [the running game] been a drastic change from 2022 and 2023 with what you are doing now with Alex's [Van Pelt] offense? Does the personnel suit [the offense] exactly as you wished it would?
JM: As far as personnel, we're always trying to get better players. From a scheme standpoint, on early downs, there are only five different types of runs. They try to dress things up, no matter who you're talking to. You have zone to the tight end side. You have zone to the open side. You have the gap scheme. Then you have some of the trickier runs. For the most part, early downs [running] is pretty basic and standard across the league. Once you get to third down, that's when you start to get to the exotic runs. I feel good about the personnel that we have out there, and I feel like we have to run the ball as a team going forward to win football games.
Q: Jerod, I know this is almost two years ago, but the last time we saw them, they have a lot of similar personnel. What do you remember about that matchup, and specifically, your game plan going in?
JM: Defensively, third down was a struggle. Those 'get back on track' second and long plays were a struggle for us in that game. That's one thing that definitely sticks out to me.
Q: Jacoby [Brissett] has avoided turnovers throughout his career. What have you seen from him [Jacoby Brissett] throughout the years of why he's good at protecting the ball?
JM: Going back to the spring, just being familiar with the offense has helped him [Jacoby Brissett], first and foremost. Secondly, he makes the right decisions. I think he gives us the best chance to win games based on his experience. He's done it. He's played out there, and hopefully we can talk about this after the game and there was no turnovers and no interceptions.
Q: Will the offensive line be the same from when we saw them in the last preseason game?
JM: It will be some form of that [preseason combination]. We're still going through it.
Q: Jerod, you've gone through the experience of having a season-ending injury, and then coming back the following year. Raekwon McMillan is doing that for the second time in his career as a Patriot. What have you seen from him [Raekwon McMillan] in his time here? What does it take for a guy like him to be on the field for week one?
JM: Personally, I went through that three times, so I have him [Raekwon McMillan] beat. I understand the psychological component to getting back out there and playing. He's always been a leader since the first time he stepped through the doors. Even when he was injured, he was doing things on the back end, similar to how it was for me when I went through it.
Q: Other than the obvious physical skills, what makes Ja'Marr Chase such a special wide receiver?
JM: This guy [Ja'Marr Chase] is a great competitor. You see him going up, battling with corners and safeties. He's a great competitor. That's the one non-physical thing I would say about him that makes him a special player.
Q: Talking about a running team. When you were a player, or even now as a coach, what can you do to install the mentality that 'we're going to be a running team?'
JM: Toughness, for me, is important. The first place you see toughness is in the weight room. That's the first place where you can see if your team is tough or not. Secondly, after seeing these guys each and every day during camp, the progress that's been made in the running game with their mentality has been great. That unit is led by David Andrews, who's one of the toughest guys I've ever been around.
Q: You mentioned the Bengals and their pressure packages. With Lou Anarumo specifically, what is it that you see from him that makes him such a great defensive coordinator?
JM: You don't know where these guys [Bengals D Line] are coming from, and that's a hard thing. I think he [Lou Anarumo] does a good job with that stuff.
