PATRIOTS HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO
PRESS CONFERENCE
July 26, 2024
JM: Excited to get back out here. The guys are working hard. I know a lot of times everyone wants to see everyone get better every day, but remember it's just not a straight shot to being a good football team. It's a process, which we have been preaching for a long time. One thing I will say is, and this has been historically, the defense has always been ahead of the offense. The defense will always be ahead of the offense. Now, the offense, obviously they're still gelling together, and we have a lot of guys on defense that already know the scheme. You know, it's harder to jump to conclusions. Are these guys going to be good? Are they bad? Like, I don't know, and I don't think you guys know either. I don't even think the coaches out there know. But one thing I will say is it's about competition and it's about getting better each and every day, not only on the field, but also off the field.
Q: Field Yates just Tweeted out that the team and Jabrill Peppers are finalizing a three-year extension. I just wanted to see if you could confirm that for us.
JM: Yeah, I can confirm it. I'm the head coach, I can confirm it. Alright, so, I will say this, I'll confirm it, but I am very happy for Peppers and for his family, and also for our team and the organization. He really embodies everything that we want on the field, you know, he's very selfless. He's out there flying around all the time and it's good to get that deal done.
Q: How much do you enjoy [Peppers'] passion?
JM: I love it. I love it. I will be honest with you, when he first got here, it was a little bit much for me. But, you know, I do appreciate it. He brings passion, he brings that energy each and every day. He's one of our best communicators on defense along with Dug (Kyle Dugger) and I feel very good about that safety room as a whole.
Q: On the flip side of that, Matthew Judon was with us the other day and he expressed a level of dissatisfaction with his contract. I know you've addressed it earlier in camp, but do you have anything to add in the wake of what he said?
JM: Look, we're still kind of working through that stuff. Judon is a huge piece of the puzzle. He's another guy who brings leadership, he brings obviously the playmaking ability, but also just that energy of wanting to go out there and dominate the man across from him. Hopefully we get something done. He understands the business side of it as well. Hopefully he understands that we really like him. We really like him as a player and as a person and want him here.
Q: Davon Godchaux participated in Day 1. Yesterday, we didn't see him until midway through. He came up from the back field and didn't seem to do anything. Is that contract related?
JM: No, not at all. It has nothing to do with the contract. He had a little bit of tightness, but he's another guy who you want to reward the players that embody or encompass what we're trying to create here from a cultural perspective. And also, at the end of the day, it's all about wins and losses and he helps with that.
Q: I wanted to ask you about Drake [Maye]. There's been a couple of times during practice and team 7-on-7s where he takes off running and it seems like a quick decision. Do you like that, or would you prefer him to stand in there, even if it's going to be an air sack, and just go through your reads and make a throw?
JM: Yeah, look, all those guys are taught and told to continue with the play. When you look at the good offenses, take KC (the Kansas City Chiefs) for example, they have what is on the piece of paper but a lot of that stuff is just improvisation on the field. So, being able to continue that play, you never know what's going to happen. You could have a free runner and he misses the sack, and now everyone has to get to a spot where he can find him. It's not just Drake, I would say that entire quarterback room, they operate under the same rules.
Q: Given what you said before about the offense, how do you feel where they're at, just coming back and picking up where you tried to leave off?
JM: I feel good. I feel good about it. You know, obviously, Jacoby's leading the way there at quarterback. He's been in the scheme before, and he's really displayed a lot of leadership. Not only in the quarterback room, but also just amongst the entire offense because he is familiar with the scheme. I'm happy where they are. They're out here, they're working hard, and that's really all you can ask for. The progress will continue to go.
Q: I know we're a long way from any competitive games or contact, but will you encourage Drake to run? How do you feel about that as a head coach, where the guy who is playing the most important position on the field might be putting himself in harm's way? But it is one of his strengths, so how do you feel about that?
JM: To me, especially now early in training camp, it's really about the progressions. Right? Your reads, you read left to right, or you read the single. Those are the most important things. With that being said, as we continue to go, take off and let those guys kind of freestyle. There are offenses, like I said earlier, that it's very tough for a defense when you're trying to anticipate the route concept or the offensive concept, but then all of a sudden the quarterback is outside the pocket. So, those are things that will happen down the line.
Q: DeMario Douglas hasn't been participating in team activities. Can you just provide a little detail on why that is and what is that timeline?
JM: He's kind of working through something right now, but nothing serious. Day-to-day.
Q: Are you sticking with the same rotation for quarterbacks for now in the divvying up of reps?
JM: Yeah, sticking with the same rotation. You know, I think all those guys are getting good reps, but at the same time, I would say it's about the quality of the reps, not the actual count. I'll let you guys count the reps.
Q: We were seeing Joe Milton taking reps before Bailey Zappe yesterday. Is that part of that? Is that going to continue?
JM: I won't say it will continue. Sometimes maybe you have Joe get more reps, maybe you have Zappe get more reps. The one person I will say is going to get a lot of reps is, obviously Jacoby knows the offense, but Drake is going to have an opportunity to go out there and compete. Look, all four of those quarterbacks do have a skill set that we like. We'll just see how it plays out.
Q: The players have talked a little bit about the rotation, how every day is going to be different on that offensive line. What are you looking for there and what's that progression going to be like in your mind as you go forward?
JM: Yeah, you know, I'll just say this about the offensive line: the best five will play. Now, not going to get into who is playing guard and who is playing tackle, but as we continue to go throughout training camp and start to put on the pads, we're going to put the best five out there.
Q: Ja'Lynn Polk said yesterday you have a players' lounge in there with a pool table, some games. Obviously you came up in an environment, when you're here to work, and work only, what was the reasoning behind that change for you?
JM: To me, look, this is their place and that is their lounge and that is their locker room. I think it's important that you have those spaces. One thing I've noticed over the past, let's say five years, is a lot of times when guys get a break they just go their locker, and they get on their phone. They're scrolling through social media and there's really no interaction. We thought it was important that those guys had a safe space to go. And really, that's also a time where they build camaraderie. You should see some of the ping pong games in there, or even the PlayStation, we have a PlayStation, Xbox in there as well. It's really to bring these guys closer together and have those guys want to be here. These days can be long, but we just thought it would be important for those guys to have that space.
Q: Who is the best at ping pong?
JM: I don't know, because just like I told you, that's the players' space and I'm a coach, so I don't go in there. But Stephen [Gostkowski] used to be a great ping pong player.
Q: Is there a coaches' ping pong table?
JM: No, no. We work, we work.
Q: Before training camp, a bunch of quarterbacks and receivers got together on their own to throw. Did you know they were going to do that in their off time?
JM: Yeah, I don't know. They put it together. Obviously, they want to get those extra reps in to make sure everyone is on the same page. As they continue to learn and grow throughout the playbook, let me say, then their real, true athleticism can start to show. Those reps are important; once again, I'll go back to what I say every day. The reps out here are one thing; but there are also the mental reps in the classroom and there are also those walkthrough reps that you spoke about.
Q: I'm guessing you like to see it (players working together in their off time)?
JM: I love to hear it! I just learned that from you.
Q: Did you pay attention to the Madden ratings when you were a player and what was your highest rate?
JM: I think my highest was like a 91 or something like that. I was in the 90's. I always bust these guys. They're like, 'Aw man!' They get so upset when Madden gives them like an 82 or something like that. It's fun though, because really, we all grew up wanting to be in that game. We became huge fans of other teams by playing the game, you always want to be the best team. I think it's fun, and I think Madden and EA Sports, they understand it. They're kind of capitalizing on it a little bit.
Q: Do you worry at all about Matthew Judon's concerns or his disgruntle about his contract might impact others on the team?
JM: Yeah, we have a great relationship, but I hate that you used the word disgruntle because I would say he's out here working every day. His attitude is great in the classroom, his attitude is great on the field. You guys see him flying around here. Obviously, there is a business component to this sport, and he understands that. We want him here, he's a very good player for us. He does everything we want him to do, so hopefully it works out.
Q: Is it undermining at all to people in leadership positions whether it's you or Eliot [Wolf], to be talking about it (Judon's contract) in that way at this point?
JM: No, no. Look, I'm good with it. I don't want to put a cap on it. If the guy feels a certain type of way, he has that privilege to come out here and tell you guys how he feels. I have to respect it no matter what. At some point in time, there's going to be a player that comes up here and says, 'You know what, I hate Coach Jerod' or, 'I hate Mayo.' That's how they feel, and I respect that. I know we want to keep as much stuff in-house, but there will be times they come out here and express themselves. I think it's good. Look, they listen to the interview here and I listen to their interviews as well. I'm not talking to you guys, I'm talking to the players, really. That's how I think about it. As the season continues to progress, I want the relationship with the media from the coach's perspective and also from the player's perspective, to be a good relationship. I'm not saying to write all the positive articles. You write your opinion, that's what you're paid for.
Q: You said it's easy to get jealous or envious seeing some of the other players on the team getting new contracts. Were you guys cognizant of that during the offseason when deciding who to pay and how it would play in the locker room?
JM: Obviously, he's [Matthew Judon] entitled to feel that way. Once again, we always talk about checking the ego at the door and things like that. But they wouldn't even be here without some type of ego. I understand where he's coming from there, at the same time, we're going to do what's best for the organization, and really, what's best for the players, too.
Q: We saw Marcus Jones and Christian Gonzalez taking some reps during wide receiver drills yesterday. Is that a plan going into the season or what's the thought process there?
JM: It's too early to tell right now. What I will say is the fundamental of catching the ball, whether you play offense or defense, is something that those guys will continuously work on.
Q: When it comes to the offensive line, players harped on consistency and chemistry being next to the same guys. How do you balance as a coaching staff wanting guys to be comfortable with who they're next to with also the competition, especially with right tackle and wanting new guys out there?
JM: As we continue to progress through camp, obviously we'll start to now see how it takes shape. At this given time though, I would say those guys are willing to swing to any side we ask them, knowing that we're going to put the best five out there. That's part of the competition.
Q: Going back to Jabrill, we saw him playing a lot more free safety last year. How do you think that went and do you think that can improve moving forward now?
JM: Honestly, when I look at our safety room, I see a room that is full of playmakers. There are some similarities as far as skillset, but also things that each one does just a little bit better than the other. We always talk about versatility and being able to move to different spots, whether it's strong safety or free safety, whatever you want to call it, I think that entire room can do pretty much both of those.
Q: How important is Josh Uche to the defense this year?
JM: Uche is very important. He's one of those guys that if he gets a one-on-one pass rush, he's probably going to win. It's our job as coaches to put him in a position to go out there and make those plays. I appreciate you guys.
