HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO
Press Conference
Wednesday, October 1, 2024
JM: Good morning. Not even going to chuckle with the good morning [laughs]? Alright, that one missed. That's all good. Doing well. Look, turning the page on to Jacksonville, a team that, even though their record may not be what they want it to be, they still have weapons all over the place. They have weapons, obviously, on the defensive line, linebackers, really on all three levels defensively. I'll say offensively, they also have big players over there. We've got to do a good job matching their intensity, or they have to match our intensity, and that's going to be our focus this week. Our focus also is we've got to start games faster. We've got to start games faster, and that's definitely a point of emphasis this week.
Q: Do you feel like this trip to London can re-energize you guys and get you going in the right direction?
JM: Yeah, I hope so. I would say, looking back on that last game that we just played, there were times and things that you could pull out of that game and be encouraged about. In saying that, I think we need to do a better job playing complementary football. Hopefully, a long trip across the pond helps us continue to build our relationships, chemistry, and start trending in the right direction.
Q: Jerod, short of schematics and game planning, what can you do to try to produce better starts? What are the things you do this week to try to produce better starts?
JM: Yeah, we have a period in practice today where it's like nothing else really matters. It's not about X's and O's and schematics. You must have seen the practice script [laughs]. We have a start fast period where it's just offense versus defense, and we're rolling out of the gate, and that's the plan.
Q: AVP [Alex Van Pelt] mentioned a period last week where you guys opened good on good, and it was a blitz period. Is that something you've been trying lately, or will this be new today, the good on good?
JM: No, we've done this the past couple of weeks, so it's not much different. Today we'll do it in the red area, though, because I think that's a place that we need to do a better job offensively and defensively.
Q: What have you seen from Pop [Douglas] the last couple of weeks that's allowed him to have the level of success in games?
JM: Look, he's one of our best route runners. He can really run any route, and he does a great job getting open. Now we're finding him, and the quarterbacks are making good throws to him, and he's picking up a lot of yards.
Q: Have you found any common denominators on the penalties? You saw the practice against Philly, where it was a disaster, so many flags. Then it seemed to clean up for a big period of time. It wasn't that bad at the beginning of the year, and then they've come between unforced errors and then guys where you can tell they're just trying to get back. What's the common denominator been the last two weeks?
JM: The common denominator is just a lack of focus. We're in the middle of the season now, and to have a penalty on the first play of the game is just unacceptable, and so it's a lack of focus.
Q: Who do you yell at?
JM: There will... I will say this. There will be changes for this game. My message to the coaches and the players, really, we want our most dependable players out there that we can really count on. If you're going to have, pre-snap, post-snap penalties, we can't live that way. I guess to answer your question, it's the personnel part of it, like a wake-up call.
Q: On that fast-start period, is that like the top offense versus the top defense?
JM: It is.
Q: You seem to be doing it a little bit…
JM: Yeah, we did it the last couple weeks. Hopefully, obviously didn't produce what we wanted to, but maybe through doing it again, it'll work.
Q: You mentioned changes this week. Just to clarify, does that mean in the starting lineup, or what are those changes?
JM: Yeah, there will definitely be changes in the starting lineup. Look, we've got to put the best guys out there that give us the best chance to win.
Q: Coach, I know linebackers have played in a tough spot. No Ja'Whaun Bentley, just activating Sione Takitaki. What have you seen from that group recently?
JM: I would just say we have to be better. We're not playing at the level that we need to. Look, Bentley's not coming back anytime soon, so we need someone to step up in that role. Whether you get that from the linebacker room or the safety room, you just need to have better production out of that group.
Q: Jerod, there was a police report filed to do with Christian Barmore in Providence. Are you guys aware of the situation and have addressed it?
JM: Yeah, we're aware of the situation. I had a conversation with him this morning. Like I said, at least for this time here with you guys, I just want to focus on Jacksonville.
Q: Jerod, can you provide any update on Vederian Lowe?
JM: Look, we'll see as the week progresses. It's unfortunate. Again, I would say one of our most dependable offensive linemen going down is definitely difficult. In saying that, we'll see how the week goes.
Q: Do you expect him to be out of practice today? Or is he going to be on the sideline?
JM: I'm not sure. I'm not sure.
Q: Jerod, second straight year for the organization having an international game. What did you learn about last year's experience that you're applying to this week as you guys prepare for this game?
JM: I'll just say the schedule. The schedule as far as leaving tomorrow and making sure the guys are fresh for Sunday. I thought we were fresh last year. We just didn't play well. So that's what I learned is just the schedule. It's tough to go east versus west, but I think we have a good plan.
Q: With Vederian Lowe going down, do you guys look to move Mike [Onwenu] back out to right tackle?
JM: That's in consideration.
Q: Jerod, what do you remember about 2012 against the St. Louis Rams in Wembley Stadium?
JM: Not much. Was that Steven Jackson? 2012. Was that Steven Jackson at running back?
Reporter: It was Gronk [Rob Gronkowski] doing the nutcracker spike.
JM: Yeah, we won that game. What was the score?
Reporter: 45-7.
JM: Yeah, it was great. Honestly, I remember more about after the game because we had a good time before we got back on the plane [laughs].
Q: This may be more of an Eliot [Wolf] question, but you guys picked up another center yesterday, I believe, off of Green Bay's practice squad. What attracted you to the guy?
JM: Yeah, he has upside. Once again, we look at the practice squad as a place where we want to develop those players. Hopefully they become starters at some point, or rotational players. I did learn left-handed snappers, it's a little bit different. I never knew that, which I thought was interesting. This guy definitely has potential to be a good player for us.
Q: Jerod, the Bills and Jets added Davante Adams and Amari Cooper yesterday. Were you guys in on any of those conversations?
JM: Those are conversations that we, when I say we, the scouting department, Eliot and his staff, and the coaches talk about. I would say those teams that you're mentioning are at different points in that cycle. We weren't really in on that stuff.
Q: Jerod, how do you quantify growth from the first game to the second game, moving forward for a guy like Drake [Maye] and trying to see that progress?
JM: Yeah, you know, for a guy like Drake, or really any other player, you want to see him get better in practice. Obviously you get to the game, you want to see the confidence. You want to build off the things from the previous game or the prior game and just continue to erase the mistakes that he made in this past game.
Q: When you talk about starting fast, specifically offensively with Drake, will there be any consideration moving forward to try to get him some easy throws to start out to get him into the rhythm of the game? How did you feel like the early portion of the game plan went for him this past week?
JM: Well, the past week, we had those run plays. I would also say it was the first time that a rookie quarterback making his first start, you know, the center being here five days, that was part of it. I think you guys, as you watched the film, he got better as the game went on and that was important to see. Once again, hopefully we can build off of that.
Q: Jahlani [Tavai] said Monday, when asked about what he saw in the film, he said, 'we're pissed off and we have a lot to prove.' How much do you feel that would resonate amongst the entire group as you get ready for this next game?
JM: To me, and I tell the guys this all the time, it's about that action. It's no more about like talking about what we need to do. It's about what we put out there on Sunday.
Q: Jerod, when you talk about this being a foundational year and the concept of, 'we're going to figure out what we have and then what we have going forward,' how do you maintain what is a building year when you're not at a pointless cycle, and maintaining the urgency for the players to, 'hey, but we need to win now?'
JM: That's the tough balance. I would say, from my perspective, we can win with the guys in that locker room. We just have to go out there and do it. And it starts this week against Jacksonville.
Q: Jerod, you'll obviously see Mac Jones this weekend. I'm just wondering, how much, if at all, did the way things fell apart for him weigh on you when deciding how cautious to be with Drake's development plan?
JM: I didn't really think about it that way. I think every situation with a first-year quarterback is its own unique situation. I'm good friends with Mac. I think he's a great guy. Hopefully he turns into a great quarterback. Thanks guys.
QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE
Press Conference
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Q: You've had some days now to reflect and look. What kind of things did you take and would like to take into start No. 2 coming up on Sunday?
DM: I think, first off, is protect the football. We kind of hurt our defense, put them in some bad spots. But other than that, we've got some stuff to build on. We've got some stuff to build on on film. We've got to run the football; I think that'll help. Then for me, I thought I was seeing it pretty well, just missed that first one across the middle to Pop [DeMario Douglas], and then kind of grooved later on with Pop. But we've got some guys in the huddle that can make some plays, and my job is to get it to them and let them do their thing.
Q: You mentioned Pop. What has it been like getting a chance to work with him, and what are some things that you have to look for with him that maybe you don't necessarily have to consider when it comes to throwing to some of the other guys?
DM: Yeah, Pop, you can't guard him in a phone booth. He's tough to guard in man coverage, and he's got a knack for finding zones. So, he's a great guy to have out there and makes my job a little easier. Any time you see a man matchup, Pop is somebody that you want to go to, and we have guys on the outside that can make plays, which you saw on Sunday as well. So, looking forward to the guys we've got, and also with our tight end group, we've got some mismatches. So, we've got a lot of stuff that makes it tough on the defense, just got to kind of find the right ways to do it and do my part.
Q: With Pop, he had mentioned after the game, he said that 'He's got that swag; I'd run through a wall for him.' What's it like to have that kind of support from one of your receivers?
DM: It means the world to me. It gives me confidence. I think those guys do a great job of pumping me up. They were pumping me up throughout the game on the sideline, before the game, in the huddle. They do a great job. I think wide receivers, they've always got the most swag. Our guys always got some swag. So, it's nice to hear something like that, just know for those guys and try to do the same for them.
Q: Drake, do you see the offense evolving around you and your skill set?
DM: Anytime with the quarterback, I think the offense is tailored towards who's under center, who's getting the snaps and getting the ball every play. So, I think AVP [Alex Van Pelt] has done a nice job asking me what I like, what I don't like and what I feel comfortable with. I think that'll continue to grow as the weeks go by, so that's something that we're kind of trying to figure out. At the same time, it's something that I think can make it tough on the defense because I feel like we can do a lot of different things. I can kind of make it hard for the defense doing some different stuff.
Q: Players say that your confidence gives them confidence. I'm just curious, where does your confidence come from?
DM: My confidence comes from, I think, just moving the football. Moving the football and just finding completions. I think any quarterback, you kind of get more confident getting first downs, finding completions, making a good throw or making the right throw. That's the biggest thing, making the right throw. At the same time, you get confidence from others. It's just like, anybody wants to get pumped up, and I try to remind myself on the sideline to kind of be the voice that pumps some guys up. Other than that, just try to kind of build my role as a leadership role each and every week as I try to earn the guys' respect.
Q: Is there one thing that seemed a little easier for you as the game went along than you expected? Is there maybe one thing that was a little bit harder than you expected?
DM: I think, obviously that first game with the Texans, you can see kind of – we call it 'the flavor of the day.' What do the Texans want to do? They want to kind of heat us up, play man, kind of what these defenses are trying to do to us that day. I think it's kind of easier to get a picture of what they want to do, whether it's down and distance or certain guys, what they want to do, or hey, they want to kind of put a spy on me, what they want to do defensively. I think it was easier for me to kind of see what the Texans were trying to do to us as we got down the road in the game. I'm sure some teams would try to mix it up down the road, but kind of easier for me as the game went along like, 'Hey, they're trying to do this. We can exploit them these ways.'
Q: And that must have been a byproduct of the confidence that you had?
DM: Yeah, no doubt.
Q: You trust what you're seeing here? Is that definitely what you've seen?
DM: Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, and the [tablet] helps too.
Q: Is having been through a week, having seen the game now at NFL speed, been through it, done there, had some success, does that give you more confidence this week now as you prepare for your second game?
DM: No doubt. I think it'll just – as the weeks go on, I think I'll get more and more confident, especially with the game plan stuff. It'll be a little different this week going overseas, but I have to figure that out. But at the same time, going out there, understanding the plan and understanding, 'Hey, I liked studying this last week,' and can carry that on, or 'Hey, I'm going to ask T.C. [McCartney] to do something different in the quarterback room so we can get on the same page with different looks.'
Q: Have you ever been out of the country?
DM: I have, yeah. I had some family that lived in London. My uncle did, and me and my family went to the Olympics in 2012 out there.
Q: What are the nerves like just taking your second start on the international stage?
DM: Yeah, I think it helps getting that first one last week, going overseas to London to play in front of a big crowd out there. It will be pretty cool to see the NFL side of it playing overseas, so I'm excited to go over there. We've got a chance to get a win and hopefully start stacking them.
Q: You said you had a family that lived in London. Still there?
DM: They recently moved to California.
Q: And your brother who plays basketball –
DM: Yeah, he plays in Japan. It's far away from London.
Q: Was he able to watch you on Sunday? How did he follow –
DM: Yeah, yeah. He does a nice job of supporting.
Q: Drake, I'm just curious. When you reviewed your first game the other day, were there moments or were there plays that you looked at and you maybe look back now and say to yourself, 'I'm not sure I would have been able to do that had I started Week 1.' Were there moments like that for you where the time that you had to sort of sit and watch behind the scenes really helped you out in a certain moment in that game?
DM: Yeah, I think the biggest thing is kind of the run checks and the different looks that get us in the best run. I think that's the biggest thing. Watching Jacoby [Brissett] do it, watching how he does it and bringing in guys that block the right guys, I feel like that's kind of the thing that I didn't really look at until I look at the film. I feel like in the run game, I did mostly everything that got asked and the right execution. So, I think that was the biggest kind of sigh of relief of seeing all the different run looks under center, seeing it and getting the guys blocked up. So, just got to continue to do that. I think the passing game, I feel like I was seeing it well, just got to make some better throws.
Q: Drake, I know your first completion was an under center, play-action move. You had pressure right away. That's something new relative to what you were doing in college, under center, turn it around. How comfortable have you been in those settings, understanding sometimes when you do turn your back to the defense, the picture can change from what you saw pre-snap?
DM: Yeah, no doubt. I think that's something that in practice that you get. We've done a nice job of getting some under center reps off of play-action. Our defense does a good job of flipping up the coverages and changing the picture post-snap, and that's something that I've really started to kind of understand and learn. The picture I'm seeing when I first get the snap versus when I turn my back and look at it may be different. So, just trying to find my check downs or find an outlet, that'll be something that I'll kind of build towards. Then, other than that, try to exploit them with matchups.
