HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO
PRESS CONFERENCE
December 11, 2024
JM: Good morning. I'm excited to get back out there on the practice field today. We'll be in the bubble today, full-padded practice. We've got to get better, and it comes down to fundamentals. The players had a bye week. Coaches don't really get bye weeks, so I had a couple of days that I was able to sit there and really reflect on the season up until this point. Really the goal remains the same, and that's to play our best football at the end of the year. That's the goal. Do we always hit the goals? No, but we're going to do our best to hit that goal. Flipping the page over to Arizona, a very good team. I'll start defensively. To me, if you watch that team as a whole, they definitely play fast and they fly around, regardless of position. In saying that, I think one of the big things as you watch their defense is just versatility. You just don't know where those guys are going to line up. They have outside linebackers that can drop, outside linebackers that can rush. You have a safety in Budda Baker who really, he makes the whole engine go. He'll be in the box, he'll blitz off the edge, he also can play in the middle of the field. So, a very versatile player, a very good player. Going to the linebackers, really Zaven [Collins], Zaven's done a good job as an on-the-ball backer, and I would also say Mack Wilson's [Sr.] playing pretty well for them. Just saying, I'm happy for him. He's out there doing a good job, hopefully not on Sunday. Then moving offensively, I think it all starts with the quarterback. I mean, this is one of the more elusive quarterbacks that you're going to see in the league, as you guys know. He can beat you two ways. He can beat you with his arm, and he can beat you with his legs. He does a good job really getting the ball out and does a good job extending plays, and that's what the NFL is. It turns into streetball at some point in time, and he does a good job there. I think the offensive line, I think they're very stout up front. I think they work well together. Their double teams, they definitely get a lot of movement off the ball. So, we've got to go out there and play with good fundamentals, good pad level, and really try to control the line of scrimmage. Obviously, the receivers do a good job, just a mix of speed, a mix of size. So, we definitely have to do a good job marrying up the rush and the coverage. Going to [James] Conner, I mean, this guy's still going. It's been very impressive to see that a guy at this age is still running very hard. He's tough, he can run between the tackles, he can run outside, he can run you over, he can run around you, so he's a very good player. It's good to see that after all that he's been through that he's still playing at a high level at this point in time. Then special teams, look, obviously, Chad's [Ryland] over there. He was [NFC] Special Teams Player of the Month, I think the first month he was there. But they have a lot of game-changing type of players on special teams as well. With that being said, fire away.
Q: You had some time to reflect a little bit. What do you want to see your team do? Obviously win, but in order to get there, better than they've done of late?
JM: No, I mean, it's all about winning. It's all about winning, and I hate to say that. I know you said besides win, but it's all about winning. It's all about going out there, playing complimentary football, and that's what we want to see. That has been the goal. Early in the season, I said the same thing. When we get to the end of the season, we've got to make sure that we're playing our best football, and that's still the goal.
Q: You made some personnel moves yesterday, including parting ways with K.J. Osborn. Can you talk a little bit about what went into that decision?
JM: It was a mutual thing. Look, K.J., I mean, even when he was inactive, he was just a great professional, great person, a great leader. It just didn't work out, and we decided to part ways.
Q: Defensively, Jerod, you guys have gotten most of the guys back, but you guys are still struggling on that side of the ball. What do you think the cause of that is, and what can you and DeMarcus [Covington] do moving forward to try to fix that?
JM: I mean, look, it always starts with me as a coach, no matter what side of the ball we're talking about. I think just as a whole, we just need to go out there and play together. We need to do a better job communicating and fly around. Again, we're paid to tackle the guy with the football, and that's going to be our number one priority this week.
Q: Jerod, with Cole Strange being activated onto the 53, how do you envision him being integrated into, let's say, a game? It's not like a receiver where one play you can pull one out, so how would that work?
JM: That's a great question. With Cole, he has the flexibility to play center and guard, and hopefully he'll be up for the game this week. He understands both of those positions, and I'm excited to see him. I'm excited to see him out there in full pads today at practice and excited to see him at the game, hopefully.
Q: Would you be open to, let's say, if it's center, a couple series for Ben [Brown], or even guard, a couple series for Layden [Robinson], and then rotate Cole?
JM: Yeah, it's tough to say. Especially early in the season, even through the midway point in the season, we've always talked about continuity up front. So, that's really – I don't want to say that's off the table, but it's a hard question to answer.
Q: Jerod, the Vols [Tennessee Volunteers] earned a spot in the college football playoffs.
JM: Go Vols.
Q: Yeah, just what was your reaction to that?
JM: Yeah, I was happy for those guys. They've got a tough matchup; I think they play Ohio State the first game, so tough matchup. I'm rooting for them, but at the same time, I'm only focused on the Cardinals right now.
Q: You and Joe [Milton III] talk about it at all?
JM: Yeah, we talk about it. We just give each other a high five, and we just keep it moving.
Q: Jerod, Marvin Harrison Jr., how much work did you put in on him before the draft, and what stands out about him?
JM: Yeah, we put a lot of work in at all the guys that we thought were going to be available at three. Look, this is a guy who obviously he grew up in it, but great hands, great size, and he's also good when Kyler's [Murray] extending the play. He has a good feel; it's like they have a good chemistry between the two of them, so good player.
Q: Jerod, you've talked about wanting to kind of evaluate players over the course of the final month or so. Does that evaluation for you also include your coaching staff? I mean, will you be doing that kind of evaluation as well?
JM: No, we're all being evaluated, myself included, and that's part of it.
Q: With Ben Brown, I was wondering, what have you thought of his performance since obviously the competition could be at center with Cole Strange?
JM: Yeah, Ben's been great. The first week he got here, he started that game. So, he's just one of those guys that loves football, wants to do everything right, is a great teammate and a great professional. So, look, we compete all the time. Every position, they have to compete each and every week.
Q: You added a kicker to the practice squad yesterday. What went into the decision, and were you essentially adding competition to Joey Slye?
JM: Yeah, I think we all – look, it's always, it's a competitive league, and we've got to see what he can do. Joey's done a good job for us as well throughout the season, but at the same time, we're always looking to formulate competition on the roster.
Q: Jerod, I think the last time we chatted with you before the bye, you said, 'Obviously, we're focusing on the season, but we have to look at things out the front windshield that will come up on us fast.' What were some of those things you got to look at during the bye week?
JM: Yeah, I would say just the style of play that we have. You start with the scheme, then you go to the players and then, honestly, what I can do better. Those are all part of the discussion.
Q: As you've become more experienced as a head coach, not that you have a ton, but have you been able to put your imprint on the defense? Because I know you talked about sort of letting the coaches coach and letting DeMarcus do his thing, but as he's gone along, have you been able to sort of –
JM: I spend a lot of time with the defense. I do agree; during the game, I'm still talking to those guys over the headset. Just because I'm not over there doesn't mean I'm not involved. So, I'm in those meetings, in the game plan meetings, and look, we just have to play better.
Q: Jerod, coming off the bye, having had some time to reflect, what are some of the things that you're focused on specifically for yourself these last four games?
JM: I'm focused on coaching my butt off against Arizona.
Q: Is there anything in particular, though, just in terms of whether it's during the week, in-game, communication, anything in particular that you're –
JM: To me, winning cures all. Whatever the expectations are, winning cures all, in my opinion.
Q: Jerod, when it comes to center, if it is Cole instead of Ben, how much does the quarterback-center exchange factor into that decision, seeing how clean it's been with Ben and Drake [Maye]?
JM: Yeah, that's always a huge part of it. Look, you have to get Drake's opinion on who he feels most comfortable with at that spot. The quarterback-center exchange starts every play, and it's definitely weighted in that decision.
Q: You said last week – I think a couple times last week – that you expect to improve in year two. What are some of the areas that you believe you have to improve on?
JM: I'm not going to get too much into details there. I think, again, my focus is on this week and winning this football game.
Q: Caedan Wallace returned to practice on Monday. Do you expect him to be available to play as soon as this weekend and could he factor in –
JM: It could be as soon as this weekend. Today, like I said, this is a big day for a lot of guys who haven't played a lot this year, Caedan being one of them, to go out there in pads and see what it looks like.
QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE
PRESS CONFERENCE
December 11, 2024
Q: Any initial thoughts about Bill Belichick possibly becoming the new head coach at North Carolina?
DM: Yeah, obviously, legendary coach, the success he had here and what a great place Chapel Hill is. Anytime you have a legendary NFL coach going back to college, I think it's cool. It's pretty interesting for me. I think it's not official yet. I think Coach Belichick would love Chapel Hill, and Chapel Hill is a great spot. Like I said, nothing official, but a cool thing for a Hall of Fame coach to go back and coach some college kids.
Q: Do you have any insight on the decision, and have you recruited him with North Carolina blue sweatshirts or anything like that?
DM: Yeah, no contact. Worried about this weekend and got my own games to worry about, but no insider info.
Q: He spent so much time in that Navy blue for the Patriots. Do you think he'll look good in Carolina blue?
DM: Yeah, I think anybody looks good in Carolina blue. It's a special color and North Carolina's got some Navy in it as well.
Q: Drake, you have a lot of friends back there. Do you have any sense of what the locker room might want for their next coach?
DM: Yeah, not really. I haven't really talked to any of the guys. Most of the guys in my class, they'll be gone. They're seniors, so no real rapport with the young guys. I'm sure they'll be excited. Coach Belichick, defensive mind, he'll get that defense rolling and it's a fun spot. I think it's a great spot, a great coaching job. I can't blame him. It's an awesome place.
Q: How was your first bye week? How did you strike the balance between wanting to get away from football and ease up a little bit, but also reflect and try to improve?
DM: Yeah, we were here until Tuesday and got a practice in then. I went home and reset. I still watched football like a fan. I watched some college games. Those conference championships were pretty cool. I watched some NFL games on Sunday, but I really just kept looking on Arizona. You can't go a week without at least carrying a little preview into what they do. I got back this past weekend and I'm looking forward to getting out there.
Q: What stands out about Arizona's defense for you?
DM: They fly around. They're flying around. It's hard not to see Budda Baker on film. He's flying around. He's a great player. They do a lot of different stuff and different fronts. They mix up coverages, play some man and bring all out on you. You've got a lot to prepare for and we've got a tough challenge.
Q: Obviously you've grown, but both Hunter [Henry] and Austin [Hooper] said this week that you taking a sack on that third down, which led to the field goal, was a growing thing for you to not trying to make a big, big play and not turn the ball over. Are you seeing those little things? Are you learning those little things as you go about it, too?
DM: No doubt. I try to emphasize those little things, protecting the football and not putting it in harm's way to save points. It's a tough balance because I want to make plays. You want to put seven on the board, especially in the red zone down there. So it's definitely a tough balance. Defenses in the league are good. Sometimes defense wins the play and find the best answer. The best thing in doing that play is sometimes the best decision for me. Coach T.C. [McCartney] and AVP [Alex Van Pelt] have done a good job in our room of going through those situations and letting me know, 'Hey, this is a situation in the game on the sideline if we have a timeout' and some scenarios like into the half stuff. I think the red zone emphasis needs to be fresh.
Q: When you watch those games this weekend, as a fan, just observe them, was there anything in you that said, 'look, there's some teams here that have high stakes opportunities, playoff implications, and there's probably a different level of intensity. The games mean more.' Did that whet your appetite at all to say, 'look, we got to get to that point as soon as possible?'
DM: No doubt, especially when you haven't felt it. I haven't really experienced a playoff game. You always hear about what it's been in the past here at the playoff games and the environment here in Gillette, and the advantage of us bringing teams that may not be more accustomed to the cold and the cold weather, and watching Tom [Brady] and those guys duke it out. Those runs they had were special. I think you want that feeling and those guys in the locker room, some of them had it. A lot of us young guys haven't. I think we're striving for that and can use these last four games as a challenge and as a step to, 'Hey, what we have and what we got here on this team and who can help us and who can make some plays?'
Q: For you, does it create urgency going into next year? Do you want to put the pedal to the metal, move as fast as you can and get good with those teams?
DM: I think everybody's got some urgency. Nobody wants a season like this year again. I think it's two years in a row of a season like this and you start to worry. I think there's definitely some urgency. You see it in those guys and you see it especially in the veterans and in me. As a quarterback, there's an urgency to get to that point and fix these things, work on them, get better and use these last four games as a stepping stool.
Q: What's the most important thing for you, Drake, over the last four games for regular season? You talked earlier in the year about cutting down on turnovers, dangering the football. Do you have a singular focus moving forward to finish off the year?
DM: I think it's a great opportunity to continue that next step of leadership. These last four games of being a starting quarterback, it comes with a lot of responsibility. Taking a new step, getting in uncomfortable situations or doing some things in the line of scrimmage, little things like that that can go a long way and getting experiences for the next year. I think any time you're facing the Bills twice, we'll see them a lot down the road, I'm sure, and we'll have a lot of challenges. Any time you face a division opponent like that, get ready for years to come.
Q: Drake, do you ever find as far as communicating that sense of urgency you were just describing to some of your receivers as an opportunity for them, young guys about to go into whether it's their second year or their third year, like, 'This is a chance here, four weeks, to build something towards this coming year?'
DM: Oh, for sure. They know that, too. I think they know that. I think those guys see it in their eyes and see it in the way they're practicing that, 'Hey, this is a step for me to showcase what I can do.' For those guys in my class, I think they're ready for it, and I'm going to give them some chances. It's on me, too, to give them some chances and not force the ball, but give them some opportunities, go make some plays. You see it in practice, and you just want to see it in the games.
Q: Drake, now that Cole's [Strange] been working at center on return and going back to the first days of training camp for you adjusting under center, how would you describe the difficulty in that? What are the keys?
DM: Yeah, anytime there's a new center, just getting the snap. Jacoby [Brissett] always preaches that, get the snap and good feet first. Getting the snap is always different. Getting accustomed to a new center, had a good feel with David [Andrews] throughout camp because he's a starter, and you want to know he's going to be in there. When Ben [Brown] came, feel good with Ben under there, knock on wood. I think that's the biggest thing is just getting accustomed to him. And Cole's done a nice job of getting acclimated into practice. Took a few snaps from him the other day and just getting that center/quarterback bond. You need that in any football team, and it's special.
