Hold the Mayo

I hope Mayo gets healthy just at the right time for the post season. Add him to front 7 and the Pats defense will be tough to score on.

Hold The Mayo - Inside The Pylon

Interesting piece..sort of runs counter to your comment about it though. It's not so much that they're waiting for him to get healthy, but that their approach and schemes have passed him by.

I think the article is saying that injury is not why Mayo isn't playing. There are better solutions in today's NFL than a run stuffing linebacker who is poor in coverage.

Mayo's career is a little like Bledsoe's. When Drew came in the league the ideal QB was one who dropped back and waited for receivers to get open. By the time he retired QBs were required to make quicker decisions, have more mobility, and possess the ability to make adjustments.

Yes Mayo has lost skills, but linebackers like Hightower and Collins do many things and that's what's needed today.

He'd have to be playing to get held.

Not sure how much Mayo's play has declined (hard to see when he's not consistently on the field). Seems more like there are better options (but his play obviously is a serious factor).

Perhaps a playoff team will get injury riddled at LB and we'll be able to trade him for a 4th (or 3rd. 2nd seems too much to hope unless BB wants to keep him for excellent depth in case of injuries).

Was Mayo that bad in coverage? It's not like he was Spikes out there. There's something more to why he's not playing. It may just be that High and Collins are so damned good.

I think the article is over thinking it. Mayo clearly hasn't fully recovered from his injuries. If he was the player from a couple years ago, he would still be a very good player. The guy was 250 and ran a 4.54 40, was an excellent tackler, and had a great head for the game.

I just hope can get back to close to that level again.

High and Collins are just bigger, stronger and perhaps High is faster too. I saw Mayo try to blitz and he pretty much got tossed. Maybe he is still recovering but.....looks like we'll lose him for nothing next season.

sieglo said:

Was Mayo that bad in coverage? It's not like he was Spikes out there. There's something more to why he's not playing. It may just be that High and Collins are so damned good.

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No, he wasn't. It's the argument people use to back up their belief he's overrated.

If Mayo hasn't fully recovered, why wasn't he put on PUP or the IR returnable list?
Maybe what we are seeing is what he has become.

sieglo said:

Was Mayo that bad in coverage? It's not like he was Spikes out there. There's something more to why he's not playing. It may just be that High and Collins are so damned good.

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High and Collins are amazing. They are both playing at All-Pro levels and it would be interesting to see if they both make the first team (provided health), or which one does if both cannot be on the first team. When looking at the roster and now reading something like this, it is a bit evident to me that Mayo could very well be on the outs. This is coming from someone who defended him in the game thread just days ago. Indulge me: Ninko is Vrabel, Jones is supposed to be Willie Mac, High is Bruschi and Collins is Phifer. So that would make Mayo Ted Johnson. And by that estimation, then he is a bit obsolete in today's game. I don't think he was ever that bad in coverage, though. I agree with you on that bit of rhetoric.

I would hate to see him go. But it is all going to come down to him and if he would restructure again. If not, it may very well be bye bye Mayo. Bostic and Freeny (who has never looked out of place out there) are also challenges Mayo would likely need to overcome, but I doubt he can at this point somewhat.

sieglo said:

Was Mayo that bad in coverage? It's not like he was Spikes out there. There's something more to why he's not playing. It may just be that High and Collins are so damned good.

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No he wasn't Spikes bad, but Spikes wouldn't make this team.

I think Mayo is best cleaning up when the linebackers around him are less talented like A. Thomas and Gary Guyton. Now that it's "do your job" different skills are required. Freeney even gets snaps over him.

Torn knee ligaments take a year to heal and another year to get back to your previous athleticism.

Look at Geno Atkins last year. People thought he was done. Now look at him this year. This happens all the time.

Personally, I think this is a crappy article.

1) It doesn't provide any insight into why Mayo isn't playing, it assumes that because Mayo had a bad first game against Miami in 2014 (note - so did virtually everyone) and that the team has used a nickel base in 2015, that Mayo isn't playing because he's the odd man out. That could be true, but it's nothing more than speculation.

2) the article gets basic facts wrong:
- says the Pats are following the nickel trend that was set by other teams, and uses the Steelers drafting of Ryan Shazier in 2015 as an example.
- the article claims the Pats were only in nickel 33% of the time in 2012. Pats were in base under 40% of the time that year. The Value of a Nickel: Cornerback Kyle Arrington | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2014 NFL Draft
- it implies that Mayo is the 3rd LB option in several places - including the conclusion - but in fact Freeny has played far more snaps than Mayo.
- uses PFF ratings to prove points (granted these points are validated by the eye test, but it's the principle).

All in all, it's hard to take something like this seriously when it's a superficial analysis getting many facts wrong.

whats more surprising to me is he is losing snaps to freeney/bostic....so he isnt even the clear 3rd linebacker.

I wonder if there is any team out there looking for a linebacker that has a CB they would trade?

VrabelJr said:

Torn knee ligaments take a year to heal and another year to get back to your previous athleticism.

Look at Geno Atkins last year. People thought he was done. Now look at him this year. This happens all the time.

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Especially a patella tendon.

PatsBoy12 said:

High and Collins are amazing. They are both playing at All-Pro levels and it would be interesting to see if they both make the first team (provided health), or which one does if both cannot be on the first team. When looking at the roster and now reading something like this, it is a bit evident to me that Mayo could very well be on the outs. This is coming from someone who defended him in the game thread just days ago. Indulge me: Ninko is Vrabel, Jones is supposed to be Willie Mac, High is Bruschi and Collins is Phifer. So that would make Mayo Ted Johnson. And by that estimation, then he is a bit obsolete in today's game. I don't think he was ever that bad in coverage, though. I agree with you on that bit of rhetoric.

I would hate to see him go. But it is all going to come down to him and if he would restructure again. If not, it may very well be bye bye Mayo. Bostic and Freeny (who has never looked out of place out there) are also challenges Mayo would likely need to overcome, but I doubt he can at this point somewhat.

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Mayo was never a run stuffing thumper and he still isn't.

Mayo isn't playing because hes not the same player as he was in 2012 or 2013 before he blew out his pectoral.

If this was 2012 Mayo he would be playing 50 snaps a game.

@NEPD_Loyko: Jerod Mayo actually looked like he had some good burst late in the 4th Q. On his pressure especially he had some explosion.

Don't write him off yet. He could provide a nice playoff boost.

robertweathers said:

Mayo was never a run stuffing thumper and he still isn't.

Mayo isn't playing because hes not the same player as he was in 2012 or 2013 before he blew out his pectoral.

If this was 2012 Mayo he would be playing 50 snaps a game.

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Or at least 25-30.

sieglo said:

Was Mayo that bad in coverage? It's not like he was Spikes out there. There's something more to why he's not playing. It may just be that High and Collins are so damned good.

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I don't know. Jonathan Freeny has passed him on the depth chart.

Elijah said:

I don't know. Jonathan Freeny has passed him on the depth chart.

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Whether that is because Mayo is still working back from the injury or not is the question.

Will also be interesting when they activate (or not) Dane Fletcher.