TRANSCRIPT: Patriots Head Coach Jerod Mayo 6/10 Press Conference
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Here’s what New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo had to say ahead of the team’s practice on Monday, June 10, 2024.
OPENING STATEMENT:
“Look, excited to be out here. Excited to have all the guys in the building. Look, last week, really, to go out there and show what you got, both physically and mentally. So let’s see some competition today. You guys will see it. It should be a good day. Go C’s [Celtics].”
On if they have full attendance:
“Everyone’s here. Full attendance.”
On how he feels about that:
“I feel great. I mean, it’s mandatory, but I feel good about it. I will say we’ve had good attendance, really throughout the entire spring, for the most part.”
On what the overall objective is this week as opposed to the previous OTAs:
“Look, it’s going to be very similar. What I will say is now we’re getting into football, down and distance, two-minute type of drills. It’s just part of the progression. Look, it’s still a non-contact camp, so it’s not like we’re going to go out there and tackle, but at the same time, those guys are to go out there and compete, and we’ll see what happens.”
On if he expects Matthew Judon to be a full participant today:
“I do. Look, it’s great to have Judon and his energy in the building. He was here at times during the rest of the spring, but it’s good to have him over the next couple of days.”
On his thoughts on Wednesday’s event with Tom Brady and what sticks out from his playing days with him:
“Honestly, I just want to go and be a fan, but they have me doing something. I’m a huge Tom Brady fan, just on and off on the field. And I would also say I’m excited to see all the guys that come in to support Tom. He was a great teammate, a great leader of men, and he deserves it. He deserves to be recognized.”
On if he cares to share what you’re going to do:
“I don’t want to talk about that. I’m going to sing a song. [laughs] No, it’s going to be simple. It’s going to be simple. It’s not about me. It’s about Tom, and it’s about ownership and the team. I’m excited to see how many past players actually come.”
On what it’s been like working with Isaiah Bolden:
“It’s been great. Bolden, he’s one of those guys that we need to take a step forward. He’s one of our fastest guys on the team. He should be a demon on special teams and obviously has some defensive capabilities. So I’m excited to see him, especially when we put the pads on. Anytime you have a bigger corner like that, it’s hard to really tell in a non-contact camp.”
On K.J. Osborne’s comments last week about Drake Maye talking to him about a route with Jacoby Brissett at QB and what he’s observed about Maye being dialed in:
“Yeah, I think you hit it on the head. A guy who he’s dialed in every rep, even the reps that he’s not in. I think it’s smart of him to go talk to a guy like KJ who’s had good quarterbacks in the past so those guys could be on the same page. The same thing with Jacoby and the rest of the quarterbacks. Just being on the same page with the guys they’re going to throw the ball to is definitely huge. It’s always good when a guy is curious and he has a natural curiosity about football, Xs and O’s and all that stuff. So it’s good.”
On the fact Maye elevated to number two last week and if there’s anything to read into that:
“No, not at all. I think I talked about this a little bit last week. The depth charts, there really are no depth charts. We can say the first group, the second group. We’re trying to mix and match offensively and defensively just to see what combinations work. And honestly, still trying to see where your depth is. And so on a depth chart, it’s like, ‘All right, he’s a right tackle, but let’s see if we can move him here.’ Different combinations, that’s part of the whole process.”
On the David Andrews extension and why that was important:
“Yeah, I think you guys saw in free agency as well, it was important for us to reward the guys that we want here, the guys that encompass the Patriot way, the guys that come to work each and every day with a good attitude, looking to get better. He’s one of those guys, the leader on this team, and it was important for us to keep him around.”
On what Alex Austin showed last year, and what he’s carried over after the way he finished last season into the spring:
“Potential. He showed potential, but we all know that’s only that. It’s potential. So we have to see in training camp, but he’s another guy who comes to work every day, and excited to work with him.”
On if they’ve experimented with using a non-kicker on kickoffs under the new rule:
“We haven’t really experimented with it at all, but [Jahlani] Tavai is knocking on my door every day. ‘I can do it, Coach. I can do it.’ It’s like, just get healthy.”
On if they anticipate having to spend more time on kickoffs than normal:
“Yeah, I don’t think anyone actually knows how this thing is going to play out. Look, the rules are still kind of fluid even as of today. So we watch it as a full staff just because it’s one of those players where you’re trying to get, we talk about collaboration all the time, but you’re trying to get opinions of the offensive coaches, the defensive coaches, and the special teams coaches, and also just calling around the league to see how they think about it. But once again, I don’t think anyone really knows how it’s going to play out. It might just be beneficial just to take the ball at the 30. I don’t know.”
On the fact Rhamondre Stevenson seems like he’s a guy who’s done what he’s been asked to do and if he’d like something to get done there:
“We’ll see. I will say this about Ramondre. I think he’s one of the better backs in the league. It’s no doubt about it. I think over the last couple of years, it’s been kind of tough on him as as far as just getting started. So I’m excited to see what he does this season. And look, he’s earned everything that he gets. He’s our starting running back, and hopefully we do get something done.”
On the fact he looks a little leaner:
“Yeah, a little bit. And I think that bodes well for him and his speed and those long runs we expect to see in the fall.”
On if they’ll be practicing all three days this week:
“We’ll be practicing two days. So Stacey [James] will send out a media advisory. He’ll send out a media advisory. We’re going to do something special tomorrow, which I think is, I should say, which we think is important for this state.”
On what he would say the goal is over the next few days as they build on what they did in OTAs:
“The goal is to build on what we’ve already put into place and just adding those guys back that weren’t here a few days, getting them back in the mix, I think is good. It’s one step at a time, trying to get 1% better each and every day.”
On what has impressed him about Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk so far:
“From the first day that those guys were here, they connected at a deeper level. I would hear the jug machines going off, and I look in there, and it’s those two guys. They have a great bond, great friendship, and hopefully it pays dividends on the field.”
On the fact those two and Drake Maye have been spending time after practice working and what that means to see them put in that extra work:
“It means a lot. You have to be a self-starter if you want to be a starter in this league. And those guys are self starters, and they’re going to put the extra work in. So it’s very encouraging.”
On the progression this week represents and the difference in value to a guy like Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett, who has been around for a while:
“It’s huge. At the same time, I would say that Jacoby has a better understanding, obviously, of the offensive scheme. So going back to what Drake’s able to do is really process on the sideline, even when Jacoby or other guys are getting those reps. But the value is huge for any rookie, no matter what position we’re talking about. You rather than make the mistakes out here now than to make the mistakes in the fall.”
On his shoutout to the Celtics and if he has any type of relationship with head coach Joe Mazzulla:
“I have a great relationship with a few of those coaches, Tony and Joe. Those guys are great. I like to say I knew Joe before he was Joe. So hopefully, they win the Championship, and we’ll get them back out here.”
On the work they’ll be doing today:
“Yeah. So we have referees. We have referees in town. I think it’s good. I told them, ‘Look, don’t be shy about throwing flags.” So you guys, I’m sure we’ll count the holding calls. Got a lot of holding going on.”
On where he sees Marte Mapu fitting into the defense and if he could see him playing more traditional linebacker than safety:
“When we scouted Marte, it was kind of going back and forth between, let’s say, a big slot corner, a bigger safety, or a smaller linebacker. That versatility is still in play. He’s done both of them throughout the spring. I don’t know how much … I guess it would depend on the team. If we’re playing a heavy run team, you don’t want to have a 220-pound linebacker in there. But he’s one of those guys that he understands the defense conceptually. Very smart guy, and his versatility will definitely get him on the field.”
On what he likes about Isaiah Bolden in the slot:
“That’s a good question. I’ll say this. It’s part of it… No, because part of it is numbers. We don’t have some of our slot corners practicing at this current time. They’re getting over something. So I think it’s been a good experience for him to get inside. At the same time, I still see him more of a perimeter corner.”
On the fact we saw Caedan Wallace get work last week on the right side and what the advantage is of having him stay on the right side:
“Yeah … honestly, on the offensive line, versatility is key. If you play guard, we hope you can play center. If you play right tackle, hopefully you can play left tackle. We’re still just trying to build that depth, whatever the combination is.”
On the fact teams say ‘Just the best five’ and if he falls into the category where he’s just looking for the best five:
“The best players will play. And that’s how I think about it. It’s all competition, and we’re going to try to put the best five out there.”
On if they can evaluate what went on with that position group this time of year without pads:
“The mental part of it, and you’re exactly right, the noncontact part of it kind of stinks. But we’ll see in training camp. They know what to do, now the how to do it, and now with pads on, that’s part of the progression.”
“Thanks, guys.”
(Editor’s Note: This transcript is done via the available footage and is subject to typos. If you spot something, please take a moment to let me know in the comments below.)
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