Patriots News 10-13, Mayo Already Under Fire?
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Good morning. Here are your Patriots news and notes for October 13. The Patriots offense will see Drake Maye start for the first time today, hopefully the start of a very long tenure there.
And his first start is not going to be an easy one. Houston leads the league in terms of pressure rate and their blitz rate is the eighth highest in the league. Given the Patriots’ struggles at protecting the QB, today’s game will throw the rookie’s feet right into the fire.
However, the excitement level is up for today’s game, as Maye brings a lot of athleticism and arm strength into the mix. Houston will try to mix things up to confuse him and, no doubt, constantly bring a lot of pressure.
But the Maye Watch is over. The future is here. AVP should focus on the running game and look for the Patriots to go empty on passing downs to aid him in getting the ball out quickly.
Mayo Under Fire Already, Why A Precedent Says No —
Boston radio is, well, Boston radio, as we all know. Jerod Mayo has already heard about him being under fire. The Patriots’ flagship station 98.5, The Sports Hub, spent all last season calling for Bill Belichick to be fired. Now the host of their 2-6 show says, “Mayo isn’t the guy.”
“Mayo’s in over his head, is what it is,” Michael Felger said on Tuesday. “He’s just in way over his head, as most guys at his stage of their career would be. There’s so many problems on this team. And so many problems in that organization, frankly. He’s just not cut out for it, and like I said, very few people would be at this stage in their careers. He’s just set up to fail, but he’s not the guy.”
“I also think [Tony Massarotti], he reacted to some of his players complaining about not getting the ball. First couple of weeks, you’ve got those receivers stomping around out there, kind of pitching a fit. Demario Douglas, of all people, is holding press conferences in the locker room about his lack of touches and whatnot. And Mayo admits, ‘We’ve got to get him the ball,’ and all that. And then the next thing you know, they’re dropping back to pass 33 times in New York trying to get Demario Douglas the ball. Who? Why? No, it starts with the head coach.”
But it isn’t just locally that Mayo is taking heat about being one and done in New England.
While filling in for Colin Cowherd on his podcast, The Herd, Jason McIntyre stated that Mayo will be out after the season.
“Great Patriots player, a loyal lieutenant for a few years with Belichick, inherits the job, Kraft is giving his full support, and then… Mayo has undeniably been a train wreck. NFL teams are getting increasingly okay with moving off head coaches after a year.”
“Jerod Mayo is turning into a train wreck at the microphone. Folks, he’s had the worst week of any head coach in the NFL. I’m going to go through the last four days of Jerod Mayo, and this is honestly some clownish stuff. It’s amateur hour, it makes you long for Bill Belichick getting on the microphone saying ‘we’re onto Cincinnati’ and giving nothing. That was funny, but when Jerod Mayo talks it’s like ‘what are you even talking about, dude?’”
“I think Jerod Mayo is one-and-done. They have the lowest Win Total in the league per Vegas, and if the team goes 4-12 and this team doesn’t take off, I think it’s over for Jerod Mayo in New England.’”
Kraft will keep Mayo and the coaching staff intact unless there is a total meltdown in the locker room. But he needs to talk with Mayo about limiting his openness with the media and keeping things tighter to the chest. These comments have often come back to bite Mayo on his fourth point of contact (you fellow paratroopers will understand that).
Has the coaching been great? We must remember that Mayo’s entire brain trust and his coordinators are brand new at this job. They are learning on the job. It hasn’t been smooth yet, but five games is too small of a sample size.
And there is a recent precedent on why Mayo will not be one and done in 2024. A few years ago, a coach started off 0-10-1 in his first 11 games, and the local and national media were uttering much the same things that had already started with Mayo. That coach was Dan Campbell of the Lions. So. perhaps we should give Mayo a bit more time to see if he can turn this team around.
Jabrill Peppers: The Patriot safety was arrested for cocaine possession and a multitude of charges stemming from an altercation last Friday night, which included assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and strangulation. His lawyers have said that there is video evidence that will exonerate Peppers.
The woman who was with Peppers said that he hit her head against a wall, strangled her, and threw her down a flight of stairs. The issues began when, according to Peppers, the woman insisted on having unprotected sex with him without a condom, which he refused to do.
The local police, the Patriots, and the NFL are investigating the claims. Patriots owner Robert Kraft has said if the assault allegations are true, then Peppers would be gone.
He was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list while the investigation is ongoing. So, he can’t be in the Patriots’ facility but will still be paid. Although the stories and circumstances are quite different, it is curious that the league placed Peppers on the exempt list quickly while Kansas City’s Rashee Rice was racing 119 mph an hour with a college football player from SMU and caused a six-car crash that seriously injured several people and then left the scene of the accident. Rice has played all season until his recent injury.
The point is, does Peppers belong on the exempt list? Absolutely, until the matter is resolved one way or another. However, why wasn’t Rice also placed under the same situation? Park Avenue never has any consistency in these matters.
Patriots’ Injury List: The Patriots are still a very banged-up football team this week as they prepare for the Texans. Rhamondre Stevenson has already been ruled out of this week’s game with a foot injury.
Eleven other players are listed as questionable: CB Isaiah Bolden (Hamstring), WR Kendrick Bourne (Knee), LS Joe Cardona (calf), S Kyle Dugger (ankle), LB Anfernee Jennings (shoulder), CB Marcus Jones (groin), C Nick Leverett (ankle), WR K.J. Osborn (shoulder), G Layden Robinson (Ankle/Wrist), LB Sione Takitaki (knee), and CB Marco Wilson (groin).
If linebacker Sione Takitaki, who had offseason knee surgery, is able to return, it will boost the defense. Getting Dugger back would also be a big boost. Marte Mapu filled in very well last week and will play the strong safety (box) role if Dugger does return.
Without Stevenson, Antonio Gibson should see an increased workload. JaMycal Hasty also would see an uptick in snaps. Mayo said that the team will consider activating either Kevin Harris or Terrell Jennings from the practice squad.
Brendan Schooler: The Patriots have signed their special team’s ace to a three-year extension worth 9 million dollars, with $3.6 million fully guaranteed.
Schooler can also earn an additional $1.5 million in incentives, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissaro. “Brenden is excited to build on the special teams tradition in New England,” said his agent, Alex Campbell of @AJAX_Sports.
Schooler has five STs tackles and a blocked punt this season. He’s already one of the best gunners in the league and assumed the mantle from Matthew Slater on the Patriots. One of the best to ever do it.
Jerod Mayo: The head coach said that Drake Maye performed well in practice this week and added, “There’s a Renewed Sense of Energy Throughout The Team.” He said that now he’ll have to go on the field and prove it.
Asked about the energy comment, he stated that the coaches could see the players running back to the huddle and eager to get on to the next player.
Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: This week, Derek Havens and I wrapped up the Dolphins game, discussed the Drake Maye news, broke down the Texans matchup, and gave our predictions for the game and other games. Please check it out.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t in is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be discussed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
The Patriots face another big test today against Houston (4-1), who are off to a very good start this season. Head coach DeMeco Ryans and QB C.J. Stroud have spearheaded the Texans’ resurgence. GM Nick Caserio has done an outstanding job of building a good roster.
The Patriots are undefeated at home against Houston, 7-0, including 2-0 in the playoffs. The last three meetings have all been in Houston. The last time the two teams met in Foxboro was the season opener in 2018, so it has been a minute.
Joe Mixon has been hurt, which has hurt Houston’s running game. He’s questionable to play on Sunday. Stroud has been a monster on third downs this season, so that will be a big key to watch.
Here are our Patriots Players to Watch this afternoon if the Patriots are to win today.
Drake Maye: The Patriots’ future begins today as Maye gets his first NFL start, albeit against one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. However, Maye can counter with impressive athleticism and a very strong arm.
Look for the Patriots to try to go quick on the passes over the middle with quick slants, shallow crossers, and such. They’ll want to get the ball out of Maye’s hands quickly to negate the pass rushers.
Douglas/Polk: The Patriots’ young wide receivers will certainly figure highly in the Patriots’ game plan this week. Demario Douglas has the distinct ability to get open quickly and get separation, something the offense lacks overall.
Ja’Lynn Polk will look to bounce back from a subpar outing this week. He and Maye spent a lot of time working after practice on their timing and chemistry. Polk has a bright future in the league and he and Maye will look to start off positively in a big way together.
Antonio Gibson: With Rhamondre Stevenson out with a foot injury, Jerod Mayo will turn to Gibson for the lion’s share of the running game. Gibson has been a terrific addition this year and has the two biggest plays of the offense this season, a 45-yard run against the Seahawks and a 50-yard pass reception against the 49ers.
Houston’s defense will be a tough matchup, but the Patriots should be able to run the ball against them, but his value this week may be in the passing game as an outlet for Drake Maye.
Christian Gonzalez: The Patriots caught a huge break when it was announced that the NFL’s top receiver, Nico Collins, had a hamstring injury and would be forced to IR and miss the next four games. Robert Woods will also miss today’s game with a foot injury.
Gonzalez will now have to contend with Stefon Diggs, who no doubt wants to carry the passing game on his shoulders. Since coming to Houston from the Bills this year, Diggs has 31 catches for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
Gonzalez has shown that he has the ability to hang with some of the best wide receivers in football. However, Diggs is a savvy veteran and will be yet another tough matchup for the young corner.
The Jets’ firing of head coach Robert Saleh was a surprise, considering they were competing with Buffalo for the lead in the AFC East. The Jets play the Bills this weekend.
Apparently, Saleh wanted to fire the OC, Nathaniel Hackett, but owner Woody Johnson stepped in and fired Saleh after he had a conversation with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Johnson said his talk with Rodgers didn’t factor into his decision, but this is just another dysfunctional Jets story.
Bill Belichick said the decision was “a little bit puzzling” during an appearance on “A Coach’s Perspective.”
“It is what it is,” Belichick said. “Everybody has to move forward. It’s the owner’s prerogative to make that decision; clearly, that’s what he decided to do. But there have been a lot of things that have been kind of confusing. It hasn’t been a great situation for the Jets this year. You can kind of feel there’s been kind of a chill.”
“There had been some issues on the offensive line; it didn’t really work out with (Mekhi) Becton. A couple of tackles; we’ll see how that works out. Just not a lot of protection, and certainly Rodgers had a tough day out there in London this weekend,” Belichick added.
“They’ve played pretty good defense over the last few years like that’s been a pretty solid group, but the rest of the organization, just some of the appearance of dysfunctionality, has been tough, and that’s the ownership, that’s personnel, that’s coaching. Where exactly that falls I’m not sure, but it just hasn’t looked good.”
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Week 5 Predictions:
Thursday Night Football:
San Francisco over Seattle 1-0
Sunday, October 13:
Chicago over Jacksonville – London 9:30 am start
Green Bay over Arizona
Indianapolis over Tennessee
Houston over New England
Tampa Bay over New Orleans
Philadelphia over Cleveland
Baltimore over Washington
LA Chargers over Denver
Pittsburgh over Las Vegas
Detroit over Dallas
Atlanta over Carolina
Sunday Night Football:
Cincinnati over NYG
Monday Night Football:
Buffalo over NYJ
Bye Week: Kansas City, Minnesota, LA Rams, Miami
Last week: 10—4
2024 Season 52—26
2023 Season 178—94
2022 Season: 178—92—2
2021 Season: 183—88—1
2020 Season: 169—86—1
2019 Season: 162—93—1
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“Yeah, I think I’ll go out there and try to make some plays. I think the biggest thing, I was telling some of those guys, it’s probably going to be a little nervous at the beginning. I think once we settle down, we have a chance to move the football and just have fun out there. It goes back to having fun going out there. That’s what this game is about. Don’t make it too big, or the spotlight too big. Just go out there with those guys that we’ve been battling for three months since training camp, go out there and try to make some plays.”
Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye on what he expects from himself in today’s game.
“Yeah, I think a few of my brothers and my parents will be here, but nothing in particular. I think it’ll be pretty sweet in the red throwbacks. I think that’ll be pretty cool to get out there in my first start, and especially in front of these fans. I think Patriots fans are the best fans in the league, and I’m looking forward to playing at Gillette in front of them. Thanks y’all.”
Maye on having his first NFL start at home in Gillette Stadium in front of his family.
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“Talent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.” Bill Belichick
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our Patriots 4th and 2 podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Russ Goldman, Derek Havens, and myself from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis.
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