TRANSCRIPT: Jerod Mayo Press Conference 11/18
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Here’s what New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo had to say during his press conference for Monday, November 18, 2024.
OPENING STATEMENT:
“What I said last night, look, it’s always disappointing to lose a game, especially here at home. I thought we did a lot of good things. I would also say we lacked execution in some of the critical times in the game that we really need to convert and that’s what a good football team is. Look, the guys went out there and played with energy. They played hard. They played tough. I thought offensively, they did a pretty good job executing the game plan. Then special teams-wise, I would say there were things that we left out there on the field. Then defensively, obviously, the receivers were a huge issue for us. You never want to give up big plays. That play of the [Cooper] Kupp definitely hurt us as far as momentum and things like that in the game. But look, got to go back to the drawing board. We have enough talent in that room, in the locker room to win football games, and I stand by that. I have to be better. The coaches have to be better and players got to be better. But we have enough talent in there and looking forward to these guys changing the page and continuing to get better as we move forward.”
On the Kupp touchdown, at that point in the game, it’s second and nine and looked like they sent seven rushers and if he was comfortable with that level of aggressiveness in the sense of, ‘Hey, they made the play, right? You still got to make it,’ but at the same time, the risk-reward is the question:
“You hit it on the head, the risk-reward. We felt like that was a good time to call that blitz. We’ve called it a couple of times in the game, and sometimes it was a run play, and it gave us some movement up front. When that happened on that big play, it was just we didn’t get there in time, and it was poor coverage the outside.”
On the fact they were eight of nine in red zone offense prior to these last two games and it’s tailed off a little bit, as he’s looked at those situations, what is the common thread he’s seeing there that has led to the decline there:
“I would just say overall, probably just a lack of execution. Even yesterday, you look at it, we’re in a short yarder situation and then get a penalty, you have to move back or a tackle for a loss, and then things change. But we just have to be better. We got to be better on protection. We got to do… as the field starts to contract or shorten, I mean, look, there are other players in the box, and we just got to be precise and execute.”
On if he has any regrets on punting when they had a chance to kick a field goal to go up 10-0:
“No, I don’t want to use the word regrets, but look, I’ve been very open. Being a first-year head coach, I’m learning as well. It’s a good experience. Like you said, hindsight is 2020. But that was the decision I made during the game that I thought gave us the best chance to win the football game.”
On building on that, if he feels like as a coach, he wants to establish an identity when it comes to those types of situations? Obviously, certain coaches, they’re going to go for it on fourth down no matter what, or they’re going to kick a field goal as opposed to punt, and if he feels like he needs to have an overriding philosophy when it comes to that, or if it’s a case case-by-case type of situation:
“Yeah, my opinion, it’s a case-by-case, like how the game is going, what the flow of the game is like. Like I said, in the moment, I always feel like I’m making the right decision, and it’s very easy to look back and say, ‘Well, I wish I would have done X, Y, and Z.’ That would be multiple situations. You can go back to the London game, and then some of the same situations showed up yesterday. If you execute, we’re not having this conversation. But as I sit here today, look, it’s 100% on me, and I have to be better.”
On the fact the other thing he mentioned is that there’s enough talent in the room to win games, and if he always believed that, or did the guys have to show that through the course of the year? After the Jacksonville game, they’ve obviously been a much more competitive team, so did that question get answered? And did he already know the answer to it?
“I’ve always believed that we had talent in the room. I’ve always believed that we have tough, smart, dependable guys in the room. I saw that in the weight room during the spring when that’s where you really first see how tough your football team is. We just got to continue to try to put those guys in a situation that they can be successful and win games.”
On the fact it feels like some of the fourth downs have been more conservative, and if he’s been mindfully going more risk averse in those situations, or if that’s just the way he felt in the moment:
“As I’ve said throughout the season, especially the last three weeks I’ve alluded to, the coordinators, the coaches and myself, we’ve done a decent job, a good job of staying ahead of the game. Now, there are certain situations where, all right, look, we’re going for it right here, and then it’s a tackle for a loss. I’m not just talking about this game. I’m talking about just the season as a whole. There are situations where you have to be ready to change. Look, as I continue to evolve as a coach, as the players continue to grow and develop, we’ll see what happens. But it’s a case-by-case basis.”
On his thoughts on Christian Barmore’s performance on Sunday in his return:
“I would say, first and foremost, it was just good to see him out there. There are definitely things we had to work on, and I would say the number one thing is just pad level. It was really his first time being in pads, and I look forward to him continuing to progress.”
On his thoughts on how Kendrick Bourne respond after the adversity from the week before after having no snaps against the Bears:
“He responded great. I think he was our leading receiver yesterday. Just a guy that… It doesn’t matter what position you’re talking about. There’s nothing more important in practice and going out there and performing at a high level at practice, which I would say he had a great week of practice and it transferred to the game.”
On Javon Baker, he was in on some punt returns, but he had the fumble and then the hurdle play, and he was out after that, and if that was that in response to that or just giving players their opportunity, or what was the thought process there:
“You’re talking about the kick returns, right?”
Yes, sorry:
“Yeah, no problem. Yeah, so on the kick returns, he was back there the first couple of snaps, and he didn’t execute the way that we all had hoped he would. I know it was a big return. Even on that big return, it was one of those situations where, ‘Is he coming out? Is he not coming out?’ Same thing with the second kickoff return.”
On how difficult it is with Kendrick Bourne and Javon Baker, balancing having the young kid in there because he needs to develop him, but also taking a productive player like Bourne off the field:
“Yeah. Like I said earlier, Kendrick had a great game, and Polk is developing, and he will be a good player in this league. As the head coach of this football team, we’re trying to win right now. And whoever the hot hand happens to be in that situation will play more.”
On his thoughts on how he feels Yannick Ngakoue played in his debut:
“Yeah, he did some good things, I would say. He’s a very smart individual, and we’ll continue to load up his plate this week, and I anticipate him playing more as we move forward. ”
On the illegal formation penalty that they called in terms of the way the game unfolded and what the coaching point is there going forward:
“Are you talking about the Lowe [penalty]?”
The Lowe [penalty], yes:
“Look, the referees, they do a good job. They give you a warning before the game. They gave him two warnings during the game, and they called the third one. So that’s on us. And I always say, look, we’ll do business as business is being done. And you’ve been warned multiple times, you got to get on the ball. But it’s not only… Look, I know it’s oftentimes, they throw the flag on a tackle, but I would also say it’s part the entire offensive line. If the guards are set too [far] back, then obviously the tackles will be back as well. And if you ask those guys the same question, they’ll give you the same answer.”
(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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