Mayo: Season 1

[DJnVa]

I figure a new thread where we're talking about his moves as HC might be warranted, with the other thread left to debate the move, if people are so inclined.

Jerod Mayo’s busy to-do list as he begins work as Patriots head coach - The Athletic

But the work has already begun. Mayo has been getting a head start on his coaching duties, working over the weekend as he prepares to fill out his staff.

The article talks about some of the things we've already mentioned:

OC: Mentions BoB, McDaniels, Robinson, and even Welker.

DC: Belichick and Cousins mentioned here.

FA: WRs and tackles will be the focus--mentions Higgins, Pittman, Evans as potential WRs. Also, decisions on potentially bringing back their own FA.

Draft prep: Does Mayo want to use the #3 pick on a QB, or go for vet like Cousins or someone like Fields.

FO: Groh/Wolf expected to stay at least through draft. Outside guys mentioned: Piolo, Dimitroff, or Trey Brown from Cincy.


We should begin to hear rumors and actual news on staff in the coming days.

 

[jsinger121]

I want a 3pm press release on Wednesday announcing the firings of Joe Judge and Cam Acord.

 

[lexrageorge]

Mayo has potentially a lot of decisions to make regarding his staff.

On the offense, the big question is the future of Bill O'Brien. But there's also folks like:

Adrian Klemm: Assumed not to be returning, in which case they need an OL coach. Is Billy Yates a candidate, with Ferentz assuming an assistant's role?
Troy Brown: Would he follow Bill? Would he be welcome back given the state of WR play and the failure of most of the drafted receivers to produce?
QB coach: Would they bring in a full time QB coach, even if O'Brien stays or McDaniels returns? Would Evan Rothstein see his duties expand?
RB and TE: Sunseri and Lawing both have ties to Bill O'Brien, with the latter being hired by BoB. Will they move on if BoB leaves?

Defense:

The Belichicks: In addition to Steve, there is also the future of Brian, who coaches the safeties, one of the stronger units on the team the past few seasons. If both leave, Mayo will have some big roles to fill.

LB coach: According to Patriots.com, Mayo did serve as linebackers coach this past season. That will be a role he'll need to delegate going forward.

Demarcus Covington (DL) and Mike Pellegrino (CB's): Both have been with the Patriots since the mid-2010's, and could be in line for more expanded roles here, as both units have been pretty good. Or they may feel loyalty to Bill Belichick.

Other/ST:

Joe Judge: realize his name is not popular, and his official role was fairly nebulous this past season. My guess is that he follows Bill.

Cam Achord: I don't blame him. The ST rankings were almost entirely due to Ryland's inability to hit field goals, and lack of depth at punt returner once Marcus Jones got hurt. Still, hopefully Mayo values special teams, and if so, he will need someone in this role he can trust. Unclear if that's Achord.

Moses Cabrera: Strength and conditioning. Probably stays. But one factor is that Deron Mayo, younger brother of Jerod, serves as assistant S&C coach.

General: With a young head coach, it seems like an ideal time to expand the assistant coaching staff to be closer to the league norms. My gut feeling is that Bill never felt the need to expand his staff, given he's been coaching so long and arrived in Foxboro at a time when staffs were smaller. But this year will be telling.

Also, there is some irony here. During his filmed discussions with Nick Saban, Bill expressed his annoyance at assistants getting head jobs elsewhere and then raiding his own staff.

Finally, I assume the assistant that fed Bedard the story about Mayo rubbing everyone the wrong way is gone shortly.

 

[Justthetippett]

I want a 3pm press release on Wednesday announcing the firings of Joe Judge and Cam Acord.

I'd settle for a picture of their stuff in bags outside the stadium. Bring in Izzo for STs from Seattle.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I'll think we'll get a lot of useful information from the coaching staff moves. Not just who they hire but also:

• Compared to other teams and coaches, BB liked to keep a smaller coaching staff. He also, especially in the later years, seemed to mostly hire people he had previously worked with. Does Mayo hire a more typical sized staff? If yes, that's a sign that he has been empowered to do things differently than BB and he is doing them differently. If not, it could either mean he's a BB guy who believes in BB's way... or that the staff has been kept small because the Krafts aren't wiling to pay for a larger staff. How much hiring does he do "outside the family?"
• Does Steve B stay on as defensive coordinator? It would make sense for Steve to stay, given that he has a productive working relationship with Mayo and the defense has been the largest area of team success over the past few years - and an area where one could argue that the performace has surpassed the talent level. I think it would be a good sign if Steve stays.
• I think the smartest thing for Mayo to do with the offense is to bring (or keep) in someone he trusts and give that person a lot of the responsibility. That could be keeping BOB or going back to McDaniels, but maybe going in a new direction is less likely. But does he let whomever he hires fill out the offensive staff or does he do what BB did after the BOB hire last year.

 

[chilidawg]

Welker? Never struck me as a particularly bright guy, surprised to see his name in there. But I'm sure Mayo knows him better than I do.

 

[DJnVa]

Welker? Never struck me as a particularly bright guy, surprised to see his name in there. But I'm sure Mayo knows him better than I do.

He's a WR coach in Miami and they're pretty good. No idea what that means for calling plays though.

BoB hired him in Houston. Kyle Shanahan hired him in SF. And Mike McDaniel in Miami. Decent offense resumes on those dudes.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Albert Breer has some interesting info:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/01/15/nfl-wild-card-takeaways-packers-jordan-mvp-level

The plan for now is to empower a scouting department that, over the years, has had talented folks frustrated that they weren’t being heard in the final decision-making process. The N’Keal Harry pick (which we outlined in our Thursday takeout on the team) was a flashpoint for a lot of those guys. The Krafts do believe they’ve got good people in scouting, and people they know Mayo can work with (again, they’re not guessing on that). So, for now, director of player personnel Matt Groh, director of scouting Eliot Wolf, senior personnel advisor Pat Stewart, pro scouting director Steve Cargile and college scouting director Cam Williams will run free agency and the draft, as the Patriots consider how they want to reshape the department.

Kraft is headed into his 31st season as owner and has never employed a general manager. That doesn’t mean he won’t decide he needs one in a month, after the draft, or next January. But, for now, he’s going to watch how the personnel department works in a new setup, where big decisions will be theirs. He could decide, in time, he doesn’t like it and go hire a Patriot alum with GM experience (Scott Pioli, Jon Robinson, Thomas Dimitroff, Bob Quinn, Dave Ziegler, etc.) to be VP of player personnel or even his first GM. But they’re going to take their time on that and give the guys in-house a big opportunity to show what they’ve got. Which was reflected in the Krafts’ meeting extensively Friday with Groh and Wolf right after Mayo was officially installed as Belichick’s successor.

Mayo, for his part, has already shown a desire to work with personnel folks, inviting the advance scouts from the pro side into his defensive meeting room, both to observe and to present their evaluations to the players on different opponents and individual players. And he’s on board with moving forward as the Krafts are setting this up, with the idea, on his end, being to knock down barriers and silos within the organization.

As for staff, I’d expect the Krafts to empower Mayo to fill out the staff as he sees fit, with some coaches likely to follow Belichick, and for Mayo to conduct a full search for an offensive coordinator. While it’ll likely include incumbent Bill O’Brien, who could also wind up going with Belichick, I think the Patriots are going to be very open-minded in trying to find the right guy for what’ll probably be Mayo’s most important hire. And, just to wrap this up, one other thing worth noting is that Belichick’s sons, defensive play-caller and linebackers coach Steve, and safeties coach Brian, have both already been offered the opportunity to return to the team for 2024. Mayo and the elder son (Steve) have grown close as they’ve collaborated to run the Patriots' defense the past five years.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

Kraft is headed into his 31st season as owner and has never employed a general manager. That doesn’t mean he won’t decide he needs one in a month, after the draft, or next January. But, for now, he’s going to watch how the personnel department works in a new setup, where big decisions will be theirs.

Do we think the "theirs" here is referring to the personnel department, or to the Kraft's?

 

[tims4wins]

Do we think the "theirs" here is referring to the personnel department, or to the Kraft's?

Personnel

 

[Jinhocho]

FA: WRs and tackles will be the focus--mentions Higgins, Pittman, Evans as potential WRs. Also, decisions on potentially bringing back their own FA.

Havent we been told for months that both Higgins and Pittman will be franchised and are not realistic targets?

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Personnel

Yes. It is kind of absurd the stories going around that the Krafts were upset with their lack of control under BB and intend now to make all the big decisions themselves. I mean they hired BB, gave him all the authority he had, and kept him around for 24 years, and won 6 championships. Now they want to be hands on micromanagers? I doubt it.

 

[DJnVa]

Havent we been told for months that both Higgins and Pittman will be franchised and are not realistic targets?

Yes. I was simply giving a snapshot of players mentioned in the article.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Yes. I was simply giving a snapshot of players mentioned in the article.

Could also be trade targets, guys getting tagged but not feasible for long term extensions with current team are usually worth checking in on (more Higgins based on team salary structures)

 

[DJnVa]

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

I wonder if that means Steve is moving on? Or was I wrong in thinking he might be given the DC position if he stays?

 

[Cellar-Door]

I wonder if that means Steve is moving on? Or was I wrong in thinking he might be given the DC position if he stays?

Probably leaving, or at least hasn't committed

Edit-forgot Rooney rule for coordinators, so if they want to give him the DC title need to interview at least one external minority candidate so means nothing really

 

[mwonow]

It will be really interesting to see what happens with Steve B if BB gets another coaching gig. I'd think that SB's career development would benefit most from working in a different regime, but BB might decide he wants a trusted voice in a new room.

 

[Justthetippett]

Probably leaving, or at least hasn't committed

Edit-forgot Rooney rule for coordinators, so if they want to give him the DC title need to interview at least one external minority candidate so means nothing really

The Rooney rule definitely distorts all of this. Until we hear person X is leaving, it's really all just noise.

 

[Reardon's Beard]

If he stays, I would think it's as DC. Otherwise goes to Dallas/Atlanta/Etc.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I wonder if that means Steve is moving on? Or was I wrong in thinking he might be given the DC position if he stays?

Breer today:

"... one other thing worth noting is that Belichick’s sons, defensive play-caller and linebackers coach Steve, and safeties coach Brian, have both already been offered the opportunity to return to the team for 2024."

 

[Eddie Jurak]

It will be really interesting to see what happens with Steve B if BB gets another coaching gig. I'd think that SB's career development would benefit most from working in a different regime, but BB might decide he wants a trusted voice in a new room.

I'm sure BB would take him if he wanted to go, but BB also probably recognizes that it is good for his sons to work for soomeone else.

 

[DJnVa]

Breer today:

"... one other thing worth noting is that Belichick’s sons, defensive play-caller and linebackers coach Steve, and safeties coach Brian, have both already been offered the opportunity to return to the team for 2024."

Post #8

Guess we know who you have on ignore.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Post #8

Guess we know who you have on ignore.

Besides you?

 

[DJnVa]

Besides you?

That's a given.

 

[boca]

https://x.com/rapsheet/status/1747016827954192485?s=46&t=SM8KNBQ5qkrf8EOqnMV5BQ

The #Patriots have requested to interview #Falcons special teams coach Marquice Williams for their ST position for head coach Jerod Mayo.

 

[DJnVa]

https://x.com/rapsheet/status/1747016827954192485?s=46&t=SM8KNBQ5qkrf8EOqnMV5BQ

The #Patriots have requested to interview #Falcons special teams coach Marquice Williams for their ST position for head coach Jerod Mayo.

If they are interviewing for ST coordinator then that means...a lot of folks here will be very happy.

 

[boca]

If they are interviewing for ST coordinator then that means...a lot of folks here will be very happy.

They’ll probably just shove him into another role. He’s due a shot at the D surely

 

[Cellar-Door]

https://x.com/rapsheet/status/1747016827954192485?s=46&t=SM8KNBQ5qkrf8EOqnMV5BQ

The #Patriots have requested to interview #Falcons special teams coach Marquice Williams for their ST position for head coach Jerod Mayo.

Interesting, there was an article earlier this week that the Falcons rejected requests to interview assistants, including Williams.
Wonder whether the change is that they got publicly shamed, or the Falcons know who they're hiring and who he wants to keep.

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

Interesting, there was an article earlier this week that the Falcons rejected requests to interview assistants, including Williams.
Wonder whether the change is that they got publicly shamed, or the Falcons know who they're hiring and who he wants to keep.

It doesn’t say that the request was granted….

 

[Cellar-Door]

It doesn’t say that the request was granted….

yep I misread it and thought it said he was interviewing

 

[GB5]

Regarding Lukabu, as a diehard Boston College fan, this would be an enormously underwhelming hire. He was BC’s defensive coordinator and the results were not encouraging. Poor play, missed assignments, breakdowns, just a mess. Bad sign if this is anything more than compliance with the Rooney rule.

 

[jsinger121]

Regarding Lukabu, as a diehard Boston College fan, this would be an enormously underwhelming hire. He was BC’s defensive coordinator and the results were not encouraging. Poor play, missed assignments, breakdowns, just a mess. Bad sign if this is anything more than compliance with the Rooney rule.

Or they could be interviewing him for potentially another role on staff while making this a Rooney Rule compliance for the DC before actually giving Steve Belichick the title if he wants to stay.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Is it possible that (EDIT: p)art of the lack of success you saw in his coaching is that it was at B.C., with all its disadvantages in terms of recruits and roster building, as opposed to Alabama, Goergia, LSU, etc...?

 

[shepard50]

He's a WR coach in Miami and they're pretty good. No idea what that means for calling plays though.

BoB hired him in Houston. Kyle Shanahan hired him in SF. And Mike McDaniel in Miami. Decent offense resumes on those dudes.

Yup.

He was also called out by Edelman, BB, Brady and others as student of the game when he was playing. Obsessively prepared and passionate about the ins and outs of the game.

Don't let the Miss Hooters winning wife and oddball behaviour fool you...

 

[Garshaparra]

Don't let the Miss Hooters winning wife and oddball behaviour fool you...

Oddball? I remember him getting benched for making public foot fetish jokes at Rex Ryan's expense, but that just makes him a goddamn hero. Getting brought along to the McDaniel show is a very solid signoff, no matter how they flamed out in KC.

As for other Mayo moves, I'd love to see him consider Shane Waldron, current (and possibly soon-to-be former) Seahawks OC for the Pats OC job. Yes, he had good wideouts to work with, but he made Geno Smith look decent for two straight seasons. He's got solid NE roots, starting here as an intern and rising to TE coach by 2009.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

As far as the Rooney rule goes, there would be no requirement to interview anyone for coaches staying on in their current roles, right? So, Mayo interviewing candidates for defensive coordinator would suggest he intends to name one. There hasn't been a defensive coordinator in years so if Mayo were willing to let SB continue in his current role, and SB wanted to continue in his current role, he wouldn't need to interview anyone else. Mayo interviewing candidates for ST would suggest that he's at least exploring making a change there, too.

 

[lexrageorge]

As far as the Rooney rule goes, there would be no requirement to interview anyone for coaches staying on in their current roles, right? So, Mayo interviewing candidates for defensive coordinator would suggest he intends to name one. There hasn't been a defensive coordinator in years so if Mayo were willing to let SB continue in his current role, and SB wanted to continue in his current role, he wouldn't need to interview anyone else. Mayo interviewing candidates for ST would suggest that he's at least exploring making a change there, too.

It does seem that Mayo intends to bestow the title of Defensive Coordinator to his top defensive assistant, hence the interview process with multiple candidates. And I'm not sure Steve Belichick would stick around if he doesn't get the title. My assumption is that SB is the favorite; either way, this is a case of In Mayo I Trust, as he needs to have his senior staff be people he can work with successfully.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

It does seem that Mayo intends to bestow the title of Defensive Coordinator to his top defensive assistant, hence the interview process with multiple candidates. And I'm not sure Steve Belichick would stick around if he doesn't get the title. My assumption is that SB is the favorite; either way, this is a case of In Mayo I Trust, as he needs to have his senior staff be people he can work with successfully.

Right. I would not be shcoked if SB chooses to leave, but if he doesn't I think he will be DC.

 

[DJnVa]

Yup.

He was also called out by Edelman, BB, Brady and others as student of the game when he was playing. Obsessively prepared and passionate about the ins and outs of the game.

Don't let the Miss Hooters winning wife and oddball behaviour fool you...

Welker is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Does interviewing him fulfill the Rooney Rule?

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Welker is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Does interviewing him fulfill the Rooney Rule?

I assume it would, if he is a legit member of Cherokee Nation. If he's doing a LIz Warren thing, probably not.

 

[DJnVa]

I assume it would, if he is a legit member of Cherokee Nation. If he's doing a LIz Warren thing, probably not.

Apparently his grandmother lives within Cherokee Nation jurisdiction and he's considered a citizen.

 

[DJnVa]

Reminder of Mayo's press conference at noon today.

 

[DJnVa]

 

[Norm loves Vera]

Here is the link for the youtube live stream of todays PC
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLqNjXFDuWE&ab_channel=NewEnglandPatriots

 

[DJnVa]

 

[DJnVa]

Here is the link for the youtube live stream of todays PC
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLqNjXFDuWE&ab_channel=NewEnglandPatriots

Mac Jones sighting!

 

[joe dokes]

Mac Jones sighting!

Is he the new OC?

 

[DJnVa]

Holy crap...Kraft was intro'ing Mayo's family and asked if he got name right and Mayo says: "It's one of those black names, so it's good."

 

[Rico Guapo]

Mayo cracking jokes lol.