Head Coach Jerod Mayo 10/21: "We have to be able to go out there and compete at a high level with the guys we have"

Jerod Mayo (0:01)

Well, let me just start off real quick. So obviously, we're disappointed. Six losses in a row, never a good thing. Last night, after the game, I felt like we just went out there and played soft. We're playing soft at the moment. And when I say playing soft, that means stopping the run, being able to run the ball, and being able to cover kicks, which we weren't able to do. Now, in saying that, do I think we have the guys in there that can turn this ship around? 100 percent, but that comes to hard work, hard work on the practice field, and going out there, just getting better each and every day. Fire away.

Bob, you're on the screen.

Mike (0:44)

Bob, you want to lead it or you want me to lead it?

Jerod Mayo (0:47)

You lead it, Mike.

Mike (0:48)

Okay. Jerod, from day one with your coaches, you've talked about being demanding without being demeaning. And I'm curious how much your core belief in that has been shaken just by the way the team is playing and just what's maybe what's happening around the team.

Jerod Mayo (1:10)

That's in my DNA. You know, once again, like a lot of these things are about relationships and treating people as human beings. So that's in my DNA. That doesn't mean like we're out there, you know, coaching these guys soft. I think the coaches do a good job of coaching them hard and obviously, it would be easy if we were sitting here at six and one to continue to have that message. But at one and six, it's, I guess, is a natural question from you. Should we change up our coaching style? And right now, I just think that we need to continue to work hard and continue to push the players to get the results on the field.

Mike (1:42)

And I had one question on a key point in the game, the second quarter. The second drive the Jaguars had in that quarter, the first two plays was a three-yard run and then the 58-yard pass. That was a big play. It looked to me, and correct me if I'm wrong, you stayed in base. The first down play, they had the three tight ends. And then I think they switched to two tight ends, two receivers. But I think you stayed in base on the 58-yarder. I'm just wondering if you were okay with that.

Not something there, if I have it right.

Jerod Mayo (2:20)

No, I am okay with that. And I would say you can play base to multiple personnel. Roops 21, 12, 13, it doesn't matter. The same thing with our sub-packages. Now, no matter what package is out there, with a big play like that, it's down the field. So everyone else really doesn't matter up front.

Taylor Kyle (2:37)

Bob.

Bob (2:39)

Good morning, Jerod. Good morning. Thanks, Stacey.

I want to ask you, I guess, a question related to what Mike asked first regarding the messaging and the way you handle the team going back to the spring, even with the off-season conditioning, and then you go through OTAs and training camp. There's been such a significant turnover in terms of personnel, guys who weren't with you, maybe in the spring or even through training camp. Are you concerned sometimes with the messaging is different the way it's received with those guys because they haven't invested those hours with you and the staff out on the practice field, in the weight room, et cetera, to really fully buy in, I guess, is what I'm asking.

Jerod Mayo (3:23)

No, it's a good question. Look, we're all continuing to get better, continuing to learn one another. I would say the messaging is the messaging. And when you hear me say, we played soft, I mean, that's how I feel about it. And it would be easy for me to sit up here and go through injuries and all that stuff, but I mean, that would be pointless. To me, we have to be able to go out there and perform at a high level with the guys that we have.

Bob (3:49)

And a follow up regarding Drake, and you and Elliott, when you met with us in the spring around draft time and talked about meeting him and the things you liked about him, the way you didn't throw teammates under the bus at North Carolina's toughness, et cetera. Now, he's been through two games, and he's been in some adversity. And he's played well for long stretches of those two games. What have you seen from him? What have you discovered that's new about Drake May, or maybe pleasantly surprising about your quarterback that you didn't really know when you drafted him?