Head Coach Jerod Mayo 11/10: "The guys answered the challenge we had during the week"

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Pats from the Past. Tune in as Matt Smith and Paul Perillo offer in-depth interviews with some of the greatest players and coaches in New England Patriots history.

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Find out what led to some of the greatest moments in franchise history and unique behind-the-scenes insight.

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Good to be home, good to see you guys.

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Jerod Mayo (0:30)

Good afternoon. It's always good to come in here after a victory. I thought the guys really answered the challenge that we had all during the week. Talked about having a physical Wednesday, and I think that showed up today, really in all three phases. But offensively, we're able to really deliver those body blows that we talked about and really staying ahead of the sticks. The prior week, it's a lot of second and long situations that really took us off track. And I would say defensively, especially on the interior piece, for the most part, and look, there are things to correct. I thought the guys played well in the run game. Defensively, I would say we were able to get pressure. We were able to get pressure on the quarterback. We had nine sacks in the game, which is always good. And I would say the back end did a good job as far as coverage is concerned. Offensively, kind of talked about the run game. And look, Drake, you know, still continues to go out there and make plays. He's gonna make mistakes, but this is part of his evolution, it's part of his growth and development. And then special teams, you know, it was kind of shaky there at the beginning, but I would say as we were able to settle down, it was good. I just want to send a, I thought the coordinators, I thought the coordinators did an excellent job the entire week, not only reiterating the message that I said in the squad meeting rooms, but also just putting together a good game plan and knowing how we have to win football games. And that's new control in the line of scrimmage and kind of talked about that.

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What did your team do so well defensively? 142 total yards, only 11 first downs in the nine sacks.

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What did they do well today?

Jerod Mayo (1:58)

It starts up front. It starts up front. And I think, you know, that's what we have to do. We have to go out there and reestablish the line of scrimmage and we're able to do that in all three downs.

SPEAKER_2 (2:07)

Giordano more in the second half of the late for school or is down in the box? Seems like he was in a spy technique.

Jerod Mayo (2:11)

Is that another wrinkle you guys had? That's our Longhorn package, our Longhorn package. And we've done things like that before. And again, we talk about next man up. Now you got a guy who was primarily a special team player making contributions. He's probably what? His first sack ever in his career. But he's fast, he's athletic, and he's a football player. We try not to put anyone in a box, and I'm not going to put him one.

SPEAKER_7 (2:33)

For all you know, Drake asked AVP if he could address the offense. What do you know about that? And what does that say about Drake?

Jerod Mayo (2:41)

Look, Drake has addressed the offense numerous times. I think this is, it goes back to now he's starting to really take control of the offense and the team. I mean, when you go out there and you perform at a high level, that's the first step. The next step is to bring others with you. And I think he's on his way to doing that.

SPEAKER_2 (2:57)

How much did coverage play a factor in the non-saxon?

Jerod Mayo (3:00)

Well, coverage was huge. You know, all of those guys in the back end. Again, you know, we had the young safeties out there and Goncalo continues to play at a very high level. I'd also say John Jones. You know, he's one of those guys you can put him at, you know, as a slot corner, put him outside, put him in the back end. Just a veteran player that again goes in that box of, he's a football player and wherever you ask him to go, he'll go out there and try to perform.