Head Coach Jerod Mayo 11/18: "We have enough talent in that locker room to be better"

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Jerod Mayo (0:30)

Thanks, Stacey. You know, kind of 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, you know, we lack 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. And let the guys went out there and played with energy. They played hard. They played tough. I thought offensively, you know, they did a pretty good job executing the game plan, you know. And then special teams wise, I would say, you know, there were things that we left out there on the field. And then defensively, obviously, the receivers were a huge issue for us. And, you know, you never want to give up big plays. You know, that play to cup 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. And I have to be better. Coaches have to be better, and players have 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.

SPEAKER_5 (1:37)

We'll open up with questions. We'll start with Mike Reiss, followed by Chris Pratt. Jerod, you mentioned the cup touchdown. And it's always easier to ask questions when you know the result of the play. At that point in the game, it's second and nine. Look like you guys sent seven rushers. And I guess my thought, I wanted to ask you, how comfortable are you 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 what I'm asking.

Jerod Mayo (2:10)

You hit it on the head, the risk reward. And 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. But, you know, when that happened, you know, on that big play, it was just we didn't get there in time, and it was poor coverage on the outside.

SPEAKER_5 (2:29)

And then I'm following up on your comment about just the critical situation sometimes coming through with the plays. The red zone offense, I think you even made the point. You were eight of nine in red zone offense prior to these last two games.

Jerod Mayo (2:43)

That's right.

SPEAKER_5 (2:44)

It's tailed off a little bit as you've looked at those situations. What is the common thread you're seeing there that has led to the decline there?

Jerod Mayo (2:56)

I would just say overall, probably just a lack of execution. Even yesterday, you look at it, we're in a short yardage situation, and then get a penalty, you have to move back or a tackle for loss, and then things kind of change. But we just have to be better. We have to be better in protection. We have to do, you know, as the field starts to contract or shorten. I mean, look, there are other players in the box, and we just have to be precise and execute.

SPEAKER_5 (3:24)

Next question, Chris Price, followed by Chris Ryan.

SPEAKER_7 (3:27)

Jerod, I'm curious, a day later, any regrets, I know it's a situation that's right for second guessing, but any regrets about punting when you had a chance to kick maybe a long-ish field goal there to go up 10-0 early on?

Jerod Mayo (3:42)

No, I don't want to use the word regrets, but look, I've been very open. You know, being a first-year head coach, I'm learning as well. And it's a good experience, and like you said, hindsight is 20-20, but that was the decision I made during the game that I thought gave us the best chance to win the football game.