Patriots Jerod Mayo Reflects on ‘Lessons Learned’ During Offseason Workouts
As New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo sounded the final whistle to conclude mandatory minicamp, he began to reflect on presiding over his first offseason workout program.
In short, Mayo has considered these past two months an invaluable learning experience.
New England Patriots Head Coach Jerod Mayo Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire
“I've learned a ton, not only just out here on the field, but also in the classroom,” Mayo told reporters at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday. “Being able to talk to coaches that have been outside of this building has been great … This is the first evolution for me as Jerod Mayo, the head coach, and it'll probably be different at some point in time, but I'm learning a ton, and it's been great.”
Mayo's task of serving as the team's primary coaching voice is a daunting one. Not only is he replacing an organizational legend in Bill Belichick, but he is also embarking on the journey of rebuilding a franchise which has failed to taste playoff victory since 2018.
Throughout their two days of practices (with Tuesday having been designated for interaction within the community), the Pats participated in non-contact, non-padded workouts, and gained valuable insight into the daily workings of the team’s coaching staff. While Mayo remains cognizant of the remaining miles the Patriots will travel before reaching their potential, his experiences have him excited for the future.
“I've always looked at this period of time, even as a player, as a time to really develop,” Mayo said. “I remember when I first took the job, it was like, ‘Man, I'm just in the room all day, every day.’ The first time we were able to come out on the field in Phase-Two, it was one of those eye-opening experiences. Even the veteran minicamp time, it's been just a great time to really talk about football, fundamentals and also X's and O's.”
Known primarily for his expertise on defense — both as a player and as a position coach— Mayo is relishing the chance to work with all three units as his inaugural season on the Pats bench begins to unfold. Though his entire roster has yet to come together on the field, he is approaching moment with his players as an opportunity — proving that he is just as eager to learn as he is to impart his wisdom and counsel to a new iteration of Patriots.
With his players headed for a brief summer break, it is now Mayo’s duty to impart the sage-like wisdom necessary for keeping his team focused and dedicated to performing at their highest level when they reconvene for training camp in late July.
Though both the delivery and the verbiage may have changed, the message remains the same.
“The message is ‘don't lose the gains that you've made,’ and ‘either you're getting better or you're getting worse,’” Mayo said. “There is no maintaining, alright? So, continue to work out at home and make good decisions off the field. If you do that, you'll be okay.”