The New England Patriots are undefeated under head coach Jerod Mayo. Sure, it’s only one week, but the Patriots raised some eyebrows Sunday as the new-look team scored a major upset on the road over the Cincinnati Bengals.
How did Mayo react to his first win (and first Gatorade bath) as a head coach? Here’s everything we heard from him at the podium after the game at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
Opening Statement
Mayo: “All right. Well, I thought the guys went out there and competed hard. We talked about establishing the run game and being able to stop their running game, make them one-dimensional. We did a good job with that. I would say we still have a lot of plays out there, but we’re gonna enjoy this one on the flight home and get ready for next week. But very proud. My message to the players — they gave me the Gatorade shower and things like that — but, without them, I’m nothing. I made sure they knew that. They crossed the white lines. I always talk about empowering the players to go out there and play. I always talk about awareness really being the number one thing and those guys taking ownership. So all the praise goes to those guys. They did a great job.
On his first game, first win as a head coach
Mayo: “Yeah, the day started off solid, just like any other day. Walking off the field though — really, getting in that victory formation, just kind of feel the rush over yourself. I’m going to enjoy this one here for the next couple hours. But truth be told, it’s a ‘What have you done for me lately?’ type of business. So, time to turn the page, not trying to rain on anyone’s parade, but turn the page and get ready for the next game.”
On making big decisions, fourth-down decisions as a head coach
Mayo: “It was just part of — I’ve been playing football my entire life and I was a great Madden player back in the day. But I understand situational football. I would also say our staff understands situational football. We talk through those things. Like I said,all week, I have to make the ultimate decision. Felt good about the way it operated today.
On the way his defense played
Mayo: “Yeah, they came out on fire. We challenged those guys. Everyone’s talking about, Cincy’s offense and how explosive they are, and they answered the call. Up front, started up front. All those defensive linemen, those guys did a good job controlling the line of scrimmage. The second-level players, the LBs, they did a good job coming downhill, couple plays in the pass game and then really our safeties and corners, those guys did a good job covering. So it was a total unit victory.”
On Rhamondre Stevenson’s strong performance
Mayo: “I challenged Rhamondre in the spring. I said, ‘Look, you don’t get a lot of love, a lot of hype.’ But I’ve always believed that he’s one of the best running backs in the league. When we signed him to the extension, there was no one more happy than me, because I know what he’s capable of. He showed that today. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. He can run, break tackles and do all those things. He’s a great player.”
On the plan of “defense and running the ball” getting them the win
Mayo: “It was great. You always come in with a plan. You know, they say ‘God laughs at plans. What Mike Tyson says, ‘Everyone has a plan until you get hit in the mouth.’ But in the first half, we were averaging 6.1 yards per carry and able to control the front. Defensively, we did a good job against their run game until the second half — there were a few runs — but it started up there.”
On relying on the running game and offensive line
“I would say the way we were running the ball. I felt pretty confident about that. From the beginning to the end, really, our offensive line did a great job, led by David Andrews and (Mike Onwenu). Those guys did a great job having (Vederian) Lowe here as well. It was good to get him in the game. They were moving bodies and that’s what it’s about. So when I talk about fundamentals, that’s part of it. Defensively, block construction. Offensively, opening up gaps, opening up holes and those guys did that today.”
On the significance of getting his first win in Cincinnati, where Robert Kraft also got his first win with the Patriots
Mayo: “It was special. It was special and I just want to thank the Kraft family, Robert, Jon — all of them — Daniel, Josh, just for the opportunity and really for not getting in the middle of anything that we do football-wise. They’ve pretty much turned the keys over to Eliot (Wolf) and myself and the rest of the staff. I’m just appreciative of the opportunity. I’m glad that we came in here today and represented the Krafts in a good light.”
On Jacoby Brissett’s performance and decision-making
Mayo: “It was great. He made plays with his legs. He made plays with his arm and he just played a — he’s a tough guy. I’m telling you, he took some hits in the game. I’m just like, ‘Man, get up.’ But he did everything that we asked him to do in the week and we came out of here with the victory.”
On whether he got any souveneirs from his first win as a head coach
Mayo: “Yeah, Mr. Kraft gave me a ball. Absolutely, absolutely, keeping that one. Then I also gave Eliot a ball. So I think it’s a special special moment.
On who helped him get to this point in his career
Mayo: “A lot of people talk about how they’re self-made and things like that. But we’ve all had people that have helped us along the way. I definitely think about my family. I think about my grandparents. I think about my Pop Warner coaches and all the people who instilled — not only the X’s and O’s of football — but also just how to operate in life. One thing you guys will notice about me. I mean, you can write whatever you want to write. I’m pretty much stoic. I try not to get too high, try not to get too low, and that’s always been my mentality, from a little kid up until now.
On getting his first-ever Gatorade bath after the win
Mayo: “It was my first Gatorade bath. Yeah, it was cold. It was cold. I felt worse for my shoes. I was like, ‘Ah, these are done.’”
On winning despite being a major underdog. Did that affect them?
Mayo: “Not at all, not at all. We try not to hear anything on the outside and I told those guys all week, ‘It’s all about us in this building.’ There’s no one going to come in here on a white shining horse and save the day. I said, ‘Look, you guys are here for a reason and that’s all we got. That’s all we need.’”
On how it feels winning as a coach vs. winning as a player
Mayo: “I’ve talked about my calling a lot. Winning as a coach is huge. Once again, not for what it does for me, but what it does for those players out there. I just can’t say enough about the players.”
On the team playing complementary football in each phase of the game
Mayo: “Those guys just playing hand in hand and we had a plan. They knew the plan. It was articulated well throughout the week and they executed. You could have all the mantras and things that you want. But on game day, it all comes down to execution. You can have all the rah-rah speeches. It’s all about discipline. Those are the things that hopefully that we can continue to build on going forward.”
On him stressing conditioning for the game
Mayo: “Yeah, it showed up. In the run game, it was just like, ‘Hey, keep going.’ I did talk about this on Friday when you looked at those other games and conditioning definitely showed up and I would say, our guys are in good condition.”
On preparing for the home opener next week, and his message for fans
Mayo: “I would say that, for the fans, hopefully they see what we’re trying to build. I talk about, ‘It takes time,’ and ‘We’re still not where we want to be.’ But we’re headed in the right direction.
On whether practicing in pads and having live tackling showed up in today’s game
Mayo: “I’m not sure. I asked some friends how the Ravens and how the Chiefs practice, how their camp went. It was like totally ends of the spectrum, and I would say those were two teams where I was like, ‘Man, they’re getting tired here,’ and that’s why I was so heavy on that with our team. I’m not sure (how) to answer that question.”
On being able to run the ball out on the final drive
Mayo: ” I mean, there comes a point in time where they know we’re going to run it, we know we’re going to run it and all the fans know that we’re going to run it — and we’re gonna have to pick up four yards. That’s the challenge that I always offer those guys and. look, it’s really man-on-man in those instances. It has nothing to do, really, with x’s and O’s. It’s about dominating the player across from you, and those guys did that.
On what emotions he’s feeling, despite admittedly being “stoic”
Mayo: “Oh, I’m absolutely happy. I don’t want you to take this whole stoicism as being unhappy. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m definitely happy to get out of here with the win and happy for the players in the organization
On limiting the Bengals passing game
Mayo: “We just kept it moving. We ran a bunch of different coverages, a bunch of different fronts and then there in the second half, there were a lot more quick passes. They were trying to get them in a rhythm. That’s how I felt. That’s how I was seeing the game. He had a couple big plays. But we said, ‘Look, if we win the turnover battle, we don’t give big plays, we’ll be OK.’ Let these guys drive, and that’s what we did.”
The Patriots are back in action next Week in a Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at home at 1 p.m. EST.
