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Can Jerod Mayo actually coach? Patriots face a critical unknown originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Obsessed with quarterback drama, roster lamentations, and Game of Throne power dynamics, we’ve neglected to ask a fundamental question that could determine whether this upcoming Patriots season is run-of-the-mill bad or historically so: Can Jerod Mayo coach?
We have zero idea, and that could be as damaging as the woeful lack of talent. It may very well spell the difference between a five-win season and bags on our heads.
If the Patriots trail the Bengals 21-0 at halftime of the opener, will Mayo have answers? If the Patriots find themselves needing to maximize every second in the final two minutes of a close game, will he master the clock? When injuries inevitably require a pivot, will he land on solutions or sink below the waves?
It might be the biggest single unknown of this new era, and we’re off to a bad start.
Mayo botched the quarterback decision, turning what should’ve been a straightforward pronouncement of patience into a phony competition between veteran Jacoby Brissett and No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye. The job was Brissett’s all along as evidenced by his first-team practice reps, but Mayo mixed his messaging in a Vitamix set to pulverize, vacillating between “Jacoby’s our starter” and “Drake’s outplaying him.”
By the time he announced Brissett during a bizarre two-question press conference on Thursday, we were already doubting his leadership. Wonder what his players are thinking?
🔊 Patriots Talk Podcast: Brian Hoyer goes deep on decision to start Jacoby Brissett over Drake Maye | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
Making matters worse, it’s not like Mayo is replacing some bum. For all of Bill Belichick’s faults at the end from a stubbornness and personnel perspective, he never lost the ability to scheme the crap out of his team.
Last year’s overmatched Patriots nearly dropped the Eagles in the opener, gave the Super Bowl-champion Chiefs a scare, and…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jerod-mayo-actually-coach-patriots-152240091.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-08-30 15:22:40
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