HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO

Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, December 28, 2024

JM: This is what I told the players, there's really nothing good to take out of that game today. Just the lack of execution. Look, that's a good football team, and they're a well-coached football team. We just didn't play well enough in any phase of the game. No complementary football, and that's what you get. Fire away.

Q: Jerod, after what you guys were able to do in Buffalo, a short week and a lot of talk about coming out strong, how disappointing and frustrating, surprising is this effort from your team today?

JM: It's very disappointing, and it comes back to consistency. That's what it is, consistency.

Q: Jerod, before the game you said on the radio that Antonio Gibson would start at running back and then Rhamondre Stevenson was on the field. What went into the last-minute change there?

JM: That was just a coach's decision. Coach's decision.

Q: Did something change from the time you did the interview to the game to lead to that, or was there a miscommunication that maybe the message wasn't handed down?

JM: I understand your question. Look, it's a coach's decision. So I'll leave it at that.

Q: Jerod, you and DeMarcus Covington have described your defensive struggles this year to fundamentals, run fits and tackling. The Chargers just became the third team to score their season high in points against you, so looks like the defense has regressed. What gives you confidence that this defensive coaching staff is suited to develop this defense next season?

JM: Look, I have nothing but confidence in the coaching staff, and we'll get better. That's part of what we have to do. I have to look at the film to see some of those things you're talking about what happened on the field. But we've got to get better.

Q: Jerod, just curious, I do see Drake Maye over there, but obviously Drake suffered the head injury, had to be evaluated for one in the first quarter. You guys are down by 30 in the fourth quarter and you sent him out there for two drives. How much thought was there to pulling him from that game down 30 and trying to protect him?

JM: Again, look, we're trying to develop a quarterback, and he wants to play. He's a competitor. He went out there.

Q: Jerod, with one game left, how much pressure do you feel, and do you feel like you and your coordinators are coaching for your jobs?

JM: I'm always under pressure and it's been that way for a very long time, not just when I became the head coach of the Patriots. I'm okay. Look, I always do what's best for the team.

Q: The fans at home have never been shy about expressing their thoughts about the team. We've heard it with Mac Jones and we've heard it with Bailey Zappe. Were you cognizant of the chants that were being directed towards you at the end of the game today?

JM: Look, you hear those things, but at the same time, they paid to sit in the seats, and we've got to play better. If we play better, we don't have to hear that stuff.

Q: Jerod, can you describe for us the play where there was the fumble on the pitch from Drake Maye, and what was the design of that play?

JM: Yeah, look, I have to watch the film and see what exactly happened, but just the exchange, obviously, was the problem there. It was a turnover.

Q: A consistent message with you each week has been, "we have to get better, we have to pick things up." Obviously it feels like this may be trending in the wrong direction. Do you see it that way, and at what point do you feel like you need to see it get better?

JM: Yeah, to me, every game is unique. It's a game in itself. Look, I said at the beginning of this press conference, it's about consistency, which we are not right now.

Q: Jerod, I was curious, it looked like on that field goal right before halftime some of the players were signaling that it wasn't actually a good kick. I was curious kind of what you saw on that and your thoughts about that whole play.

JM: Yeah, to me, it really didn't matter what anyone saw. They look at all the scoring plays and they called it good, and we've just got to be able to move forward.

Q: Do you see this being more of a talent issue or a coaching issue because you did say you've got full confidence in the staff.

JM: Yeah, I have full confidence in the staff. I have full confidence in the players in there. I think again, it just comes down to being consistent across the board.

QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE

Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, December 28, 2024

Q: Drake, take us through your day, especially your health and what happened and coming back but also just how disappointing after what you guys were able to do in Buffalo was this effort today from you guys?

DM: Yeah, just kind of got my bell rung on the first drive. I don't know if any of y'all ever played and you got hit, but sometimes you get your bell rung, and you've got to shake back. I guess the spotter called down again and had to pass some tests. I feel good, I still feel good, and then I was good to go. Just the game, things weren't going our way. I kind of felt like in Arizona where I couldn't get in a rhythm offensively. Obviously the pitch was unfortunate. Just had a blitz off the edge that just happened to be a good call on their part, and then just felt like all day we were – nothing they were doing. We've just got to play cleaner football. We've got to help our defense out when they're moving the ball well. Staying on the field and time of possession was pretty one-sided.

Q: Drake, you were passionate defending Jerod Mayo and Alex Van Pelt when you were asked recently. Can you just explain what in your view they're doing well that gives you hope and promise for the future?

DM: Yeah, I think they're still bringing it every week. I think that's the biggest thing you see. They're not quitting. They're still coaching as hard since week one. They're still studying film as hard. We're still meeting as hard.

I think the biggest thing was you don't see those guys quitting. I think the score may not tell that today, but I feel like the guys are still wanting to win. We're still leaving it out there every week, and I think that was kind of my message to the team. Man, just give it all you got. It's our last two games, and this one today, so we've got one more chance next week, so just leave it all out there.

Q: Coach was asked about you staying in the game late, and he said, again, we're trying to develop a quarterback. He also said that you're a competitor and so forth. Was there a discussion late in the game about you staying in or coming out earlier than you did?

DM: I wanted to be in the game. I think that's the biggest thing. I wanted to be in the game. I want to be out there with those guys. If our guys are out there, I want to be out there with them. Shoot, may see something that may help us next week out there.

Q: Was there a discussion, though, or is it just an understanding?

DM: Understanding. Yeah, just understanding.

Q: Drake, is there sort of a fine line when you turn into a ball carrier like you did on the play where you got your bell rung of trying to make the yardage but also, again, we've talked about this, about trying to protect yourself?

DM: Yeah, for sure. I think probably should have just thrown it away or played the next series. It was 3rd down so I was trying to get a 1st, and I guess I stepped out of bounds before, but I definitely think in the first quarter of a game where 3rd down is my mentality to go get it, but at the same time you've got to know kind of the situation.

Q: Drake, I'm just curious, on the touchdown to Demario Douglas, were you aware when you took that shot, was that the play call, or was that a result of kind of seeing that you had a free play based on the penalty that was called?

DM: Yeah, kind of seeing a free play. We worked on it this week, and just give those guys a chance when we know we've got a penalty to give those guys a chance. A negative play on a free play doesn't hurt, and I think the biggest thing is not to take a hit, so I tried to get it off before I took a hit, and Pop made a great play.

Q: Drake, over the last month, the team may not have been winning games, but there was a feeling there was development, there was growth taking place, and the group was heading in the right direction. This result obviously kind of hits in a different way. How do you feel overall about the growth and development of the team overall, and do you have questions about whether you are trending in the right direction?

DM: Yeah, I think Jon Jones hit it in the locker room after. I think it's just two different teams that's showed up with us between this week and last week, and I think two playoff teams we've faced and we see what we can do against a playoff team last week, and I just feel like it wasn't there this week. I think just look back, self-evaluate, look myself in the mirror. I definitely left some plays out there, so everybody has got to look themselves in the mirror and say, hey, am I doing whatever we need to do to be on the same page and play good football. I think it's in there. I think it's in store for us. Like I said last week, we've got people in here that can make plays, good players in this league, so we've just got to put it all together and find a way to do more and get on the same page offensively and kind of get the ball rolling. I feel like that's kind of the tale of two tales when we're rolling well and when we're not we're kind of stagnant.

Q: Coach Mayo mentioned trying to develop you, develop a quarterback. What was your mindset in the two series you played in the fourth quarter? Do you feel like at this point in your NFL career you're able to protect yourself out there? You know how to do that without compromising competitive integrity?

DM: For sure. I think the second part of your question, definitely an even balance between being competitive and protecting myself out there, especially in a scenario like that, but at the same time you want to go down there and move the ball. Want to move the ball, want to get some juices flowing for these guys and make everybody, at least offensively, say hey, we can still move the ball on these guys and go score. So that's the mentality. First part of your question was –

Q: The value of those two series.

DM: Yeah, the value. I want to be out there. Like I said, I want to be out there with those guys. At the end of the day, those guys up front, they're battling their butts off, so I'm not going to be out there and go to the coach and say, "hey, take me out." That's not me.

Q: Drake, what happened on the toss to Demario Douglas, the fumble there?

DM: Yeah, we've practiced the play for a long time. I felt like we were executing it well. They happened to bring the nickel off the edge, and I think he just kind of – right by Pop, and that's unfortunate. Just a good call on their part. I've got to give him a better ball to catch. That falls back on me. I think kind of Pop readjusted his thing a little bit, his route or his path just because of the blitzer off the edge. But yeah, we just got to give him a chance – can't turn the ball over.

Q: Drake, I was just curious with Cole Strange, obviously Ben Brown was out today, so we saw Cole at center. What's it been like working with him and just how was that being out on the field with him for this first game today?

DM: Yeah, I thought he handled it well. A lot of pressure on him. His first start at center, it's a different job than playing guard. I was proud of the way he worked, proud of the way he fought. Got to watch the tape and probably go over some little things that maybe we can do better, but he caught the guys offsides. That's really him doing that. He snapped the ball, and really credit to him.

Q: Drake, the first play you came back into the game you scrambled nine yards and took another hard hit there. Is that the kind of message or signal you try to pass to your teammates that we need to play tough, we need to play competitive game?

DM: Yeah, anytime I'm telling the doctors I'm good to go. I'm going to come back and give it all I've got. Maybe could have had Boutte on a crossing route there that I could have thrown it, but ended up getting a flag. But I think that's the message to those guys, hey, I'm coming back in, I'm ready to go. Kind of the same thing when I came back from concussion. I'll be the same player. If I feel like I'm not 100 percent ready to go and the best me out there, I won't put myself back out there.

ADDITIONAL PLAYERS

Jonathan Jones, CB

(On what he said to the team and how much a game like this disappoints, frustrates and surprises him after what the team did in Buffalo)

"The speech I kind of gave last week after the game was just thinking that we showed who we could be. We came out, played together all three units. Obviously, we still came up short, but just how guys came out and competed. As opposed to this week, we never got any momentum. We seem to be a team that if we get no momentum early, we don't know how to fight back. Just learning how to get momentum earlier and continue that through the game."

(On what he thinks is lacking from the team when they fall behind and why they struggle when they fall behind)

"We always talk about complementary football, and I think people think of offense, defense, and special teams. But just energy. It's an unwritten factor of how much momentum and energy carries over. You know, make a big stop on defense and then get the ball back, score when you get the first possession on offense, things like that continue to push you through the game. When we can do those things early, we have success. I don't want to use the same excuse, everyone says, 'Oh, it's a young team.' But it's just learning that everything's not going to go your way. That's in football, in life, how you respond to that adversity is what type of team you're going to have."

(On the key for the Chargers' efficiency on third and fourth down to extend drives)

"They did a good job of game planning if I'm being honest with you. They set a lot of picks, a lot of early man coverage and even when we were able to be in zone, to try to pass off some picks, they were able to kind of check the ball down, be in manageable third and fourth downs to get it in zone coverage. They had a really, really good game plan on some of the things that they did. A lot of them were one-hitters that they found success in. The red area play to Ladd [McConkey], he circles in to go crosser and then circles back, that was a one-hitter for them that didn't hit on that. They got the right coverage, right call and they were able to have some success."

(On the matchup with Ladd McConkey)

"They use him kind of like Los Angeles does with their guys, with their motion and setting picks. Every play, you're fighting through picks, fighting through motion, so that's something they do a good job of. We knew that was going to be something they did, they did a very, very good job of, like I said, setting picks, getting the timing down. I think on the first third down that they missed, him [Herbert] having to force it out early kind of led to that one being incomplete. But they did a good job setting a lot of screens, depending on how we were trying to align in man coverage."

DeMario Douglas, WR

(On struggling as a team when getting behind)

"Right. A team like that, that's a good team and definitely a playoff-caliber team. For us, being a young team, it's a great learning lesson that in the league, we need to stay ahead of the game. Being behind is just hard, especially with a good team like that."

(On the disconnect with the team based on a strong effort last week versus this week)

"The Chargers probably wanted it more. I think they needed this game to get to the playoffs, and I feel like this game that they came and they played complementary football all around. I felt like that's what we failed at. We didn't play complementary football. When the defense got a stop, we didn't go score or other way around. So, complementary football in this league is very important, and we all needed to play together."

(On his passion for getting it right with this team and what his message to the rest of the group would be)

"I feel like this game right here, just alone, should have a bad taste in everybody's mouth, just because we lost at home. I feel like us being a young team, we should go into next year like, 'Man, we dislike losing.' I dislike losing, and I feel like my two years I've been losing, and I feel like it's time to make a change. We've got some pieces, we'll add more pieces next year, and I feel like we could come out and do something. I'm trying to be in the playoffs, I'm trying to go for a run and have a winning season. I'm just tired of losing for real."

Kendrick Bourne, WR

(On the game)

"They're a good team. You could feel that they're a good team, and they came and played like it, a playoff team. Last week we played a good team, thinking we built some momentum off that, and we just didn't show it today. It just sucks. It's frustrating, I can feel it. You just don't ever want to go out there and put no tape on the field like that. Going for it on fourth down and not converting, it was just a weird game. Just got to be better."

(On the focus for the last week)

"Yeah, division game, we just played them last week, so very familiar with what they do. I kind of said it last week, we always play good against Buffalo, and it seems like we have a different sense of urgency, I wish we could've had that today. Just going into the week, working, game planning, getting our bodies prepared for a good opponent. I don't know where they stand in the playoffs standing or whatever, but just trying to make it tough for them. Not just thinking that you can come in here and walk over us, kind of like what happened today. Trying to avoid what happened today."

Deatrich Wise Jr., DL

(On the overall feeling coming out of today's game)

"It was tough. I feel like we had a lot of things going but I will give credit that we kept fighting until the end. I think it was getting the ball out fast and there was a lot of pressure up front, they were double teaming, and they had a lot of protection. One thing we have to do next week is move faster."

(On the overall thoughts in putting together another week)

"At this point, it's pride. No matter what you do, your resume is out there on the field so what you do out there will last forever. So, as we head out there next week, we are still going to treat it like it's Week One. We will train, study all the concepts and give it all we got. We've got one more game left."

(On how much he instills pride in his teammates as a veteran and leader)

"I take it all on my shoulders. Whatever I have to do to help motivate and inspire our guys as we head into more one week."

Kayshon Boutte, WR

(On how tough this loss was)

"Obviously the game did not go the way we wanted it to go. It was tough but I liked the way everybody felt throughout the whole game. Regardless of win, lose or draw we didn't stop until the clock read zero."

(On what makes him confident that things are heading in the right direction for the Patriots)

"I'll just say it all starts with Drake [Maye]. Everybody is confident in what he can do and it's just about us executing what we need to do. It takes all of us to make everything work, so everybody has to be on the same page. Even if one dude misses his job or misses his play it's not going to go the way we want it to go."

Cole Strange, OL

(On what it meant to him to get back out there)

"It meant a lot. It was a long time coming but I think it's really a mistake to get married into being proud of myself for that because I'm not really special. There's guys all over the league who got injured and come back faster than I did, so I've really got to move past that, and I really just need to improve and come back next week and work on being better."

(On what makes him confident the team is on the right path)

"Well, I think if you don't feel that way, you shouldn't be in this league. I just feel like we are on the right path. I have visions long term for myself and for this team. I think if guys take accountability and buy in – I just have faith in the guys and in the system and I feel like we can turn it around. I know I have to do a lot. A lot of that is on me to help it go in a different direction."