Patriots' Jerod Mayo clarifies his Drake Maye 'outplayed' Jacoby Brissett remark; was he really appropriate?

The New England Patriots chosen their beginning quarterback for Week 1, and it wasn’t the participant that head coach Jerod Mayo mentioned performed one of the best throughout preseason. The primary 12 months head coach made a remark throughout the preseason, saying that rookie drake Maye “outplayed” veteran Jacoby Brissett.

That remark made many suppose that Maye may have a stable probability on the beginning job, regardless of all offseason trying just like the function was Brissett’s to lose.

Mayo caught some warmth for that remark, particularly after his extraordinarily brief press convention when he introduced the crew’s starter and it wasn’t the QB he had praised not lengthy earlier than. He has now clarified his feedback and what the crew’s plan was forward of the season.

“I ought to have given extra context to the remark on the time. Drake had extra enjoying time within the preseason than Jacoby, and that was intentional,” Mayo mentioned on WEEI.

Throughout Mayo’s press convention final week, he initially mentioned “we” when referring to who chosen the starter, however shortly corrected himself, saying “I.” Whereas Mayo could also be extra collaborative with the entrance workplace than Invoice Belichick was, he made it clear that the choice nonetheless goes via him.

“As a head coach, I’ve the ultimate say on [starting, depth chart decisions]. I do worth the opinions of others, and Eliot [Wolf]’s opinion is certainly valued. However as a head coach, I’ve the ultimate say with the quarterback.”

What is correct for the crew now, might not be proper for the crew down the road, even in a number of weeks. Mayo mentioned so long as Brissett is enjoying nicely he’ll stay the starter for the 2024 season, however there may be all the time the possibility that they make a change. 

“For those who’re not enjoying nicely, if he is not giving our crew one of the best probability to win video games, regardless of the place, then we have now to take a look at totally different choices. And I feel that is wholesome stress. I feel that is wholesome competitors,” Mayo mentioned. 

Maye is undoubtedly the crew’s future, however proper now it is about balancing what’s proper within the “brief time period and the long run on the identical time.” The No. 3 general decide was within the competitors and simply did not do sufficient within the offseason to persuade Mayo, if Mayo was really the one one making the decision, that he was prepared for the massive league.

The Patriots even have vital issues heading into the season, particularly their offensive line, which is hard for a rookie to play behind. 

The crew plans to proceed to develop Maye and permit him to progress.

“We discuss, not solely within the sport, but additionally in practices, getting these psychological reps, and he’ll know what each play is. He’ll make his checks and stuff on the sideline and proceed to develop that manner. And he’ll develop via apply. He’ll get reps nonetheless with the primary crew and likewise the present crew.”

Whether or not Mayo’s determination was the precise name is unattainable to inform and both manner there may very well be “what ifs” with the primary spherical decide. Let’s take a deeper dive into their performances within the preseason, to find out precisely how they in contrast:

Brissett’s preseason efficiency:

Quarterback score: 14.6
Completions/makes an attempt: 5 of 14
Completion proportion: 35.7
Passing yards: 36
Passing touchdowns: 0
Drop-backs: 15

Maye’s preseason efficiency:

Quarterback score: 86.9
Completions/makes an attempt: 21 of 34
Completion proportion: 61.8
Passing yards: 192
Passing touchdowns: 1
Speeding touchdowns: 1
Drop-backs: 38

Maye has Brissett beat in each class, so Mayo’s “outplayed” feedback weren’t a far attain. Even when the plan was to play Maye extra, Brissett’s efficiency would not give a lot hope for the season. The preseason would not inform the whole story and Mayo has emphasised the significance of apply up to now and simply how a lot that will go into the starter determination.