Perry: “A huge week” for Jerod Mayo and Patriots culture originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots will head west for a tough game against the San Francisco 49ers. While few expect them to pull off the upset as 10.5-point underdogs, it’s still a pivotal week for head coach Jerod Mayo and Co.
Mayo’s squad is coming off a dismal 24-3 loss to the New York Jets. The loss followed an uplifting win over the Cincinnati Bengals in their season opener and a nail-biting overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.
As the Patriots continue to search for their identity, our Phil Perry believes Sunday’s game marks a critical turning point for the new regime. He developed the subject in the last episode of Pats Podcast Next.
🔊 Next Pats: Drake Maye ‘stunning’ at Patriots practice, plus 49ers-Patriots preview | Listen and subscribe | Watch on YouTube
“Huge, huge week for Jerod Mayo,” Perry said. “This has been described to me by the players as a week at a crossroads. Now, why is that the case? And why is this specifically about Mayo? For me, this week is a cultural test. What type of culture have you built? It hasn’t been an incredibly long time since Jerod Mayo took over as CEO, but it’s been long enough that we can see signs of the culture he’s trying to build? implemented this Sunday in San Francisco.
“The reason I say that is because they laid an egg that we all saw Thursday night last week in New Jersey. They didn’t show up. No energy, no emotion, loss of fundamentals. Is this just a problem? Is this just a classic Thursday night failure? I think, in some ways, legitimate applications of the panic button in the greater New England area.
According to Perry, Mayo’s style hasn’t been any easier on players than Bill Belichick’s. A competitive effort Sunday would show the team is buying what Mayo is selling as the NFL’s new head coach.
“This is a huge week for Jerod Mayo and the culture he’s trying to establish,” Perry added. “Because it’s been a tough culture at times. I think it’s been the antithesis of what many thought it would be with Jerod Mayo. ‘Oh, he’s going to come in, he’s going to replace Bill Belichick, so it’s going to be a softer, gentler coaching staff of the New England Patriots, and they will let the players do what they want and they will allow the players to have a say. They have not led. which was one of the toughest camps they’ve had here in New England in years. His camp was much tougher than many others Bill Belichick has run in Foxboro, especially in recent seasons. ..
“Are they still, in all likelihood, going to lose? Yes, I think so. But if they can keep it close, if they can be a lot more competitive, if they can bring some kind of energy to put them in a position where they are a play or two away from potentially upsetting what many thought would be one of the best teams in football on the road this year, that’s a check for Jerod Mayo and the culture he’s trying to establish here in New England.
Perry goes on to explain why this is also a critical week for offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett and rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Also in the episode:
-
Making the Most of the Play-Action Pass
-
Could Drake Maye be ready to hit the ground running sooner than expected?
-
Patriots-49ers Preview with Jennifer Lee Chan.
