The Patriots opting to rent former New England linebacker (2008-2015) and former linebackers coach (2019-2023) Jerod Mayo to be Invoice Belichick’s successor as their head coach stunned some, however not a few his former teammates.
Each retired tight Rob Gronkowski and retired vast receiver Julian Edelman clocked Mayo’s soccer acumen early on of their time as his Patriots teammates.
“Jerod Mayo was only a phenomenon on the soccer subject with lining each one up and in addition within the assembly rooms as nicely,” Gronkowski mentioned on Edelman’s “Video games With Names” podcast on Tuesday. “He knew the place each participant wanted to be throughout any scenario that occurred on the defensive aspect of the ball. He knew learn how to learn offenses, he knew when to name out performs, and he was all the time right when he’d name a play out, or else he was simply making the entire protection conscious of when that play was going to be known as. … He was simply all the time alert, and you might all the time inform that was going to translate into the following part of his life.”
Mayo, who earned two Professional Bowl picks, a 2010 First-Crew All-Professional nod and the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the 12 months award in eight seasons with New England after being chosen tenth general within the 2008 NFL Draft, translated the traits he placed on show as an on-field chief of Belichick’s protection as a coach underneath Belichick.
“Jerod Mayo was the Tom Brady on the defensive aspect of the ball,” Gronkowski mentioned.
Since Mayo turned a New England assistant again in 2019, the Patriots protection ranks third within the NFL in scoring protection (19.2 factors per sport allowed), third in complete protection (312.8 factors per sport allowed), second in third down protection (35.8% conversion fee allowed) and fourth in crimson zone protection (53.5% crimson zone landing fee allowed). The Patriots have the bottom missed deal with fee in the whole league (8.9%) since Mayo got here aboard 5 seasons in the past.
“When he was taking part in, that is what what made him a greater participant, too,” Gronkowski mentioned. “… If you realize the place to be on the soccer subject, that may make you a greater participant since you’re already in place to make the play.”
Edelman, a three-time Tremendous Bowl champion and Tremendous Bowl LIII MVP, moonlighted on protection within the secondary in 2011, and he talked about feeling way more assured taking part in on that aspect of the ball after a chat with Mayo.
“I all the time had to take a look at Jerod,” Edelman mentioned. “I knew what I needed to do, however I would all the time ask to get the approval from Jerod, as a result of if Jerod mentioned that, you knew it was proper.”