Do you want the good news from Jerod Mayo's Monday morning press conference? Frankly, as the 2-7 Patriots continue to be mired at or near the bottom of the NFL standings, aside from Drake Maye, there's been precious little to be excited about. However, as the first-year head coach neared the end of his media session, he offered this on a possible Christian Barmore return to practice.
"We're getting close," he said.
Barmore has been on the non-football injury list after being diagnosed with blood clots at the start of training camp. A month ago, Mayo had indicated that the big defensive tackle could make his way back on the field this season, assuming he cleared certain medical checkpoints. Barmore has been frequently seen in the locker room, especially recently.
That would be a massive lift for a defense that has scuffled mightily without its best front-seven player. The Pats are currently 30th in DVOA (the only two worse teams are the Panthers and Jaguars) and have been gashed on the ground for seven straight weeks, including allowing 167 to the Titans. While Barmore is more of a pass rusher than a run defender, he made great strides in that latter department a season ago, and the team rewarded him with the wealthiest non-Tom Brady contract in franchise history (guarantee-wise). Put him next to Davon Godchaux; yards should be harder to come by. Then there's his impact against the pass. Barmore had a career-high 8.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits in 2023-24. So yeah, they miss him.
Meanwhile, Mayo touched upon a number of other topics in what I would call a mixed-bag press conference.
Opening statement:
"Going back and watching the film and just seeing plays that were left out there on the field. I always say it's not just one play. Everyone's going to either be stuck on the interception at the end of the game, or to go for it on two here, or not to go for it on two. Those are definitely those hindsight things that I oftentimes think about, that we prepare for throughout the week and during the flow of the game. Obviously, I'm very proud of the way the locker room has stuck together. It was a battle. Anytime you go into overtime on the road like that, it takes a lot. I would say it takes a lot, especially when you lose the game. Proud of the way the guys showed some toughness. Unfortunately, we weren't able to walk away with the win."
BSJ analysis: How did Mayo define toughness in previous weeks? Run. Stop the run. Cover kicks. The only box his team checked off yesterday was the latter, and if not for Maye's legs, the overall rushing totals would have been - are - embarrassing. Yes, there were some big hits, but smacking someone once every 10 plays or so isn't a sign of toughness; it's a sign of inconsistency.
On why they chose to kick into the wind in overtime (Maye had mentioned the wind was a factor in his game-ending interception) and Joey Slye had missed a long field goal in that direction in the first half:
"So the wind, at the time, I would say the wind had changed. So, the wind had changed from the beginning of the game to the end of the game. So that's what happened."
BSJ analysis: In speaking with several Titans beat writers, they, too, didn't understand the decision to defend that side, and agreed the wind was more robust at that end of the field. While Maye doesn't have Josh Allen's arm, that final pass died despite the quarterback having a good base. Would that have been the case at the other end? We'll never know, but that wasn't a second guess; that was a first guess the moment they decided to defend that end.
On not going for two after Maye's touchdown pass to Rhamondre Stevenson with no time left in the fourth quarter, and why he looked back on the decision (as he mentioned in his opening statement).
"Because we lost the game. It's that simple because we lost the game. You go back earlier in the season; we went for two. We didn't get it. You get criticized, and you kick the field goal here, and you get criticized. I'm always going to do what I think is best for the team. I think we can talk about analytics and all those things, which we do use those things. At the same time, there's also a flow to the game. As a head coach, ultimately, the decision and the consequence lays on me."
Was fatigue a factor that played into the 2-point decision?
"Yeah, there are multiple factors that went into it. Again, I just did what I thought was best for the team."
BSJ analysis: I have zero problem with the choice. Maye had just run around like a chicken with his head cut off on the final drive, one that covered 50 yards in less than two minutes (with no timeouts). His offensive line had pass blocked for 12 seconds on the TD pass. Stevenson had covered nearly 60 yards on the play as he tried to, and eventually did, get open. Make a freaking stop when it matters. They couldn't.
On why they switched up the starting offensive line when, at least from a pass-blocking perspective, their week seven lineup (Lowe, Jordan, Brown, Onwenu, Jacobs) had a season-low pressure rate:
"I thought that was the best thing to do for the team. Look, they have a good front. 98 (Jeff Simmons) definitely is a problem. I thought that was just the best thing to do for the offense."
BSJ analysis: Did they not know Simmons was a problem going into the game? And did they think rookie Layden Robinson, who has been hurt and hasn't played much recently, was a good matchup? He clearly wasn't, which is why the Pats then re-jiggered the line combo later in the first half, moving Mike Onwenu back to right guard and re-inserting Demontray Jacobs at right tackle.
And, lastly, why have they been having such a hard time running the football (with their running backs) recently - 85 yards on 49 carries in the last three games:
"It starts up front. Appreciate you guys. (laughter - end scene)."
BSJ analysis: Awkward walk-off. Perhaps Mayo didn't want to accuse his line of playing soft again. But they can't move anyone, and all that talk of body blows after the win over the Jets was well-phrased but missed the mark. The Pats offense is playing with one hand tied behind its back, and the hand it has - Maye - is being tasked with an incredible burden.