Totally different reports and stories shared all through the offseason touched upon how first-year New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo embraced a “warmth before confidence” strategy to the job whereas serving because the alternative for residing legend Invoice Belichick.
In a mailbag revealed on Thursday, Patriots insider Chris Mason of MassLive revealed that Mayo did not fully abandon Belichick’s ways whereas making ready his group for the grueling season.
“Mayo ran a more durable coaching camp than the Patriots have seen prior to now few years,” Mason defined. “The gamers have been in pads continuously, Mayo made starters play loads in preseason video games, and practices frequently concluded with runs up the conditioning hill that Belichick constructed behind the backfields.”
The Patriots missed the playoffs thrice throughout the earlier 4 seasons earlier than group proprietor Robert Kraft confirmed Belichick the door in January. A plethora of analysts suggested that the Patriots merely wanted a brand new voice and a unique kind of chief.
With that stated, it should not be forgotten that Mayo played under Belichick from 2008-15. The 38-year-old joined Belichick’s teaching employees in 2019 and discovered a lot from the six-time Tremendous Bowl champion head coach about what to do and never do in the principle position.
As ESPN’s Mike Reiss talked about, New England security Jabrill Peppers stated shortly after the membership’s season-opening 16-10 win on the Cincinnati Bengals this previous Sunday that Mayo is “a gamers’ coach” and “a man you wish to play for.” Curiously, Mason believes one cause the Patriots earned that shocking victory is that Mayo “didn’t take it simple on his guys this summer time” amid numerous predictions forecasting that New England would finish the continued season close to or on the backside of the general league standings.
Former Patriots gamers usually made that includes for Belichick in the course of the franchise’s dynastic run sound downright miserable. Mayo stated on Wednesday he is a fan of “artificially creating adversity throughout apply,” however he in the end might need to be taught when to ease up on gamers assuming New England ultimately comes again all the way down to earth this fall.
The Patriots first will look to as soon as once more silence doubters after they host the 1-0 Seattle Seahawks this Sunday. As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed New England as a 3.5-point dwelling underdog for that contest.
