Mike Reiss, ESPN Workers Author
LONDON — New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo did not mince phrases to explain his crew’s sixth straight defeat — a 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
“We’re a smooth soccer crew throughout the board,” Mayo mentioned. “We discuss what makes a tricky soccer crew, and that is having the ability to run the ball, having the ability to cease the run and that is having the ability to cowl kicks. We did none of these.”
The Patriots opened a 10-0 lead after which fell aside. They totaled 38 dashing yards, allowed 171 dashing yards as Jacksonville at one level ran 16 straight instances, and surrendered a 96-yard punt return for a landing late within the second quarter.
Getting into Sunday, the Patriots had gained 59 consecutive video games — since 2017 — when main by 10 factors or extra, based on ESPN Analysis.
Some gamers mentioned after the sport that Mayo’s critique wasn’t a shock, as he advised them the identical within the locker room after the sport.
“Coach Mayo shouldn’t be going to return in right here and say one thing to you guys that he did not say to us within the locker room,” mentioned rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who was one of many crew’s vibrant spots after ending 26 of 37 for 276 yards and two touchdowns. “He is all the time preaching being robust. I believe he does an important relaying the message to us and the blokes know.”
Maye relayed that nine-year veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones additionally shared a message with gamers within the locker room, saying all of them wanted to “discover one thing” and “man up” as a result of “what we’re doing shouldn’t be ok.”
Veteran linebacker Jahlani Tavai agreed with Mayo’s evaluation.
“He mentioned it nicely and we acquired to look within the mirror and perceive what he is saying,” Tavai mentioned. “If we’re OK being smooth, then some folks will fall off, and the remainder of us who need to show that mistaken will step up and ensure this does not occur.”
Added veteran tight finish Hunter Henry: “That wasn’t what we need to be in any respect. That was not the id we need to be.”
The Patriots (1-6), who return house to face the New York Jets subsequent Sunday, have slipped since opening the common season with a 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mayo mentioned he is “unsure” what has led to the Patriots changing into a “smooth” crew.
“That is one thing I’ve to consider,” Mayo mentioned. “We’ve got an extended flight again. It isn’t like unexpectedly we did one thing completely different and now we’re a smooth soccer crew. It is simply the mentality that we’ve got to get again within the guys.”
The Patriots have had seven completely different beginning models on the offensive line — a results of accidents and ineffective play — which has maybe contributed to a few of their struggles working the ball.
Defensively, they have been with out defensive sort out Christian Barmore (blood clots), linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (torn pectoral muscle) and security Jabrill Peppers (commissioner exempt listing), however gamers say that is not an excuse for his or her disappointing play towards the run.
And that is the second straight week that particular groups allow them to down, after Houston efficiently challenged them on six kickoff returns final week.
“We’ve got to take that non-public,” mentioned Tavai, who performs on the punt protection unit. “That may’t occur. That is unacceptable.”
Mayo, in his first yr after taking up for Invoice Belichick, acknowledged that having a “smooth crew” displays on him and his workers.
“First, it begins with me,” Mayo mentioned. “It is about simply the mentality of going again to having a tricky soccer crew. I simply should do a greater job.”
