Jerod Mayo Sounds More Open To Starting Drake Maye After Week 5 Loss

Jerod Mayo previously spent his day-after-game press conferences doubling and tripling down on Jacoby Brissett as the New England Patriots' starting quarterback.

But Mayo's Monday morning sentiments were a bit different after New England's ugly loss to the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium.

"When I meet with the coaches today it's about we're in a solution-driven business and we aren't playing good football," Mayo said when asked if he anticipates talking about a quarterback change to Drake Maye.

That's far from what Mayo said last week when he claimed Brissett was 100% the starter.

"We have to look at every single unit and every single player and figure out how we use this roster to go out and win games," Mayo said.

Mayo followed up with a blunt assessment of Brissett's performance (18-for-34, 160 yards). Brissett's completion percentage (52.94%) and yards per attempt (4.71) were season lows.

"It just wasn't good enough," Mayo said. "I thought we played well enough defensively and on special teams to win the football game. As the quarterback -- and he understands this -- he touches the ball on every single play. And we didn't win the game or score enough points to win the game. I think he would echo that same sentiment that it wasn't good enough."

The offensive line was routinely (and understandably) blamed for Brissett's performances during the first four weeks. The group wasn't as bad against the Dolphins, though. New England's offensive line allowed 19 total pressures and one sack on 41 dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus. Patriots center Nick Leverett was responsible for 10 of those pressures and the lone sack.

The rest of the group was fine. Not great, but fine.

"I actually think they did pretty good job," Mayo said. "Obviously, there was pressure throughout the day but there were also some pockets that seemed pretty clean. You have to marry it all up as you elevate the quarterback spot and the offensive line on a per-play basis, but I did think they showed some fight yesterday."

Mayo lamented the offense's execution in key spots, specifically the final play of the game. Brissett completed a pass to tight end Hunter Henry, who was short of the goal line and surrounded by multiple Miami defenders. Henry's catch caused the clock to expire. DeMario Douglas was seen racing toward the sideline and Ja'Lynn Polk was in the end zone, both of which were better options for the veteran signal-caller.

"What I would say is our execution throughout the season, at end of half and end of game, just have to be better," Mayo said. "That's exactly what you saw at the end of the game when we ran out of time. Once again, it wasn't the call it was just we didn't execute the play call."

Mayo confirmed the return of wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and Mike Onwenu back at right guard are ways to build continuity. It seems like the Patriots will start an offensive line of left tackle Vederian Lowe, left guard Michael Jordan, Leverett, Onwenu and right tackle Demontrey Jacobs for a second consecutive game. That should add to the continuity, as well.

Perhaps it's even enough for Mayo to insert Maye into the mix. It feels like the first-year head coach is leaning that way more than in previous weeks.