Jerod Mayo is making a surprising decision for training camp in his first season as the New England Patriots head coach. All eyes will be on the news coming from their training camp this summer, marking the first non-offseason Patriots practices not led by Bill Belichick since 1999.
The Biggest Decision for Jerod Mayo’s Staff
The main battle in training camp will be between veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the No. 3 pick in the draft, Drake Maye. Brissett will start training camp as QB1, but a strong performance by Maye could allow the former North Carolina standout to start in Week 1. However, Brissett performed better during OTAs, and many analysts believe it’s in Maye’s best interest to sit out this season.
The second biggest decision for Mayo’s staff will be determining who Brissett or Maye will throw to. The Patriots have a wealth of talent on defense, but the receiving corps and offensive line have been issues for New England in recent seasons.
Mayo’s Unique Approach to Training Camp
Mayo will introduce an extra element to their competition at training camp—heat. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, Mayo will have the Patriots start their practices later in the morning than they did under Belichick. Specifically, practices will begin at 11 a.m. ET, compared to the 9:30 a.m. start time during Belichick’s final seasons. This change allows more time for meetings before practice and exposes the team to higher temperatures, testing their conditioning and mental toughness.
Heat Exhaustion Concerns
Practicing later in the morning means the players will face higher temperatures in late July and August. This will challenge their conditioning and mental acuity, as heat exhaustion is a real concern. The Patriots staff and roster will have to manage the increased fatigue that may carry over into later meetings or the next day’s activities.
Jerod Mayo’s decisions and strategies will be closely watched as the Patriots adapt to this new era.
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