Jerod Mayo is making an unusual decision for training camp in his first season as head coach of the New England Patriots. Many eyes will be on the news coming out of their training camp this summer. These will be the Patriots’ first non-offseason practices without Bill Belichick since 1999.
The Biggest decision for Jerod Mayo’s staff
The key duel in training camp will be between veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the third pick in the draft, Drake Maye. Brissett will enter training camp as the starting quarterback, but if Maye performs well, the former North Carolina standout might start in Week 1. However, Brissett was the better quarterback during OTAs, and many pundits believe Maye would be better off sitting this season.
The second most important decision for Mayo’s staff will be who Brissett or Maye will throw to. The Patriots have a lot of quality on defense, but their receiving corps and offensive line have been concerns in recent seasons.
Mayo will add a new dimension to their competition at training camp: heat.
The New England Patriots will practice later in the morning
According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, Mayo will have the Patriots begin practices later in the morning than they did at the end of Belichick’s tenure.
Mayo is putting his own stamp on the Patriots by scheduling training camp practices at 11 a.m. ET. During Belichick’s final seasons, the squad practiced around 9:30 a.m. Perhaps there is now more time for meetings before practice, and temperatures will climb slightly, putting the team’s conditioning to the test.
Heat exhaustion?
The heat will put the participants’ physical and mental abilities to the test. Heat fatigue is real. The Patriots’ staff and roster will face hotter temperatures in late July and August. They may have to deal with feeling a little more weary after practices, which could continue over into subsequent meetings or the next day.