Jerod Mayo’s blunt assessment of the New England Patriots defense after that Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans certainly reflects his no-nonsense approach. As a former standout linebacker and now an influential coach, Mayo knows how vital fundamentals and tackling are to defensive success, and his frustration is understandable. Giving up 41 points, especially to a team like the Texans, is a major red flag, and Mayo isn’t one to sugarcoat things.
His “you should feel like crap” comment shows that he’s holding the defense accountable and expects better. Tackling issues, blown assignments, and poor fundamentals are all things that can turn a game upside down, and Mayo’s background gives him credibility in calling it out. With Bill Belichick’s Patriots culture centered around precision and fundamentals, hearing Mayo speak this harshly signals that changes are coming—or at least a major emphasis on going back to the basics. This could be a turning point for the defense, or it could reveal deeper problems within the unit. Either way, Mayo clearly isn’t here to coddle anyone.
Jerod Mayo’s fury is absolutely justified, especially given the expectations for the New England Patriots defense this season. Coming into the year, the defense was supposed to be the backbone of the team, capable of holding opponents in check while the offense—still shaky and inconsistent—worked through its issues. But when the supposed strength of the team starts showing cracks, especially in the form of soft performances and missed tackles, it becomes clear why Mayo is fuming.
The loss to the Texans was particularly alarming because it exposed major flaws in fundamentals, which Mayo directly called out. When the defense can’t tackle properly or stay disciplined, it doesn’t matter how talented they are on paper—it becomes impossible to carry a team. While it’s true the offense has struggled and some personnel losses have hurt, the defense has to step up, and Mayo knows that. At this point, the defense is running out of excuses, and with Mayo’s background and high standards, he’s not going to tolerate subpar performances any longer.
It’s a pivotal moment for the Patriots’ defense. If they don’t correct these issues quickly, not only will it cost them games, but it could also unravel what was supposed to be a playoff-caliber unit. Mayo’s harsh criticism is likely a wake-up call to his players—either they respond and improve, or the season could go off the rails fast.
Jerod Mayo’s Defense Continues to Falter in Key Areas
Jerod Mayo’s frustration is completely understandable after watching his defense give up such massive yardage on the ground. Run fits and tackling are the cornerstone of any effective run defense, and when those break down—as they did against the Texans—it leads to exactly what happened: big plays and an embarrassing performance. Allowing 192 rushing yards and 6.9 yards per carry is a glaring issue, but the two backbreaking runs of 50+ yards are particularly damning.
Joe Mixon’s 59-yard burst and Dameon Pierce’s 54-yard touchdown to seal the game highlight the defensive breakdowns that Mayo was furious about. These kinds of explosive plays usually point to poor run fits, bad angles, and missed tackles—things that Mayo, as a former linebacker and defensive leader, takes personally. The fact that veteran players like Mixon were able to expose these weaknesses only adds to the sting, as the Patriots defense, with its experience and talent, should be better equipped to handle these situations.
For a unit that was expected to be the strength of the team, this kind of soft showing on the ground is unacceptable, and Mayo is clearly sending the message that it won’t be tolerated moving forward. It’s a wake-up call for the defense to get back to basics, tighten up on fundamentals, and regain the toughness they’re known for—or they risk more of these game-changing plays and further damaging performances.
Dameon Pierce goes 54 yards for the score!
📺: #HOUvsNE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/aphSKEA2gI— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024
Jerod Mayo’s frustration is fully warranted, given the repeated failures in the Patriots’ run defense. When even reliable players like Kyle Dugger are missing open-field tackles, it’s clear the fundamentals are slipping. Tackling is non-negotiable for a defense, and when it breaks down, big plays—like Dameon Pierce’s 54-yard run—happen. That was the third consecutive game in which the Patriots allowed over 100 rushing yards, signaling a growing trend, not just a one-off bad performance.
Mayo’s postgame comments reflect his deep concern. He knows that run fits and tackling are foundational to a successful defense, and these have been glaring weaknesses. Allowing two runs of over 50 yards in a single game is, as Mayo said, “not winning football,” and it’s a sign that the unit is failing to execute on the most basic defensive principles. For a team that prides itself on discipline and execution, these lapses are not only costly on the scoreboard but also a blow to their identity.
Fixing these issues will require a focus on fundamentals in practice, something Mayo emphasized. Without immediate improvement in tackling and better attention to run fits, the Patriots’ defense will continue to struggle, and any hopes of making up for the offense’s shortcomings will fade quickly. Mayo’s blunt criticism is his way of holding his unit accountable and pushing them to get back to the tough, disciplined play that has long been the hallmark of New England’s defense.
Jerod Mayo: “Same story over and over again.”
On the #Patriots run defense: “I told the guys you should feel like crap.” pic.twitter.com/rycN4Y9pUg
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) October 13, 2024
You’re absolutely right—the drop-off in defensive performance from last season to this year is significant, and it’s hitting the Patriots hard. Last season’s defense was a force against the run, allowing just 3.3 yards per carry, the best in the NFL. This year, the cracks are showing, and they go beyond just the run defense. While giving up over 190 yards rushing is bad enough, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s three touchdown passes exposed further vulnerabilities in the secondary, making it clear the Patriots’ problems are mounting on all fronts.
Mayo and first-year coordinator DeMarcus Covington are clearly facing an uphill battle, and as you pointed out, it’s not the scheme or the coaching that’s primarily to blame. The issues stem from a personnel decline. The Patriots have lost key players to injury and departures, and the current roster isn’t holding up the way last year’s group did. With stalwarts like Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez sidelined, the lack of depth and impact players is being exposed. Without a dominant pass rush or a consistent secondary, the defense is struggling to create pressure, limit big plays, or stop the run.
Personnel gaps are often hard to overcome, even with great coaching. Mayo can preach fundamentals and proper run fits all day, but without the right players to execute, it’s an uphill battle. The Patriots’ once-stout defense is feeling the effects of missing key contributors, and unless they can patch these holes quickly, the struggles will likely continue.
Patriots Have Lost Too Many Core Defensive Players
The Patriots’ struggles on defense are a clear reflection of the personnel losses, especially in the front seven. Losing Matthew Judon to the Falcons was a major blow to the pass rush. Judon’s ability to create consistent pressure and disrupt offenses was a cornerstone of last season’s success. His departure, along with the release of defensive tackle Lawrence Guy, has left the Patriots without key enforcers up front, and it’s no surprise their defense has struggled to stop the run and apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Christian Barmore’s absence has also been a significant factor. As a rising star, Barmore was supposed to be a focal point of the defensive line, capable of commanding double teams and collapsing the pocket. Without him and Guy, the Patriots’ interior defensive line has been much easier to push around, making it tough to defend against the run. The absence of big, space-eating bodies up front is exposing the linebackers, especially with Ja’Whaun Bentley also out of the picture. Bentley’s ability to thump inside and make plays downhill is sorely missed, and without him, the Patriots are finding it hard to get clean stops.
This lack of firepower in the front seven is making the Patriots more vulnerable on all fronts. Mayo can adjust the scheme as much as possible, but when the talent drop-off is this severe, the impact is glaring. A defense that was once the backbone of the team is now a weakness, simply because too many core members are missing. The Patriots’ defensive struggles won’t be easy to fix without getting some of these enforcers back on the field, and until then, the unit will likely continue to be overmatched in both the pass rush and run defense.
