Patriots have been a ‘little extra lax’ below Mayo

“I imply, that may have damage us.”

Christian Gonzalez was one of many few shiny spots on New England’s roster in 2024. Photograph by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Pictures

Little went proper for the Patriots in 2024.

Whereas shortcomings on the offensive line and a dearth of confirmed playmakers throughout the roster have been to be anticipated, New England’s regular protection regressed in nearly each aspect throughout this previous season.

New England ranked twenty second in factors allowed per recreation (24.5) final season, giving up 47 complete touchdowns after relinquishing 38 in 2023.

Years of poor drafting and free-agent whiffs have seemingly caught as much as the Patriots, with Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez standing as a number of the few shiny spots on a depth chart severely missing when it comes to expertise.

However talking on the Tremendous Bowl in New Orleans on Wednesday, Gonzalez admitted that the mentality that the group adopted below first-year head coach Jerod Mayo additionally may need had an antagonistic impact on a rebuilding roster.

“I’d say the constructing received a bit extra lax. I imply, that may have damage us,” Gonzalez mentioned on NBC Sports activities’ PFT Stay with Mike Florio and Chris Simms. “I’d most likely say it received a bit extra lax.”

Following Invoice Belichick’s 24-year run in Foxborough, Mayo and his revamped employees made a concerted effort towards lightening the ambiance at Gillette Stadium in 2024 — with de-facto GM Eliot Wolf (who stays with the group) stressing final yr that the group was seeking to undertake “much less of a hard-ass vibe” transferring ahead.

However because the Patriots began to battle on the sector, issues rapidly snowballed for a group quick on expertise and accountability.

Past these lapses in execution on the sector, off-the-field distractions like linebacker Jahlani Tavai calling out Patriots followers for booing the group and Javon Baker lacking curfew in London additional added to the group’s dysfunction.

Talking throughout his introductory press convention as Patriots head coach, Mike Vrabel confused the significance of accountability as he makes an attempt to enhance New England’s tradition transferring ahead.

“We’re going to earn the appropriate to be right here day by day. We’re going to maneuver entitlement from our soccer group,” Vrabel mentioned of his plans for the Patriots in 2025. “We’re going to get every little thing that we’ve earned from the pinnacle coach to the place coaches, all the way in which right down to the gamers.

“We’re going to earn the appropriate to be right here each single day. …We need to deal with each participant the identical manner they deal with the group, and we need to deal with each worker the identical manner they deal with the group.”

Chatting with The Boston Globe’s Nicole Yang, former Patriots defensive sort out Vince Wilfork confused {that a} coach like Vrabel ought to be capable of carry some stability to the group transferring ahead.

“I believe he’s going to come back in and put all of it again collectively,” Wilfork mentioned. “He is available in with the respect. Jerod needed to cope with all of the chatter of by no means having been a head coach or coordinator. Not a variety of guys purchased in. He needed to be taught his manner. I do know Mike is available in with a very totally different respect as a result of he’s been there.”

“If you happen to don’t prefer it, you’ll be able to depart,” Wilfork added. “Easy as that. We’re going to play this recreation a technique and a technique solely. If you happen to’re not up for that, this isn’t the place for you. I do know he’s coming in like that. He’s going to get the group’s consideration instantly.”