How Patriots’ Jerod Mayo Explained Poor Coaching Decision, Rookie’s Benching

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo got too cute and ultimately regretted his decision.

The Patriots started their eighth different offensive line combination in nine games when they took the field against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Sunday. This time, however, was due to coach’s choice rather than injury-related necessity.

It didn’t pay off.

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“I thought that was the best thing to do for the team,” Mayo said during a conference call Monday morning when asked why the Patriots started rookie Layden Robinson at right guard rather than veteran Mike Onwenu.

Onwenu bumped to right tackle, which dropped Demontrey Jacobs from the starting lineup. The starting group of Vederian Lowe-Michael Jordan-Ben Brown-Onwenu-Jacobs, from left to right, looked like the best unit in a Week 8 win over New York Jets.

Titans defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons took Robinson’s lunch money in the early going. On New England’s opening drive, the two-time Pro Bowler beat the rookie for a pressure on Drake Maye and earned a holding penalty. Simmons probably should have benefited from another flag, too.

It was one of two pressures allowed by Robinson as Maye was pressured on four of his first five dropbacks.

“Look, they have a good front,” Mayo said. “Ninety-eight (Jeffrey Simmons) definitely is a problem.”

Sure is. And that’s exactly why it would have been wise to keep Onwenu, the team’s best interior player, on the interior. Robinson hadn’t played any offensive snaps in three of the previous four games. He was thrown into the fire in front of Maye.

Mayo and his staff benched Robinson and re-inserted Jacobs before half.

Jacobs graded as New England’s best pass blocker, per Pro Football Focus. Robinson finished ahead of Jordan and Brown, but that was in one third of their pass-blocking snaps. Jacobs graded better in running back than Robinson, as well. New England’s run blocking in general, however, was mystifying as running backs combine for 12 carries and 15 yards with 19 yards after contact.

Perhaps continuity up front will help the Patriots going forward. Well, if New England wants to keep that continuity.