New Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has been busy the past week interviewing coordinator candidates in all three phases. The interview process has been extensive and Mayo has cast a wide net when it comes to finding the right coordinators for the Patriots. 

One of the coach’s Mayo interviewed is Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington. Covington and Mayo have worked together for the past five years, game planning fronts, stunts and pressures. They know each other very well.

Covington has been with the Patriots since 2017. After graduating from Covington graduated from Samford in 2011, he began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at UAB. He later joined Ole Miss in the same capacity in 2013. He got his first full time job in 2015 when UT Martin hired him to coach defensive line.

Covington left UT Martin after one season for Eastern Illinois. Serving as co-defensive coordinator alongside another Patriots defensive coordinator candidate, Michael Hodges. Covington coordinated the fronts and coached the defensive line. 

The 34 year old Covington is a good coach and is well respected by his players. I have watched coach on the field the past two seasons during training camp and weekly practices. He is a good teacher who emphasizes the fundamentals and communicates well with his players. 

Covington is viewed as a rising star in the NFL coaching world. He coordinated the American defense last year in the Senior Bowl and he got rave reviews for the job he did. Covington interviewed for two defensive coordinator positions last off-season as well so if Mayo does not hire him, there is a good chance he could end up elsewhere. 

Continuity is important. The Patriots defense played well last season. If Steve Belichick is unsure of his future, then the Patriots need to move on and hire Covington. He is the logical choice to be the next defensive coordinator.