FOXBORO- Patriots coach Jerod Mayo met with the media on Monday and he was asked about how he delegates to his coordinators, specifically offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. 

Mayo was asked if Van Pelt has “free reign” when it comes to doing what he wants on offense. Mayo poured cold water on that notion and said that he will play a role in all facets of the team. 

“It’s not free reign at all. Ultimately, I’m responsible for the offense, defense and special teams. He understands that. So, when I say the head coach, I always talk about taking – let’s rewind a little bit with the players. I tell the players all the time, let’s take accountability of your career. It’s the same thing with your coordinators. Like, this is your side of the ball. Let’s take accountability for everything. Have an opinion on everything, which he has.”

Mayo has referred to Van Pelt as the “Head Coach” of the offense on numerous occasion since he hired him but this is the first time that he has clarified that he has a say when it comes to the offensive scheme and what he wants from Van Pelt. It is a break from the collaboration talk we have been hearing since January.

The buck ultimately stops with Mayo or at least he said as much on Monday.

“As the head coach, I feel like I always have a trump card if need be. Now, I do lean on the coaches. That’s why you continue to see me bouncing around practice, talking about fundamentals because I do think those are very important. But at the same time, I have to have faith that I have the right guys in the building. So, hopefully that kind of clears it up for you.”

Despite that, Mayo will do what every head coach does on a weekly basis. He will sit down with his coordinators and talk about the plan of attack for that week. 

“I think as far as the game plan element, every single week, we’ll talk about those things. We meet with the coordinators three, four times a week. So, we’re on the same page on, ‘This is what we want to be.’ We always talk about – look, if we don’t create our identity, then someone else will create it for us. So, we have those conversations all the time. Like I said earlier, as the head coach of this football team, I have to have a hand in all those things.”

It is the first time since being named head coach that Mayo was assertive regarding his role and in many ways, it was good to see. Now let’s see if that assertiveness translates to success on the field. 

We will find out starting Sunday at Cincinnati.